TORCH: Focusing on core business with the help of Mekari Talenta

Interview with :
Image Mekari Talenta
Ben Wirawan
CEO of Torch
Image Mekari Talenta
Easier
attendance management
Practical
performance reviews
Suited
to local business

About TORCH

TORCH is an Indonesian travel apparel brand that is almost a decade old. According to Ben Wirawan, CEO of Torch, the company started with the intention of providing solutions for the challenges faced by pilgrims on Hajj and Umrah. Torch first introduced innovative sandals designed specifically for religious journeys. Over time, Torch realized that the need for such products extended beyond Hajj and Umrah, catering to various other travel activities. From there, Torch continued to grow and now offers a wide range of products, including travel sandals, waist bags, travel backpacks, and other travel gear.

Throughout its journey, Torch has undergone a significant transformation. Initially, the company operated traditionally with sales through agents during its first two years. In 2017, Torch decided to fully embrace digital operations. This proved to be a strategic move—when the pandemic hit in 2020, Torch already had three years of experience in digital commerce. As a result, in just a decade, Torch grew more than 100 times compared to its first year, with the number of employees increasing from just six to over 120 today.

 

Challenges in the HR management 

In the early days, all HR processes at Torch were done manually due to the small number of employees. However, as the company grew, the workforce expanded, with many employees working remotely in various regions across Indonesia. This situation led Torch to recognize the need for a more efficient system to manage HR.

To understand this challenge better, we spoke with Yuni Sunsie, HR Reward and Operation Coordinator at Torch. Yuni explained that Torch has different work schedules depending on the position:

  • Head Office – Employees work five days a week (Monday–Friday) with flexible hours, as long as they complete a total of eight hours per day.
  • Sales (Store & Online Shop) – Employees work six days a week with a shifting system. The store team has two shifts: morning (9:00 AM–5:00 PM) and afternoon (2:00 PM–10:00 PM). The online shop team has more varied hours, and the customer service team operates 24/7.
“Due to these varying work systems, HR needs to ensure that all employees are properly monitored.”
Yuni Sunsie, HR Reward and Operation Coordinator of Torch

In addition, Torch faced challenges in its performance review system. Although conducted online, the process was still manual, using Google Forms. The HR team had to repeatedly check who had completed the forms, remind employees who hadn’t, and manually compile the results—a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Torch had tried using HR software from Malaysia to manage employee administration. However, the system did not fully meet the needs of the business in Indonesia, and communication with the developers overseas was also difficult.

 

Mekari Talenta as the solution

As Torch grew, the need for more efficient HR management became even more apparent, leading the company to switch to a local product that better suited Torch’s business needs. After evaluating several options, Torch ultimately chose Mekari Talenta due to its comprehensive features that could be tailored to Torch’s requirements.

Results experienced by TORCH

After implementing Mekari Talenta, Torch began experiencing significant improvements in HR management:

Easier absence and shift management

For Torch, ensuring that employees were present at various work locations was a challenge, particularly for the sales team. With Mekari Talenta, this process became more practical and accurate:

  • Improved attendance compliance: For example, store employees cannot clock in from outside the designated location, ensuring their attendance matches the schedule.
  • Automated location tracking: Employees can only clock in if they are at the designated location and shift as set in the system.
“Torch’s work system is quite varied, especially with the sales team spread across multiple locations. With Mekari Talenta, attendance is better controlled—employees can only clock in at the designated locations and shifts, making it more accurate and in line with our rules.”
Yuni Sunsie, HR Reward and Operation Coordinator of Torch

More practical performance reviews

Previously, performance reviews at Torch were done manually using Google Forms, which was time-consuming. With Mekari Talenta, the entire process became more efficient:

  • Automatic reminders: The system automatically sends notifications to employees who haven’t filled out the reviews, so HR no longer has to remind them manually.
  • Easier review submission: Employees can fill out their evaluations directly from their mobile phones.
  • Organized reviewer assignments: HR can easily assign which employees should evaluate whom.

Better suited to local business needs

As an Indonesian-made software, Mekari Talenta offers advantages that are more suited to local businesses like Torch:

  • Understanding of local regulations: As a local product, Mekari Talenta is more in tune with Indonesia’s business regulations and practices, making its features more relevant to the needs of local businesses.
  • More responsive support: When Torch faced issues using the software, the Mekari Talenta team could be easily contacted and provided solutions relatively faster.

 

TORCH’s perspective on Mekari Talenta

For businesses like Torch, which adopt a lean startup model, the primary focus is on R&D, branding, marketing, and selling. For other operational aspects, including HR, Torch relies on strategic partnerships. Mekari Talenta has become one of the key partners that supports Torch’s business growth.

“Products like Mekari Talenta are incredibly helpful. With Mekari Talenta, we can remain focused on our core processes without getting distracted by the complexities of HR operations.”
Ben Wirawan, CEO of Torch
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