FiLLi Cafe Turns to Enterprise Technology to Support Global Expansion

“FiLLi Cafe, one of the UAE’s most recognisable homegrown tea brands, is using AI-powered enterprise technology to support its rapid international expansion while maintaining operational consistency and financial discipline across markets.”

The Dubai-founded café chain has adopted Oracle NetSuite’s cloud-based enterprise resource planning system to streamline financial operations, improve inventory management and gain real-time visibility across its growing international business. The move comes as FiLLi Cafe continues to scale its footprint across multiple regions and operating models.

Founded in 2004 as a single café in Dubai, FiLLi Cafe has grown into a global hospitality brand with operations in 13 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles and Australia. The brand currently operates 114 outlets worldwide, offering its signature tea blends and café experience across diverse markets.

As the company expanded beyond the UAE, its existing systems struggled to keep pace with the operational complexity of managing company-owned outlets alongside franchise-owned and franchise-operated locations. According to the company, maintaining standardisation, financial oversight and real-time reporting became increasingly challenging as the network grew.

To address these issues, FiLLi Cafe consolidated its operations onto a single global platform after selecting Oracle NetSuite following an internal evaluation process. The system now serves as the backbone for financial management, reporting and inventory control across markets.

Ahmed Hasanain, head of information technology at FiLLi Cafe, said the platform has helped centralise processes and improve visibility across the business. He said leadership previously faced limited insight into performance across regions, particularly as the brand scaled to hundreds of outlets and registrations in dozens of countries.

NetSuite’s reporting and key performance indicator tracking tools have allowed the company to monitor outlet performance, profitability and cash flow in real time. Hasanain said this has strengthened financial control and supported more informed decision-making across the organisation.

Automation has also played a role in improving efficiency. By integrating accounts payable and receivable processes, FiLLi Cafe has reduced reliance on manual reporting and shortened financial close cycles. The company said this shift has allowed finance teams to focus more on analysis rather than data compilation.

Inventory management has been another focus area, particularly given the perishable nature of food and beverage products. The company said NetSuite has improved oversight of stock levels, expiry dates and reorder points, helping reduce waste and optimise procurement across markets.

Looking ahead, FiLLi Cafe plans to build on the platform by using artificial intelligence capabilities to support demand planning, supply chain forecasting and field-level insights. Company executives said these tools are expected to improve decision-making speed and accuracy as the business continues to grow.

Oracle NetSuite executives said FiLLi Cafe’s adoption highlights how enterprise technology can support sustainable expansion in the hospitality sector. As FiLLi Cafe continues its international rollout, the company views technology as a key foundation for scaling its brand while maintaining operational discipline across markets.