Nearly 17 Percent of CPG Manufacturers Are Incorporating Artificial Intelligence into Pricing and Promotion Analytics, the Promotion Optimization Institute Finds

NEW YORK, March 6, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Promotion Optimization Institute (POI), the leading resource for trade marketing and merchandising executives, today released the POI 2019 TPx and Retail Execution Report. Among its key findings, The POI found that 16.7 percent of consumer product goods (CPG) manufacturers surveyed reported they are actively working on incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities which is a 5.7 percent increase over 2018. The report also found that while 75 percent of manufacturers are challenged to obtain key data from retailers, this is a 15 percent improvement over 2018 when 90 percent reported being challenged.

The annual POI 2019 TPX and Retail Execution Report focuses on the intersection of the people, processes and technologies required to be a suitable collaboration partner in the promotion and distribution of consumer products. This report utilizes the data and insights from the POI 2019 Trade Promotion and Retail Execution Survey executed in late 2018 and early 2019 of over 100 leading consumer goods manufacturers. The latest report includes analysis based on new questions and data points from the survey that further analyzes the fast changing industry.

"Over the last five years, the consumer products goods industry has been experiencing an extraordinary shift that changes the way consumers shop and how business is executed. As a result, POI is shifting the report to focus on critical leadership headlines on hot issues and emerging trends, while incorporating the 2019 benchmarking survey results," explained Pam Brown, Chief Commercial Officer, POI.

"Having led sales teams, sales operations and strategy, BI Analytics, and IT projects across the global enterprise, the results within this report helps everyone better understand what is possible in the Trade Promotion and Retail Execution space in an evolving retail environment."

Key Findings:

• AI is here today with 16.7 percent CPG manufacturers surveyed reported they are actively working on incorporating AI capabilities. However, 33.3 percent of those surveyed responded that AI is still two to three years out. POI's research has found this response contrary to the broader market of AI availability. Europe was an early adopter of AI planning and optimization capabilities, and as a result, many European solutions are now available in the U.S.
• 75.7 percent of companies surveyed continue to have data challenges with foundational data (such as POS, daily, shopper). Retailers and manufacturers must make data acquisition and sharing a top priority in 2019 and beyond. Retailers, manufacturers, and vendors will need to stretch beyond traditional data and better understand what services the consumer desires and start co-locating these "benefits" within the store.
• 69.9 percent of respondents agree that their companies are struggling to have retailer aligned promotions executed at store level. When retailer aligned promotions are not executed as planned at store level, both teams fail to gain the expected results. Although retail execution of aligned promotions is up 20.1 percent over last year, improvements in aligned promotions needs to be accelerated.
• 91 percent of respondents surveyed said there is a substantial lack of linkage between digital and traditional promotions. Integration of consumer and loyalty shopper data is helping to see who the target consumer is and cater store layouts, offers, promotions, to them based on these preferences. Companies need to ensure they are on a journey to 'full integration,' which will benefit the manufacturer and what the manufacturer can share with their retail partners.
• The lack of connectivity between trade promotion systems and retail execution systems is severely impacting execution and revenue gains by millions of dollars. Execution is everything, and the inability to pass promotion tactic changes to the field and monitor in-flight activity is costing manufacturers and retailers' money.
• Manufacturer concerns about the ability to drive profitable business with Amazon continues to increase dramatically year-over-year. The ecommerce journey is best not done alone. The POI recommends that manufacturers network to understand and replicate what is working and also how to overcome obstacles with their peer-set.

"For more than 10 years, POI has been delivering insights and value to Consumer Goods Executives around the globe. This year's POI State of the Industry report takes our efforts to an entirely new level, leading by example, and driving advancement for executives at leading brands and banners in changing times," said Michael Kantor, CEO and Founder, POI.

About the Promotion Optimization Institute
POI brings together manufacturers, retailers, solution providers, analysts, academics and other industry leaders. Members of the POI share cross-functional best practices in both structured and informal settings. Additionally, members benefit through our industry alliances, the Certified Collaborative Marketer (CCM) ™ curriculum and certification, global industry leadership events, and the Promotional Collaborative Capability Matrix (PCCM). POI aims to instill a financial and metrics-based discipline not typically found with other trade groups.

The goal of our innovative approach is collaborative promotion optimization. The focus is on the customer/shopper through sales, marketing, and merchandising strategies. POI is based in Wyckoff, New Jersey. To learn more about the POI, including how to participate in research, how to register to attend or sponsor events, and how to engage with leaders on the CCM, visit http://www.poinstitute.com/ or email Mkantor (at) P-O-I (dot) com.

SOURCE Promotion Optimization Institute

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