With ports clogged with shipping containers unable to dock, unprecedented shortages of raw materials and packaging resources and global labor shortages, the CPG supply chain has been put through the ringer in the past 18 months. What was once a predictable process has become a mad scramble while organizations attempt to source parts for, manufacture and deliver products.  And while there is no line of sight to things magically improving in the new year, there are a few emerging trends and bright spots in technology that are helping define ways to find footing on this ever-shifting ground.

Being Trendy Isn’t Necessarily Bad

It sounds like a no-brainer, but if you want to create the products that customers and vendors want, it is critical to have your finger on the pulse of what is driving consumer purchase behavior. And as CPG companies work to steer their ships toward 2022’s waters, they are making key pivots around their commitment to sustainability, customer connections and sales automation.

But is it sustainable?

To maximize profitability, sustainable practices are essential for packaging, production, and inventory positions. And there’s growing pressure from consumers who are pushing for environmental sustainability in everything from ingredients to packaging to how goods are transported to their end location.

And manufacturers are actively rising to meet the demand, Nestle, for example, is committing to making its packaging 100% recyclable and reusable by 2025. To stay relevant with consumers, CPG brands across the board need to take similar actions and factor in sustainability as they determine future business plans.

And today’s supply chain automation tools are especially relevant here because they help orgs define the best way to optimize the three Ps: packaging, production, and product (analysis).

Let’s Get Social

Over the past 18 months, the human need for connection during the pandemic has made social channels even more important than ever. And CPG companies of all sizes have shifted focus to creating meaningful engagement through social channels on everything from customer service to sales and promotion.

And connecting the dots between social media engagement and sales is simple with a platform that is built to dynamically link your CRM platform with your demand planning tools to remove departmental siloes. For example, if you run a promotion on a specific item, you’ll want to make sure the production team knows about it so they can actively plan for and respond to the increased demand. Being able to harness the power of your digital presence should be the top priority of everyone on the leadership team.

Recurring Revenue Is Golden

The ideal sale is one that’s continuous, and it’s equally attractive on the consumer end, too – who wants to be reminded they need to purchase the same item again and again, why not just make payment and delivery automatic?

As consumers sought creative ways to avoid leaving the house, subscription services for CPG products have built an impressive presence. By offering the ability to have the products they want automatically sent to their homes, CPG companies can convert one-time customers into consistent repeat clients, driving recurring revenue.

Tech Talk Time

What goes up must come down, and the flip side of any trend is the challenge faced in trying to adapt to or adopt it. Avoiding the three following pitfalls in the CPG production process by utilizing future-proof technology and tools will make a tremendous difference to bottom line.  

Drivers wanted

From the earliest days of the pandemic, transportation became an open concern, and that concern doesn’t seem to be abating. With fewer drivers taking goods from production facilities to where they need to go, CPG companies must pivot to find alternate routes in their supply chains to ensure their products can make it into the port and on to the retailer’s shelf.

Automation platforms with AI/ML-powered scenario planning capabilities make this a seamless process.  Take the controls again with a clear view into various downstream supply chain impacts if driver A can visit city B from factory C in a day, but needs more time to get to city D (and we can also tell you what happens when ports are overflowing with other ships so you need to reroute to an alternate quickly or if factory C is out of materials and you need to pivot to factory E).

The Power of Data Orchestration

In the competitive CPG market, up-to-the-minute data that’s accurate and reliable has become make or break for your business. You need external data to gain visibility to your supplier’s roadblocks and help to resolve issues, but you also need internal data that lets you see real-time supply and demand across all channels. But with more automation comes a LOT more data, and not all of it useful. ketteQ delivers customized dashboards to find not only the needle in your haystack but the needles in the haystacks in other departments, helping you separate out the noise and get the data points you actually want and need.

Don’t Fear the Future

Nothing gives you a stronger advantage than automated end-to-end supply chain transparency and tools to help scenario plan, optimize and execute.  With today’s ever shifting supply chain landscape, ketteQ takes your process from reactive to strategic, enabling real-time decision making from a single source of truth.  We’d love to connect with you to see how we can help, if you would like to learn more, please reach out to to start the conversation.

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