Coca-Cola United Testing Generative AI Tool to Streamline Data Access
Coca-Cola Bottling Company United (CCBCU) is piloting a generative AI business intelligence tool that accounts for employee personas to help streamline decision-making.
The company, which is the third-largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States, has around 10,000 associates, 53 sales and distribution centers, and nine production facilities. It partnered with Decision Point Analytics to test the solution provider’s Beagle platform to more easily retrieve information from their data warehouses, Bob Means, CCBCU director of business solutions, tells CGT.
The company joins a host of CPGs exploring generative AI to provide easier access to internal data and insights, including Kraft Heinz and General Mills. While manufacturers report varying stages of readiness, firms are drawn by the efficiencies that can be unlocked by removing time-consuming tasks from employees’ plates.
Behind the Pilot
The Beagle platform uses natural language processing to facilitate employee access to data and can integrate with Microsoft Teams. While their use has been limited at this time, Means says CCBCU is a heavy user of Teams, especially for in-office workers, and the integration is expected to work well for those roles.
Decision Point worked with CCBCU to integrate multiple data sources and develop a single resource that simplifies data searches. As part of this, they created specific roles that aligned CCBCU users with access levels and responsibilities, according to Decision Point.
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Use cases — including sales performance, cooler servicing and placement, and delivery execution, among others — were then mapped to personas, and users received “personalized nudges” based on various criteria (e.g., usage history, data thresholds).
Coca-Cola United is still working to expand the information available to allow for expanded value to new personas, said Means. If the pilots prove to be successful, they intend to expand the technology to a larger group of users.
