Predictive Analytics

Business Intelligence (BI) wasn't the hottest topic of conversation amongst IT types in 2004, and to be perfectly honest, it likely won't be the belle of the ball in 2005 either.

Technology that helps consumer goods (CG) manufacturers manage promotions and get a clearer picture of consumers who use their products are the hot CRM items of the moment, say analysts, who also predict expanding investment in CRM technology by CG companies in 2005.

Even though the growth of supply chain software has cooled significantly since the hey day of the explosive growth seen in 2000, there is still a huge opportunity for vendors to adjust offerings to better suit the needs of clients, according to a 2004 AMR Research report.

In trade promotions management technology, integrated analytics tools that provide for precise tracking of promotions dollars are currently drawing the most attention from consumer goods (CG) companies, analysts say.

How to drive value from integration, forecasting and new product development

In an effort to get closer to its customers, optimize its supply chain and become a low-cost supplier, Diageo North America tapped into a collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) program with its distributors.

In 1869 Dr. Thomas Bramwell Welch inadvertently gave birth to Welch Foods Inc. while discovering the method to make communion wine from unfermented grapes.

Meeting demand spikes by utilizing the right tools