Readers' Choice Survey 2017: Editors' Picks
The editors at CGT have handpicked a small group of additional technology companies that consumer goods organizations should consider when looking to solve their unique IT and business needs.
Their distinctive business models and intriguing offerings — like an artificial intelligence-based personal analyst and a customer identity management tool — preclude them from fitting snugly into the existing Readers' Choice Survey categories. But take it from us: Their uncommon, groundbreaking solutions and services deserve some attention when you’re looking for possible game-changing solutions.
CPGToolBox
www.cpgtoolbox.com
Specialty: The only TPM solution built on the Salesforce.com platform gives manufacturers of all sizes access to an affordable, feature-rich alternative to managing trade with spreadsheets.
New in 2016: CPGToolBox added six new customers to its client roster including Vega, Hanover Foods and Truco Enterprises.
Cuddle.ai
www.cuddle.ai
Specialty: An artificial intelligence-based personal analyst that can integrate a company’s essential data sources to uncover
and deliver tailored business insights in the form of bite-sized cards on a smartphone.
New in 2016: Parent company Fractal Analytics recently raised $100 million to invest further in Cuddle.ai and other AI — and deep learning-based software.
EdgeVerve
www.edgeverve.com
Specialty: TradeEdge is an insights-driven sales platform that helps global brands maximize visibility as well
as accelerate profitable growth in emerging markets.
New in 2016: EdgeVerve was mentioned as a “Representative Vendor” in the “Gartner Market Guide for Supply Chain Visibility So ware 2016,” which cited the company’s executional visibility.
EnterWorks
www.enterworks.com
Specialty: EnterWorks’ solution for master data and product information management enables companies to acquire, manage and transform product information into persuasive content that drives sales and new competitive strengths.
New in 2016: EnterWorks was named a “Strong Performer” in “The Forrester Wave: Product Information Management Solutions” report in fourth-quarter 2016, earning praise for providing customers with strong reporting capabilities and cloud-architecture flexibility.
Eversight
www.eversightlabs.com
Specialty: Eversight delivers “Offer Innovation” solutions that enable manufacturers and retailers to increase trade promotion effectiveness.
New in 2016: Eversight began work with its first manufacturer and retailer clients in Europe and its first e-commerce merchant. It more than doubled the total number of CPG clients it serves overall.
Export-Import Bank of the United States
www.exim.gov
Specialty: A U.S. federal agency, EXIM Bank offers products that protect companies of all sizes
from nonpayment by international buyers and help them improve cash flow with working capital loan guarantees.
New in 2016: During fiscal 2016, EXIM Bank supported $2.6 billion in exports from U.S. small businesses.
Ivy Mobility, Inc.
www.ivymobility.com
Specialty: Ivy Mobility provides
a single, fully configurable platform to support direct store delivery, van sales, retail execution, merchandising, distributor management, counter sales and data insights.
New in 2016: Ivy now serves customers in 25-plus countries, supporting more than 105,000 end-users and transactions from 5.5 million outlets.
Janrain
www.janrain.com
Specialty: Janrain’s “Identity Cloud” helps clients give their customers safe and seamless digital experiences while generating deep customer insights.
NEW IN 2016: Janrain entered the Latin America market in March, bringing its operations into 65 countries worldwide and helping to push the total number of customer identities it manages beyond one billion soon after.
L&T Infotech
www.lntinfotech.com
Specialty: L&T Infotech provides consulting and technology services around five pillars — IoT, automation, analytics, artificial intelligence and cloud — to help CG companies effectively respond to digital disruption.
New in 2016: LTI helped clients in advanced analytics reduce DSO (day sales outstanding); in robotics process automation to drive multi-million dollar savings; and in bridging the IT-OT divide via SMART factories and energy management to optimize cost of operations.
NTT Data, Inc.
www.nttdata.com/Americas
Specialty: NTT delivers a comprehensive suite of solutions, including industry-specific offerings that provide a single point of accountability for all services, hardware and software.
New in 2016: Dell Services
was a milestone acquisition
in the company’s efforts to
help clients navigate digital disruption in today’s markets. The combined company represents a comprehensive services portfolio designed to modernize business and technology.
Pitcher
www.pitcher.com
Specialty: Pitcher enables mobile sales and content management for field sales and marketing teams. Its cloud-based software can make it easier for CPG clients to plan, execute and analyze business meetings.
New in 2016: Pitcher received many accolades, including
a Stratus Award in cloud computing, an Aragon Research Hot Vendor nod, and Editors’ Choice recognition at the Path
to Purchase Expo. The company also earned a patent for the “Sentiment Analysis Module” feature of its sales and marketing enablement platform.
Tech Mahindra
www.techmahindra.com
Specialty: Tech Mahindra helps its global clients (including Fortune 500 companies) transform their businesses to prepare for a connected future.
New in 2016: Tech Mahindra
can digitize all functional areas of consumer goods companies via solutions in Business Process as a Service platforms: R&D, product development, manufacturing, sales & marketing and supply chain.
T-Pro Solutions
www.t-prosolutions.com
Specialty: T-Pro Solutions’ predictive analytics and post-promotion analysis tools empower manufacturers and retailers to control and maximize the return on their promotion investment.
New in 2016: Customers are seeing measurable results from using T-Pro Optimum’s trade promotion optimization enhancements, which combine post-event analytics with prescriptive, constraint-based planning.
Vistex
www.vistex.com
Specialty: Vistex provides enterprise-class software to manage trade programs, including promotional and contract pricing, rebates and market development funds to help save time and control costs and drive revenue.
New in 2016: Vistex’s “Go-to-Market Suite” trade program application
will be available in February 2017. It runs in the cloud and with any ERP
to offer deep visibility into program performance.