Consumer Packaged Goods

Supply Chain Traceability with RFID and SAP

Real-time visibility into assets and end-to-end traceability across the supply chain are business imperatives. Infosys’ experts propose a central, real-time event repository based on the SAP Object Event... Repository architecture for RFID-enabled supply chain operations in retail and consumer packaged goods industries. It integrates enterprise systems with RFID infrastructure to enable real-time visibility in a cost-effective manner.

Retail Execution Excellence: Imperative for Success of New Product

A synergy between CPG enterprises and retailers makes product launches more successful. CPG companies can benefit when they focus on key factors such as visibility, process capability and analytics during retail... execution. Infosys' expert discusses how technology can enable these key drivers and enhance coordination through real-time visibility of information in demand and inventory of products.

Category Management

Reinventing Category Management for the Too-Much-Information Age

Category management in manufacturing is challenged by an explosion of data sources, an increasingly complex retail environment and demanding consumers. While technology enables category management, Infosys' experts believe... that an effective approach requires people with analytical skills, sound business processes and collaboration between retailers and manufacturers.

Collaboration in Category Management

Collaboration in category management has become a business requirement. It provides retail and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies the agility to react quickly and effectively to rapid changes in consumer tastes and behavior.

Segmentation is not the Solution…

Segmentation, an essential part of the category management process, helps organizations migrate from the one-size-fits-all approach to more targeted solutions... It helps drive both strategic plans and operational decisions. However, segmentation is not an end in itself. Very often, segmentation initiatives become the core solution, resulting in poor execution of the initiative.

Using Advanced Category Analytics to Fuel Consumer-Centric Merchandising

The age-old question “Who is buying what, when, where and why, and what will they want tomorrow?” will always exist in the retail-distributor-manufacturer chain. The challenge is to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible, and... and ... as accurately as possible, and about consumers' shopping habits and to effect changes that will influence consumers to buy specific products within specific categories, shaping predictable demand patterns.

Enterprise Performance Management

Building and Leveraging Metrics Framework to Drive Supply Chain Performance

Consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies can maximize the effectiveness of Supply Chain Performance Management (SCPM) by adopting a metrics framework-based approach. Our experts present a metrics... framework to monetize investments in business intelligence and analytics.

Business Intelligence (BI) Governance

Given the limitations of people, infrastructure and budget, companies must classify and prioritize their business requests, which in turn, require them to implement a formal IT governance process... . However, to prioritize Business Intelligence (BI) requests along specific criteria, they need a BI governance process. How is a BI governance process defined? Why should it go beyond the basics of approving and prioritizing initiatives?

Establishing a Business Intelligence (BI) Self-Service Platform

Implementation of a self-service Business Intelligence platform is a daunting task. Its benefits, however, are substantial and influence the performance of everyone in the organization. Find out how a self-service Business Intelligence... platform can be enabled effectively.

Performance Management (PM): The Key to Successful C-Commerce Relationship

Providing Business Intelligence capabilities to suppliers is imperative to enable C-Commerce across the value chain. However, access to information is not sufficient in itself. The key to a successful C-Commerce... relationship lies in strong Performance Management.

Effective Visualization Techniques for Business Intelligence (BI)

Effective business intelligence (BI) can help companies gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors affecting their business, enabling them to make informed business decisions for the competitive edge. In order to... achieve this, organizations use BI applications or technologies to analyze information from external and internal sources. This information can help companies get a better understanding of changing trends in the market, customer behavior and spending patterns, empowering managers to make informed business decisions for better results. However, while BI vendors have developed software tools to gather and analyze large quantities of data, it is difficult to obtain the correct business requirements that guide metric definition and analysis. This paper examines why this happens and shows how visual representation of requirements using clickable mock-ups can provide an effective way to overcome the problem.

Master Data Management

Global Data Synchronization Alone is Not Enough

A comprehensive approach to ensure accuracy of item data helps realize benefits from global data synchronization. In addition, it provides a springboard for the success of initiatives related to RFID, micro-merchandizing, price optimization and multi-channel and vendor collaboration.

Product Development

GreenPLM: Going Green the PLM Way - Part 1

Organizations are adopting an eco-friendly approach to business and developing green products. Our experts propose green processes across the PLM (Product Lifecycle Development) lifecycle to reduce the environmental impact. Infosys' GreenPLM framework... is based on the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) model. It addresses the complete green product development lifecycle that encompasses the environment, materials and energy.

GreenPLM: Not just another Database Solution! - Part 2

Infosys' GreenPLM framework adopts a process-oriented, tool-based approach to transform the product development process for sustainable products that comply with regulations. Our experts propose approaches to implement GreenPLM depending on the size of the... organization, the maturity of its green development program, the budget and time available for process re-engineering, and support of the top management. The 'single green view' provided by the framework significantly reduces the consumption of resources, enhances operational efficiency and improves cost management across supply chain activities.

RFID

Impact of RFID/EPC-based Information Visibility

With large retailers adopting Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), there has been a knee-jerk response from Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) manufacturers under pressure to comply... . There is immense value to be derived from RFID through timely sharing of accurate information between trading partners. Value can be realized by understanding the nature of RFID information and sharing and quantifying its impact.

Sales Force Automation

Sales Force Automation (SFA) for an Effective DSD Sales Force

Sales Force Automation (SFA) is a technology-led tool that enables and empowers Direct Store Delivery (DSD) sales teams to make accurate spot decisions. Learn more about the building blocks for a flexible and mature SFA framework

Trade Promotions Management

Trade Promotions Management in the CPG Industry

Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) organizations must address the challenge of targeting shoppers with relevant promotions to induce them to buy more. Although trade promotions are a significant part of marketing expenditure, most... CPG companies are unable to improve the return on investment of these funds due to various issues. This paper outlines the 3 Is of success - Integration, Insight and Implementation - that will help CPG companies gain by creating win-win trade promotions.

Making DDSN Work: The CPG Perspective

Stockouts are a manifestation of the demand invisibility problems faced by retail and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies. Demand-Driven Supply Network (DDSN) addresses this business issue.... However, to effectively implement DDSN, CPG players must address their retail partners' demands with respect to collaboration and IT synchronization. How can CPG companies meet DDSN-related retailer expectations effectively?

Unstructured Data

Semantics-driven Consumer Insights

Traditionally, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies have used structured data sources to calibrate brand performance. However, with technology-enabled new media vehicles... over 80% of consumer insights reside in unstructured data sources such as consumer complaints, emails, presentations and more recently, Internet blogs. Leveraging insights trapped in these sources is critical to strengthen brand loyalty and improve market share.