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This section includes the latest reports based on IBM research, including joint initiatives with industry organizations. You'll find analyses from the IBM Institute for Business Value, executive technical reports, and more. The Institute is staffed with industry consultants focused on helping companies solve critical business issues.
Consumer products resources
| Title | Date |
|---|---|
Rich Essigs currently leads a global team of consultants, product managers and solution architects dedicated to assisting consumer products clients in implementing IBM's industry solutions portfolio. | 22 Jun 2009 |
Patrick specializes in developing business and transformation strategies and in managing the associated change; including building actionable plans, implementing successful corporate transformation, and delivering productive re-engineering processes. | 03 Dec 2008 |
Chris Cave Jones is a member of IBM's Global Consumer Products solutions team, where he has particular responsibilities for developing and deploying IBM solutions in the Asia-Pacific region. | 03 Dec 2008 |
Guy Blissett offers more than seven years of consumer products industry strategy consulting experience. He has worked with some of the leading global consumer product firms on issues such as corporate social responsibility (CSR) communications, market-entry strategy, new product development, customer management and logic-based pricing. | 02 Dec 2008 |
Ralph Jacobson's focus areas include business strategy, operations and the consumer experience. Ralph has worked in the consumer products and retail industries for thirty years. | 02 Dec 2008 |
From foodborne illnesses to natural disasters that disrupt food supplies, the world is seeing cracks in the global food supply chain. What can be done to reduce our vulnerability? This paper explores the resources IBM is using to help trace food through the supply chain and biological research that can make food heartier. | 28 Oct 2008 |
As a means to better manage all aspects of their customer planning and spending, NBTY engaged IBM to help establish a trade promotion management strategy and vision, define priorities, incorporate leading practices and identify business benefits. Read the detailed case study. | 19 Sep 2008 |
Changing consumer behaviors challenge consumer products (CP) companies to pursue new technologies, but the perceptions of IT's role by IT leaders and business managers differ. This IBM and AMR Research study for the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) concludes that IT should step up to help fulfill business strategy. | 26 Aug 2008 |
Inventory control. Cost control. In a global marketplace, companies need the ability to forecast and manage their supply chain dynamically. This brochure explains how IBM can implement Oracle technology to help you realize higher service levels and sales, lower inventory and distribution costs, and happier customers. | 21 Aug 2008 |
Susan Wilkinson is an executive consultant in IBM Global Business Services, where she leads strategy and change consulting engagements for consumer products industry clients. | 04 Aug 2008 |
Using ground-breaking analysis tool, CoBRA (Corporate and Brand Reputation Analysis), IBM Research helped Kraft revamp their marketing plan after revealing new insight into Vegemite, the famous Australian savory food paste. Read more about the new generated by IBM and Vegemite. | 23 Jul 2008 |
Optimize revenue. Reduce costs. Manage risk. Drive innovation. Facilitate better decision making. Increase marketplace agility. This brochure explores how enterprise performance management (EPM) can help companies organize, automate and analyze business methodologies, metrics, processes and systems to achieve these goals. | 05 Jun 2008 |
IBM recently surveyed more than 250 business leaders globally and found that they are starting to see corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a sustainable growth strategy. This paper examines three dynamics of this shift—impact, information and relationships—and makes recommendations to help develop a CSR strategy. | 14 Apr 2008 |
Based on IBM global surveys of more than 2,400 consumers and 80 advertising experts, this paper explores what we see as the four change drivers shifting control within the industry. Learn how consumer attention, creativity, measurement and advertising inventories are changing the industry. | 14 Apr 2008 |
Larry Proctor applies his expertise in advanced text analytics at the IBM Almaden Research Laboratory, developing tools that can mine vast amounts of unstructured data to help companies meet competitive challenges. | 03 Apr 2008 |
Yolanda Wang drives IBM's industry thought leadership strategies into the marketplace with programs to increase visibility and demand for IBM's business solutions. She has more than 12 years of experience working with retail and other consumer-related industry clients. | 03 Apr 2008 |
Leading organizations today are undertaking initiatives to break down information silos and gain control of their most important enterprise information assets. The category of solutions deployed to achieve and maintain is known as master data management (MDM). | 29 Feb 2008 |
Regulatory mandates and market forces are causing companies to reevaluate their supply chain for ways to reduce carbon emissions. This paper details ways companies can reduce their carbon footprint to become more environmentally friendly thereby strengthening their brand image and developing a competitive advantage. | 08 Feb 2008 |
Recent IBM research indicates that CP manufacturers view retailer-specific shopper insights development and consumer insights data management. CP manufacturers will need to rethink their business processes, organization and systems to effectively leverage downstream data. | 05 Feb 2008 |
The ability to make the right decisions quickly can deliver significant competitive advantage. But you must have accurate information that you can analyze swiftly. This brochure details an information management solution from IBM and IRI that can help redefine strategic and operational thinking. | 01 Feb 2008 |
How can manufacturers get ahead of the market and the competition when the pace of the consumer marketplace is faster than ever before? Advanced technologies capture more detail, but are you gaining the insights you need? Find out how IBM and IRI can help you use information as a strategic differentiator. | 01 Feb 2008 |
Value 2.0 is driven by the emerging technologies of Web 2.0, social computing, SOA, 3D Internet and virtual worlds. But how are businesses are using them to improve performance and create value? This paper can help executives understand what we call the "new rules of Value 2.0" and the benefits they bring to their company. | 15 Jan 2008 |
IBM is the leading provider of Master Data Management (MDM) solutions which create significant business value for organizations across several functional areas and product lines. The primary focus of this presentation will be on helping organizations identify and quantify the business benefits that an IBM MDM solution can help achieve. | 14 Jan 2008 |
A good reputation is one of the most valuable assets a company has. But monitoring social media channels for references to your company is challenging. IBM has developed an end-to-end solution that alerts companies to instances when electronic "chatter" may have a negative impact on their brand or corporate reputation. | 17 Dec 2007 |
The new 'Omni Consumer' — empowered, connected and informed — is shaping an important trend in the industry. Today's consumer has learned to tune out unwanted messages. In fact 56 percent of consumers report they avoid buying products that overwhelm them with marketing and advertising. | 15 Nov 2007 |
The marketplace in which Consumer Products (CP) manufacturers operate has never been more complex and the relationships with shoppers, consumers and retailers have never been more demanding. | 15 Nov 2007 |
Farm-to-fork' traceability is a complex, evolutionary undertaking and success requires clear executive sponsorship and responsibility, along with a shared vision. | 09 Nov 2007 |
New Product Development and Introduction (NPDI) is possibly a Consumer Products (CP) company's most critical business process, yet business process management and technology enablement are only now reaching R&D and Marketing. | 09 Nov 2007 |
The IBM Institute for Business Value provides thought leadership, strategic insights and recommendations that address critical business challenges and help our clients capitalize on new opportunities. | 08 Nov 2007 |
Food retailers typically struggle to differentiate themselves, especially when they rely on the standard levers of cheaper prices and geographic penetration. Our new survey of U.S. grocery consumers reveals key insights into what actually drives customer advocacy. | 02 Nov 2007 |
How do you measure the health of your brand and your company’s reputation in the marketplace? Read this brochure to see how social media is shaping the customer’s perception of your products and company and how IBM can help you monitor these sources to glean meaningful information. | 11 Oct 2007 |
For too many consumer products (CP) companies, managing information for insight is like doing a jigsaw puzzle in dim light – first, the process itself too often generates more heat than light, and, second, while some individual pieces are clear, others are not. | 11 Oct 2007 |
Global sourcing and aggressive global competition, combined with increasing customer demand, are significantly affecting the supply chain. | 21 Aug 2007 |
The purchasing behavior of today's "Omni Consumer" is influenced by factors relating not only to the product, but also to its broader impact on society. To guide their purchasing decisions, these consumers leverage trusted sources of information, which traditionally included Consumer Products (CP) companies. | 01 Aug 2007 |
Our 2007 Mainland China Value Chain Study indicates that Mainland Chinese companies have set strategic supply chain fulfillment objectives, but still need to turn these objectives into more concrete actions. | 11 Jul 2007 |
This study, from the Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council and IBM, maps the current food retail market in Asia and identifies the elements of successful store formats. It also explores shoppers’ views and how they relate to and select between formats, helping you decide which format is best for your market. | 30 May 2007 |
In this article, Simon Terry, EMEA Consumer Products Supply Chain Leader at IBM Global Business Services, outlines some of the supply chain challenges consumer products companies face based on the "Global Commerce Initiative study: 2016: The Future Value Chain." | 09 Apr 2007 |
In this paper from The Sageza Group, Inc., learn more about how, through IBM’s System i Vertical Industry Program (VIP), IBM and four ISV partners have developed a fully integrated suite of solutions anchored on the System i platform to solve the IT requirements of hotels, resorts, and casinos. | 21 Feb 2007 |
For consumer products companies, out-of-stocks can cause loss of revenue and low customer satisfaction. Yet out-of-stock rates are generally high for both promotional items and regular turn merchandise. This brochure details how demand driven replenishment can help generate operational improvements to reduce out-of-stocks. | 08 Feb 2007 |
The CE industry continues to be a difficult place to do business, with cutthroat competition, very short product life cycles and increasing product commoditization. | 20 Dec 2006 |
Sales and Operations Planning is becoming a necessity for successful supply chain execution. Keys to success include a dedicated governance model, an integrated, networked and formal S&OP process from sales and marketing to the supplier base, with an added ™spicing™ of innovation and vision. | 27 Nov 2006 |
The consumer product (CP) industry has thrived for over 100 years by introducing innovative, everyday products that provide convenience at a reasonable price. Historically, CP firms targeted the 'mass market' with broad marketing and branding strategies and widespread distribution through a convenient, and often deferential, retail channel. | 04 Aug 2006 |
The 2006 GMA Information Technology Investment and Effectiveness Study was conducted by IBM on behalf of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA). | 26 Jun 2006 |
Consumer products manufacturers are under increased pressure to grow revenues and improve operating efficiency. Challenges in meeting growth targets include changes in consumers' demographics, increased competition in mature markets, increased spending on services, the rise of private labels and the low success rate of new brands. | 28 Apr 2006 |
Inventory optimization is one of the hottest supply chain improvement areas. IBM's Dynamic Inventory Optimization Solution is a packaged software application that helps companies reduce inventory investment while maintaining or improving customer service levels. | 13 Apr 2006 |
The Electronic Product Code (EPC) and its complementary radio frequency identification (RFID) technology have generated a significant amount of interest and activity in the consumer goods and retail industries over the last few years. | 28 Mar 2006 |
Effective inventory management has become critical to companies as they strive to improve their customer service, cash flow and profit margins, while meeting the challenges of global competition, product proliferation, shorter lifecycles and demand uncertainty. | 14 Sep 2005 |
Smart consumer products companies are adapting to market pressures and taking action now – turning them into competitive advantage and profitable growth. We call these companies on demand businesses. | 13 Jun 2005 |
Today's trade relationships are tremendously complex. They are characterized by shifting customer needs and growing polarization in the retail market, requiring greater agility and responsiveness on the part of consumer products companies. What new capabilities will retail customers demand of their suppliers? How will ... | 13 Jun 2005 |
IBM Integrated Market Management addresses the strategies, business processes and supporting infrastructure required to enable Consumer Products companies' sales organizations to drive profitable growth with their retail customers. IMM provides ... | 13 Jun 2005 |
A consolidating marketplace, coupled with increasingly demanding consumers, is bringing about a new era in trade relationships for manufacturers and retailers. How can consumer products manufacturers and retailers fundamentally change the way they conduct business to dramatically... | 13 Jun 2005 |
Retailers, manufacturers and distributors have entered a promising, yet challenging, period in their relationships. As trading partners recognize the importance of working more closely together to improve operational efficiency and service levels, and as competition becomes fiercer and margins continue to shrink, the way information is ... | 13 Jun 2005 |
As the global economy continues to experience ups and downs, long-term corporate goals—increasing revenue and containing costs—remain constant. The IBM Full Economy Model for SAP can help your organization optimize cost savings, integrate information... | 13 Jun 2005 |
This paper discusses major challenges and emerging trends confronting wholesales and distributors of all types and sizes. It will then present a step-by-step approach for gaining the responsiveness, resilience and other on demand business strengths needed for future growth and profitability. | 13 Jun 2005 |
For consumer products companies, frequent and successful new product introductions are essential for organic growth. SAP and IBM bring a selection of different ways to implement a NPDI solution step by step. | 13 Jun 2005 |
IBM On Demand Workplace Executive Brief. This executive brief showcases how IBM On Demand Workplace can create a security-rich, collaborative environment to help employees work more productively and effectively. | 13 Jun 2005 |
At the heart of all consumer driven supply chain processes is replenishment. Responsive replenishment is an innovative business scenario addressing the shift from a manufacturer push – to a consumer pull supply chain. | 13 Jun 2005 |
This bundles IBM products and services to deliver targeted business benefits leveraging a fully scalable pre-configured SAP solution and a rapid implementation methodology. | 13 Jun 2005 |
Facing competitive and budgetary pressures, CP companies are working hard to streamline their business and IT environments, contain costs and achieve employee and infrastructural efficiencies. At the same time, forward facing companies are looking for e-business success. | 09 Jun 2005 |
The cost of trade funds investment has tripled in the last 20 years. CP companies typically 15-25% of sales revenue in this area. The relentless growth of trade funds over this period is in part a consequence of changing balance of power... | 11 Apr 2005 |
IBM and SAP together offer a new approach to trade promotion management, designed to help manufacturers manage and analyze their trade funds and promotions in an efficient way. Manufacturers have an opportunity to help reduce business risk, cut unnecessary costs and increase promotion effectiveness to drive better ROI. | 11 Apr 2005 |
After several years of cost-cutting, growth is back at the top of the CEO agenda. For CP companies, frequent and successful new product introductions are essential for organic growth. However, many companies find that revenues from new products fall short of expectations. There are several reasons for this. | 11 Apr 2005 |
| IBM lays down its RFID gauntlet By creating a so-far unrivalled demonstration of extra-enterprise RFID, IBM is making a clear statement that it can not only provide support of retail mandate-related RFID, but can span the whole supply network. | 24 Jan 2005 |
In the retail and consumer products industries, pricing products is one of the most important decisions companies can make because of the direct impact on your shareholder value. The industry rule of thumb is that a one percent increase in price can drive a ten-plus percent improvement in operating profitability. Hosted by IBM, .... | 17 Jan 2005 |
As a consumer products manufacturer, you depend on accurate, consistent and updated product information to successfully market and distribute your products. | 24 Sep 2004 |
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