Why AI is no longer optional in the consumer goods industry, according to a Globant report

The new report on artificial intelligence in consumer goods analyzes how this technology is transforming the supply chain and operations, driving greater efficiency, resilience and responsiveness in an increasingly dynamic environment.

Globant, a digitally native company that helps organizations lead in a future driven by digital technology and artificial intelligence, today released its new report, “AI-Powered Consumer Goods & Manufacturing.”

The adoption of AI in the consumer goods (CPG) sector is not just a trend, but a strategic necessity. Companies are accelerating their investments and redefining how they operate, driven by AI’s potential to optimize processes, anticipate disruptions, and generate value at scale.

“AI is transforming how we manage the supply chain and operations. We’re not just talking about optimization, but also resilience, agility, and the ability to anticipate trends in an increasingly turbulent market. Initial results are promising, but they require time, discipline, and a rigorous integration process to be deployed at scale. Companies that integrate AI across all their functions will be able to free up human talent to focus on innovation and creating real value for consumers,” explains Santiago Noziglia, CEO of the Retail, CPG & Automotive AI Studio at Globant.

According to the Boston Consulting Group, only 5% of companies globally are successfully capturing value from AI at scale, while agentic AI (e.g., generative copilots) already accounts for 17% of the total value generated by the technology. This data confirms that early adopters with robust operating models gain a disproportionate advantage.

Globant: Use Cases Leading the Way

The Globant report identifies five critical areas where AI is already delivering concrete results:

1: Real-time supply chain orchestration. Companies face increasing volatility due to logistical disruptions, raw material fluctuations, and shifts in consumer preferences. With an AI orchestrator, teams have access to real-time information, predictive analytics, and automated recommendations that enable quick and accurate decision-making, improving operational efficiency and coordination with partners and distributors.

2: Demand forecasting. AI models process historical data, seasonality, competitor activity, and promotional impacts to deliver highly accurate demand forecasts. This enables optimized inventory levels, reduced waste, and smarter production planning.

3: Supplier Management and Collaboration. AI automates repetitive and administrative tasks, such as invoice reconciliation and compliance management, freeing teams to focus on strategic activities. This evolution drives more agile, collaborative, and resilient supply chains.

4: AI Agents in Factories. AI agents, combined with IoT data and predictive analytics, anticipate failures before they occur and guide operators in efficiently resolving problems. This strengthens production continuity and improves responsiveness to unforeseen events.

5: Smart Procurement. AI-powered procurement tools monitor supplier performance, market trends, and price fluctuations in real time, enabling more informed decisions and strengthening companies’ competitiveness.

According to the IBM Institute for Business Value (2025), more than 80% of consumer goods companies consider generative AI transformative and are advancing in use cases such as content creation, predictive analytics, and supply chain automation.

The time to act is now.

Delaying AI adoption means falling behind competitors who are already optimizing costs, making real-time decisions, and building resilient supply chains. As Gallup studies (2025) show, AI use among employees nearly doubled in two years, yet many organizations still lack a clear strategy for its deployment at scale.

True value doesn’t come from promises of immediate impact, but from the ability to integrate AI responsibly, focusing on human-machine collaboration and generating measurable results.

“The future of consumer goods will be defined by companies that apply AI with a strategic vision. It’s about establishing good governance, choosing the right use cases, moving forward step by step, and looking beyond efficiency to create real value,” concludes Noziglia.

Source: www.itsitio.com