Tech Transformation: Recent Episodes
CGT / RIS
Tech Transformation with CGT and RIS News explores the tech trends and innovation shaping the retail and consumer goods industries.
Transformation inside large organizations almost never happens at once. Instead it’s usually thanks to steady shifts, whether in leadership mindset, data strategy, or in how tech teams partner with the business to drive impact.
In this episode of Tech Transformation, Varun Kakaria, North America CIO at Reckitt, shares what it takes to lead transformation inside a global company, from building stronger data foundations to scaling revenue growth management.
Learn how they're deploying AI in practical ways and the new expectations for CIOs.
Personalization has come a long way from simply adding a first name to an email subject line. Today, leading brands are using data, technology, and a culture of experimentation to create experiences that truly connect — and scale.
In this episode of Tech Transformation, sponsored by Contentful, Gabriel Dillon, go-to-market lead for personalization at Contentful, shares what “good” personalization looks like right now, and what it takes to move from good to great.
Listen to learn:
- How leading brands are defining and measuring effective personalization
- Why success depends on connecting experiences across every channel
- The metrics and signals that show when personalization is actually working
- How to rethink content operations to keep up with rising personalization demands
- Cultural and organizational shifts needed to support continuous experimentation
- Common misconceptions about scaling personalization and how to overcome them
- Lessons from other industries that are setting the bar for personalization
- How AI is shaping the next generation of personalized customer experiences
Scaling a brand has never been easy — but today’s market of constant uncertainty makes things that much harder. In this episode of Tech Transformation, sponsored by Doss, Wiley Jones, CEO and co-founder of Doss, joins to break down how midsized CPGs are rethinking growth and operational change.
Listen to learn:
•How midsized brands are faring today and what it means for them when thinking about growth
•What makes scaling in today’s environment especially tricky for this group
•Common mistakes CPG leaders make when navigating operational decisions during market volatility
•The tipping point that forces a company to realize it can’t scale any further with spreadsheets and duct-taped processes
•Quiet inefficiencies that often go unnoticed in high-growth CPGs
•Advice for leaders trying to navigate system or process change under pressure
•Misconceptions about operational transformation
The Estée Lauder Companies has long been a pioneer in using AI, and they’re now breaking new ground with their in-house Beauty Trends platform. In this episode, we’re talking with Raheel Khan, SVP of foresight and growth Intelligence, about how it helps them stay ahead of today’s consumer preferences.
Listen to learn:
- Some of the most impactful ways Estée Lauder is leveraging generative AI
- How their Beauty Trends platform is driving value
- The role of data within their AI strategy
- What he looks for when it comes to building and cultivating AI talent
- Why prompt engineering doesn’t need to be as complicated as it sounds.
- What he’s most excited about when it comes to the future of AI in consumer goods and retail
- What's next for Estée Lauder with AI
In this episode, we’re joined by James Reid, chief innovation officer at AllSaints. James brings a wealth of experience from both software and sales roles across various consumer goods companies and retailers. We explore AllSaints' journey, from re-platforming and shepherding innovation across the enterprise to the success of their consumer app, boasting over 150,000 downloads in the UK and US. How did they manage that? James lets us in on how and looks ahead to other features and capabilities the company is hoping to add in the future. We also discuss the buzz around unified commerce versus omnichannel strategies.
A lot of what James and I talk about chimes nicely with our Analytics Unite event in Chicago on May 1st-3rd which is themed around building the future of unified intelligence. This event is awesome every year, but we’re incredibly excited about this year in particular, as we’re going to have speakers from Tractor Supply, Amazon, Sephora, and Molson Coors. It is shaping up to be incredible. Registration is open now, so visit analyticsunite.com to sign up.
Listen to learn:
•The importance of customer focus and efficiency in innovation and implementing new technologies.
•The development and success of the AllSaints app, which has over 150,000 downloads in the UK and US.
•How AllSaints makes use of the app's ability to identify highly engaged customers and its higher conversion rates compared to other channels.
•How AllSaints maintains the DNA of its brand while tailoring messaging and experience to the needs of specific markets and geographies.
•The concept of unified commerce versus omnichannel, and why James considers one to be superior to the other.
•Why and how AllSaints is emphasizing the seamless integration of online and in-store experiences.
•The importance of experimentation and innovation in the retail industry.
•Plans for the future, including partnerships with retailers and the evolution of wholesale, concession, and drop-ship models.
Innovation can be an architect of transformation, helping to build bridges from aspiration to accomplishment. A single misstep, however, and the entire structure can come tumbling down. With that in mind, how can leaders ensure their teams feel safe to take a chance, share their out-of-the-box ideas, and weigh up the risk versus the reward when it comes to innovation? In this episode, we’re talking all about this tricky topic with Andy Laudato, chief operating officer at the Vitamin Shoppe. In addition to his leadership role, Andy is also a published author, who has brought his 20 years of experience as a CIO to create a collection of lessons learned – and mistakes made – in the tech industry in his book, Fostering Innovation, How to Build an Amazing IT Team. Later in the episode, we connect with the recent insights shared by Andy on personalization and omnichannel, delving into practical steps for creating a supportive environment and nurturing a culture built around the three pillars Vitamin Shoppe lives by: quality, expertise and innovation.
Listen to learn:
•Why creating a culture of psychological safety is so important in retail and CPG.
•How The Vitamin Shoppe approaches personalization initiatives catering to its diverse customer base.
•How innovation extends beyond technology to products, processes, and the supply chain.
•How The Vitamin Shoppe builds a culture of quality, expertise, and innovation.
•The Vitamin Shoppe’s plans for AI-driven one-to-one personalization.
•How The Vitamin Shoppe is balancing both front-end and back-end enhancements for a smooth customer experience.
•Why failure is a valuable learning experience – sometimes more so than success.
•Why Q1 is a more important time of year than Q4 for the Vitamin Shoppe.
•How the Vitamin Shoppe shows its ongoing commitment to evolving technology for an integrated shopping experience.
On this episode, we’re joined by Linda Roman, Associate Director of Packaging ESG & Technology at The Kraft Heinz Company. Working at one of the biggest consumer goods companies in the world, Linda has a front-row seat to just how important packaging can be in the quest to be more sustainable. Discussing Kraft Heinz's approach, Linda delves into the crucial role of technology and collaboration across the value chain, and the challenges and opportunities in achieving sustainability goals. From aligning packaging strategies with business outcomes to measuring success through specific KPIs, Linda provides us with an optimistic overview of Kraft Heinz's journey toward a more sustainable future. Stay tuned for that and more, on this episode of tech transformation.
Listen to learn:
•How Kraft Heinz balances innovation with circularity goals
•Why Kraft Heinz emphasizes a culture of creativity and innovation to drive sustainability and embeds ESG in all facets of its business
•Why sustainability is such a key focus for Kraft Heinz
•How Kraft Heinz leverages technology, including AI, machine learning, data analytics, and supply chain technologies, to drive its sustainability efforts
•The importance of partnering with organizations and participating in committees to establish industry-wide protocols and standards for sustainability
•Examples of Kraft Heinz’s collaborations with retailers in recycling soft plastics and refillable packaging
•How Kraft Heinz measures success through KPIs, progress tracking, and reporting
•Upcoming projects, including prototype testing for sustainable packaging solutions
When it comes to packaging and sustainability, small alternations can add up to huge differences over time. Ball Corporation recognizes this power of incremental change and has built its strategy around driving meaningful impacts through specific, targeted action. In this episode, we’re talking with Predrag Ozmo, Director of Sustainability at Ball Corporation about how the company collaborates with partners to mobilize value chains, drive decarbonization, and measure and improve the sustainability of aluminum packaging in a variety of forms.
Listen to learn:
• How Ball Corporation made sustainability central
• How innovations like lightweighting save costs for retailers
• Ball's plans to create a total circular solution for aluminum packaging
• Where they see the future of sustainability
• How they’re measuring success
• How they're advocating for decarbonization across the supply chain
• How sustainability is integrated into strategic planning, involving stakeholders and addressing emerging risks
• How they're exploring refill and reuse applications with partners
• What’s next for Ball Corporation
While livestreaming and video shopping hasn’t taken off in the U.S. quite as quickly as other regions, it is a growing commerce channel for many retailers. For The Fresh Market, it’s one that they stumbled upon as part of their goal to jumpstart e-commerce sales after the pandemic's digital growth spurt. We’re talking with Kevin Miller, CMO of The Fresh Market, about why it works for them, the benefits they’re receiving, and where they see the future in retail.
Listen to learn:
•How The Fresh Market is leveraging video shopping and livestreaming
•When they first discovered this winning recipe
•The gains they’re experiencing
•Where they see the future of shoppable media
•How they’re measuring success
•How they’re using AI to engage with consumers
•How they’re tying this back into their stores
•The role of consumer and manufacturer education in livestreaming
•What’s next for The Fresh Market
As more consumer goods companies bring artificial intelligence into their operations, keeping their employees at the center is critical to success. For Mars, this has meant creating strategies that empower their associates in order to drive adoption and ensure they feel connected to all of the changes. In this episode of Tech Transformation, sponsored by Aera Technology, we’re talking with Guillaume Doriry, digital transformation senior director, global supply chain and ERP at Mars, and Fred Laluyaux, CEO, Aera Technology, about how Mars is using decision intelligence to gain more visibility into their supply chain.
Listen to learn:
•Why decision intelligence can be beneficial for CPGs
•Why Mars partnered to operationalize AI for decision intelligence
•How decision intelligence is changing Doriry’s work and the Mars business
•How Doriry helps drive adoption of the technology and the feedback they’re receiving
•What other CPGs can learn from Mars’ experience
•The impact that decision intelligence and AI decision automation may have on the CPG industry in the future
Loyalty programs give retailers and consumer goods companies invaluable access to shoppers, and – if done correctly – can create dedicated brand evangelists. In this episode, learn how CVS is harnessing the reach of its vast membership base to boost loyalty and constantly evolve its personalization and convenience efforts.
Like many consumer goods companies and retailers, Kimberly-Clark wants to put consumers at the center of everything it does. The company also wants to take things a step further by doing it in a way that advances their sustainability goals, and doing this successfully as a multi-national company means working cross-functionally in some very unique ways.
In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking with Jeannette Chantalat, Kimberly-Clark’s Global Head, Innovation & Sustainability Accelerator, about how they’re using their vast reach to understand consumers at very local levels — and then marrying it with technology to meet consumer needs in new and more sustainable ways.
Listen to learn:
•How Kimberly-Clark leverages consumer insights in product development to advance their sustainability goals
•How digital prototyping plays a role
•The new ways they’re measuring success with their retail partners across the value chain
•What these KPIs look like
•What they’ve learned about when and why consumers will pay more for greener products.
As consumer goods manufacturers and retailers rethink how they collect and leverage consumer data, it has them reinventing their external partnerships. PepsiCo is not only entering first-of-its-kind relationships with companies like Spotify and EA Sports, but it’s also looking ahead to how it might use the data to drive further value at retail and for its retail partners. In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking with Mark Kirkham, SVP and CMO of PepsiCo’s international beverages business, about some of the new ways they’re collecting data, how their partnerships are driving value well beyond brand awareness, and some of the technologies that are connecting the dots.
Listen to learn: •Why PepsiCo is forming and expanding partnerships with organizations like Spotify, EA Sports, and UEFA •How these partnerships deliver value to PepsiCo’s retail partners •How they’re leveraging consumer insights in new ways •How they’re tracking progress, tying it back to marketing, and the metrics they use •How they’re using these insights elsewhere •Some of the ways they’re leveraging technology to ensure experiences are personalized and authentic •How they navigate the expectations of hyper-personalization as a large global company •What’s next for tech-driven experiences at PepsiCo
Retail media is without question one of the biggest trends in sales and marketing right now, but for tech teams, the conversations get a little fuzzy when it comes to measuring success and the expectations a brand should have. In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking with Claire Wyatt, VP, business strategy and marketing science at Albertsons Media Collective, about some of the challenges brands are facing, what they should consider when they’re building partnerships, and some of the common misconceptions.
Listen to learn: •A lightning-round explanation of retail media •How far along the maturity curve most consumer goods companies find themselves at this point •How much cross-integration with legacy platforms is impeding progress •The role and value of data clean rooms •What a strong RMN partnership looks like — and what doesn’t •The role of AI and the future potential of generative AI within retail media
Today's consumer behavior shifts are only growing more complex, making it a challenge for both manufacturers and retailers to meet shoppers whenever they are. We talk with Manish Sharma, VP of Omni and E-Commerce for Kellogg Company, about the consumer goods company’s evolution into omnicommerce and the changes they're making across their business.
Listen to learn:
•The most recent behavior changes they’re monitoring and responding to
•How they define personalization
•How the transformation from e-commerce to omni-commerce drives holistic success of their businesses
•The industry’s willingness to cooperate for data sharing today and where is more work needed
•Where they see the potential of data clean rooms
•The role of generative AI in the consumer goods industry
•What retailers should know about becoming stronger trading partners
As Unilever digitizes its value chain and transforms its organization to put the customer first, it's finding that decision intelligence is playing a key role in helping it gain speed and agility. In this episode of Tech Transformation, sponsored by Aera Technology, we’re talking with Juan Carlos Parada, global head of customer operations at Unilever, and Fred Laluyaux, CEO of Aera, about their journey with this technology and where they’re taking it next.
Listen to learn: •The challenges decision intelligence can solve •Where it fits into Unilever’s complex and innovative supply chain •How Unilever drives and grows user adoption and measures value of its use •What’s particularly impressive about Unilever’s adoption and scaling of decision intelligence •What’s next for Unilever and Aera Technology
Attention around generative AI in the consumer goods and retail industries hasn’t slowed, and most of the companies we’re talking with tell us that they’re trying to figure out how it could make sense to use in their business. So in this episode of Tech Transformation, we're talking with Thomas Ortis, chief marketing officer of Eboost, an energy drink and supplement company that’s using it to chat with digital twins of its customers. We’re talking about where it’s seeing benefits, what it has planned, and what a digital twin of a customer looks like.
•Why Eboost invested in technology that leverages generative AI to create digital twins of its customers •The success that it’s having •How its employees are adapting •Where he sees further potential for the technology •What’s next for the company
Convenience chain Yesway is in growth mode, and being able to generate strong consumer loyalty has been key to its success. Now, as the company looks to its future, it’s revamping its loyalty program and using technology and automation to better understand and deliver personalized experiences. In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking with Darrin Samaha, VP marketing at Yesway, about the ways they’re thinking more strategically about loyalty, how they plan to leverage new partnerships and data, and the new ways that they’re measuring success.
Listen to learn:
•How Yesway IDs the priorities for both consumers and its business within the new program
•How automation and personalization are driving loyalty vs. previous programs
•What it was like getting IT teams on board and obtaining their buy-in
•The potential of hyer-rural markets and the value of generating emotional loyalty
•Where the program is headed as they scale up
•Thoughts on the potential of generative AI in the retail space
Decision Intelligence is growing in adoption, and it’s poised to have a significant impact across the retail and consumer goods industries. In this episode of Tech Transformation, sponsored by Aera Technology, we’re talking with Fred Laluyaux, Aera CEO, about the technology and how it’s reinventing the way CPGs get work done — and ultimately, the business of CPGs.
According to Laluyaux, more global brands are turning to Decision Intelligence to improve efficiency, service, sustainability, and more.
Listen to learn:
•How do you define Decision Intelligence?
•Why is it needed, and how does it differ from business intelligence or automation technologies?
•How can Decision Intelligence improve efficiencies, service, and the bottom line?
•How are CPGs adopting it and what are the results?
The retailer Bealls operates over 600 stores in 23 states, and the company is growing, adding 150 stores in the past two and a half years. In this episode of Tech transformation, we’re talking with Jackie Long, director of merchandise process at Bealls, about how the deployment of auto allocation technology is helping them react to the actual performance of these stores.
We're joined by Richard Wilson, VP, global retail and consumer solutions at SAS and a CGT/RIS Executive Council member. Listen for conversation about the gains Bealls made, what's next in retail technology, and what's expected for the greater retail industry.
Listen to learn:
•Why Bealls first implemented the new technology and their pain points
•What the retail environment looks like for them right now and how the technology is improving their abilities to serve customers
•Whether their experiences align elsewhere in the retail industry
•The benefits they’ve experienced from automation in both their stores and the supply chain
•How their customers and employees are responding •What’s next for Bealls with retail technology
•Some of the other ways retailers are preparing for tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities
Dollar General is one of the most rapidly expanding retailers in the United States, which is a strategy that has a significant impact on a company’s IT and tech teams. In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking with Shweta Bhatia, SVP of IT applications and base engineering, about what this looks like and how they’re keeping pace.
We’re talking about some of the new digital tools they’re using to manage supply chain disruption and keep up with consumer demand, and why working in IT at Dollar General is a bit different than other retailers.
Listen to learn:
•How Dollar General’s expansion has impacted the company’s IT teams
•The biggest obstacles the tech teams have faced and how they work to overcome them
•How they put out the everyday fires while simultaneously building an infrastructure for growth
•The technologically innovative ways they’ve managed a very disruptive supply chain
•Updates on their data-driven inventory management tools
•Other technologies they’re using to manage shifting consumer demand
•Why working in IT at Dollar General is different from other places Bhatia has worked
•How Dollar General remains competitive with prospective and current tech employees
There may be no bigger priority for both retailers and consumer goods companies today than access to consumer insights, and PepsiCo has stood up its own data analytics practice known as Pepviz to seize this opportunity. In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking with Kate Garner, SVP of marketing, demand accelerator, at PepsiCo about some of their latest findings, how the company's use of technology has evolved, and how it's helping them develop more collaborative retail relationships.
Listen to learn:
- How the use of technology at PepsiCo has evolved over the last 20 years
- How Pepviz is helping retailers leverage consumer insights for market share and revenue growth
- How they share these insights across the PepsiCo organization
- How PepsiCo overcomes some of the challenges associated with data democratization
- What’s next for Pepviz and what Garner sees as the future of retail
- The potential of generative AI within consumer goods and retail
Digitizing the route to market has been a priority for consumer goods companies for a very long time, and the pandemic amped the urgency to a 10. For AB InBev, this meant really stomping on the pedal when rolling out their BEES e-commerce technology, which lets retailers place their orders through a mobile app — and a lot more.
Over the past few years, its use has exploded and has transformed how the company works with retailers. In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking with EJ Weiss, global director of strategy at BEES at AB InBev, about the impact the tech has had within the company and how they use these learnings and data across the enterprise.
Listen to learn:
•Where BEES fits within AB InBev's larger e-commerce strategy
•How its success is driving additional transformation within AB InBev
•How they’re leveraging learnings to improve the technology
•What drove their decision to offer third-party products to retailers
•Other ways that BEES is transforming AB InBev and its partners
No- and low-alcohol beverages have been a standout category, with sales growing more than 7 percent last year, according to IWSR. Here we talk with Jamie Lissette, COO of Athletic Brewing Company, a growing brand that’s really seizing this opportunity.
We’re talking not only about their growth strategy and how they decide which markets to enter, but also how they leverage consumer insights from their dedicated DTC base and about some of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to the non-alcoholic category.
Listen to learn:
•The backstory on Athletic, including their target customer (it may not be who you think)
•The biggest misconception about the brand and the category
•How they determine the markets for expansion
•The role of their culture when it comes to remaining nimble while scaling for growth
•How they keep teams focused on long-term goals without getting bogged down by everyday tasks
•How they leverage analytics and use it to inform decision making
•How they use consumer insights to develop new products and how they share this info with their retail partners
•Where social commerce fits into their e-commerce strategy and how it’s evolving?
•Another quickly expanding CPG brand or retailer Lissette admires
Given how quickly and dramatically consumer behavior is changing, there’s a lot retailers and consumer goods companies are taking away from other regions when building their commerce strategies. So on this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking with Channan Sawhney, director of global e-commerce, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, about some of the ways consumers are engaging differently with brands and retailers, and where she sees retailers investing to meet new needs.
We’re talking about the technologies that are used to apply these learnings across functions and segments — and also about why sometimes this just doesn’t work.
Listen to learn:
•Some of the more recent consumer behavior shifts retailers are adapting to and how these shifts differ across regions
•A recent example of how she applied learnings from an e-commerce “win” in one region to another for success
•A time this didn’t work and what we can learn
•Where she sees the most potential for generative AI technologies like ChatGPT in retail and consumer goods digital commerce
•Other upstream technologies worth paying attention to
•How solution providers can be stronger partners with retail and consumer goods companies
•Her one wish for digital commerce
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably been inundated with news and hot takes on generative AI, including ChatGPT. But what does it mean for retail and consumer goods? There’s a massive amount of potential, and it’s moving really quickly. We’re talking with Imteaz Ahamed, director of performance marketing of nutrition at Reckitt, about what it is, what the impact could be, and some of the really, really, really cool things in the future.
Listen to learn:
•How generative AI can impact retail and consumer goods, including viable use cases
•How optimizing performance marketing campaigns differs by platform, such as social media, search engines, or marketplaces (Gimmick alert: question written by ChatGPT!)
•Future trends or advancements in performance marketing that will be important for CPG brands to pay attention to (Question written by ChatGPT!)
•The startup we should all have our eyes on
•The MACH Alliance and why Ahamed is an ambassador
Understanding how consumers view your retail experiences quickly and accurately is one of the most important parts of serving them, and this means doing a lot more than just surveys. In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking with Steve Peltzman, Chief Business Technology Officer at Forrester, about why this can be so hard for some retailers and what they can learn from other industries.
Here are a few things you need to know about Tractor Supply Company: For one, they pride themselves on being the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, with over 2,000 stores and 50,000 employees. What’s more, they have more than 26 million members in their loyalty club.
In this episode of Tech Transformation, we talk with Rob Mills, Tractor Supply EVP, chief technology, digital commerce, and strategy officer, about how they’re using things like wayfinding, mobile apps, and even artificial intelligence to improve the consumer experience.
Listen to learn:
•Why mobile apps have been a key tool in their success and how they’re evolving the technology
•How Tractor’s teams determine the features that are most valuable to customers
•How apps help drive loyalty for both their customers and employees
•Inside their test-and-learn culture and team engagement
•How and why Tractor is digitizing its store layout – and the benefits
•The opportunities and obstacles of having inventory quantity visible at the store level
•The future for personalization at Tractor Supply
•What Rob wishes Tractor manufacturing partners knew when it came to being a good trading partner
•What’s next for Tractor Supply
Getting leadership buy-in isn’t easy in any role, but working in social media brings a special kind of challenge. In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking with Tiffany Pegues, the head of social, search, and CRM at Church & Dwight, about some of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to retail and CPG social. She shares why it’s so important to balance the razzle dazzle of marketing with having a disciplined approach on TikTok and other platforms, and she talks about how to set yourself up for success when you’re operating in so much unknown territory.
Listen to learn:
•How Church & Dwight is staying relevant for the next generation of consumers and the obstacles that come along with it•How they upskill their teams•The role of social-first campaigns •How she’s influencing-up and why getting leadership buy-in in social media can be so challenging•The biggest thing on her plate right now•The future of social media •The misconceptions in social and search she wishes would just disappear
In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re digging into social commerce with the disruptive haircare brand K18. We’re talking with Suveen Sahib, K18 co-founder and CEO, about how they’re making the most of TikTok and Facebook (yes, Facebook) and planning for the metaverse. We also discuss the value of using consumer insights in product development and sharing these insights with your retail partners.
Listen to learn:
- How K18 leverages consumer insights within their product development
- Why TikTok and social commerce work so well for them — and how they discovered this
- How they adapt their strategies for different platforms
- K18’s plans for the metaverse
- The failures they’ve learned from
- The future of beauty and haircare tech
Molson Coors is evolving from an alcohol beverage company to a beverage company, and this has meant transforming its business, its technology, and its ways of working. In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking with Lindsay Winn, VP, commercial IT business partner, and Ramki Krishnamoorthy, global head of enterprise architecture, about what prompted the need for all of this change and to get a candid look at how it’s going.
We dig into what it’s like measuring success in new ways of working and what we can learn from our missteps. We also get into the weeds a bit to talk about cloud architecture and some of the other considerations they’re taking into account.
Listen to learn:
•How Molson Coors’ digital transformation is supporting its business transformation
•What prompted the need for change
•How this relates to its cloud transformation program
•Where they got started
•The architectural considerations that were taken into account
•How they built their business case to get stakeholder alignment
•How they’re measuring success
•What their post-cloud transformation future looks like
•The Molson Coors product that should be on every Thanksgiving table
Building consumer loyalty may be one of the most complicated challenges for today’s consumer goods companies. For brands like Gogo SqueeZ, this means focusing on developing a first-party data strategy as they work on their next stage of growth. In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking with Mark Edmonson, CMO of Materne North America, Gogo SqueeZ, about how the snack brand is measuring and growing loyalty using consumer data and gamification to innovate and grow.
Recorded during CGT’s annual Consumer Goods Sales & Marketing Summit in New York, we’re also talking about where retail media fits into their strategy and even what Mark would wish for if he could have anything in the world when it comes to loyalty.
Listen to learn:
•What consumer loyalty looks like for GoGo squeeZ, including how it’s measured
•Where retail media fits within their loyalty strategy
•How they view social commerce and gamification when marketing a product with a child as the core consumer
•The data sources they’re leveraging
•What Mark would wish for if he could have anything (consumer loyalty and otherwise)
Tech Transformation is once again on the road, this time recording from Groceryshop 2022 in Las Vegas. In this episode, Deepak Jose, Global Head One Demand Data & Analytics Solutions at Mars Wrigley, sits down to share how they’re using data analytics to engage today’s consumers in new and innovative ways.
Listen to learn:
•How Mars is using AI and machine learning to create engaging e-commerce experiences
•What it means to have a value-led approach to analytics, and why it’s paying off for them
*The data sources that are most important to Mars
•How they’re recruiting and retaining today’s top tech talent to put all of these ambitions into action
Craft soda company Jones Soda might have some of the most loyal and engaged fans in the world. The company was tapping into user-generated content before digital photography even existed, and now they’re leaning into mobile apps and other technologies to engage consumers and leverage their insights across its business.
In this episode of Tech Transformation, we're talking with Bob Blair, Jones Soda CMO, about some of the technologies they're using and what they have planned. We're also talking about their recent entry into the cannabis market and what kind of thinking and preparation needs to happen before moving into this category.
Listen to learn:
•What it’s like operating as Jones’ first CMO
•How Jones uses user-generated content to drive incredible loyalty
•How today’s consumers prefer to connect digitally
•How Jones is using mobile apps to drive value
•How it’s leveraging consumer insights across its business
•Why it’s moving into the cannabis market and its learnings
•Some of the weirdest soda flavors consumers have ever suggested
In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re getting back to basics (in a way). We’re talking about data-driven customer service with Steve Sigrist of Newell Brands and Justin Honaman of Amazon. We’re digging into some of the biggest consumer behavior changes that are impacting customer service operations today, and we’re talking about some of the technologies that are most important to brands and retailers to meet these new needs.
Listen to learn:
•The biggest consumer behavior shifts having an impact on Newell Brands and other consumer goods companies
•How brands and retailer are adapting to meet these new needs
•Some of today’s biggest pain points
•How brands are using 20/20 hindsight to prepare for tomorrow's consumer on behalf of their retail partners
In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re digging into some trade secrets with Scott Saeger, SVP and CIO of retailer GNC. Saeger shares why GNC recently teamed with Amazon for same-day delivery and how that kind of decision can impact a retailer’s IT operations and infrastructure. He also talks about some of the new ways they’re using their mobile app to drive sales, and where they stand when it comes to their hybrid data strategy.
Listen to learn:
•Some of the recent consumer behavior changes that are proving to be sticky for GNC •What this has meant from an IT perspective •Details about GNC’s expanded partnership with Amazon •Insight into how GNC views the potential of machine learning for demand forecasting •Some of the biggest obstacles for GNC and some of the most promising things in its future •What more people should know about being a retail CIO and some of the biggest misconceptions about the role
In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re taking a look at the current state of the retail and CPG supply chain. Tom Madrecki, VP of supply chain at the Consumer Brands Association, sits down with Lisa Johnston, editor-in-chief of CGT, to talk about what’s happening and what’s ahead.
Listen to learn:
•What's causing the most pain today •How brands are navigating these obstacles to keep products on shelves •Technologies proving to be successful in alleviating challenges •An outlook for this year and next •What retailers should know when it comes to CPGs and supply chain obstacles
When the pandemic started, there were a lot of bored kids at home, so what did a lot of bored parents do? They bought them Legos! In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re digging into how The Lego Group kept its tech teams flexible and aligned during a period of massive disruption. We’re also digging into the power of low code and what it means for the future.
We’re once again on the road, recording from Analytics Unite, the three-day summit that gathered today’s leading minds in retail and consumer goods analytics. In our last episode, we talked with John Bertrand, VP and CIO of Kreg Tool Company, about investing in people and technology to prepare for the consumer of tomorrow.
In this episode, we sit down with Ash Mehra, most recently chief digital and information officer of Packable, and also previously CDIO of North America at Mondelez International. We discuss:
•Where the most work is needed to break down internal silos to advance digital transformation
•Where we do see progress being made
•What the consumer goods workplace of the future might look like •The table stakes when it comes to recruiting and retaining today's top tech/IT talent
•Where companies should invest in their IT infrastructure in order to meet current and future consumer needs
•Why Ash gives new meaning to the term “streak”
We’re going on the road for this episode of Tech Transformation. We’re talking with John Bertrand, CIO of Kreg Tool Company, about where they’re investing to prepare for the consumer of tomorrow and how they’re retaining top tech talent to do so.
We’re recording from Analytics Unite, the three-day live summit that gathered today’s leading minds in retail and consumer goods analytics. We’re talking about what makes Kreg Tool's new global headquarters so important for them, the consumer-facing technologies they’re betting on, and what's so great about fostering a mindset of Individual Awesomeness.
Listen to learn:
•How Kreg Tool Company is working to break down internal silos to advance its digital transformation initiatives •What the consumer goods workplace of the future could look like •The table stakes when it comes to recruiting and retaining top tech/IT talent •How Kreg Tool is investing in its IT infrastructure in order to meet the needs of consumers today and in the future
On this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking about getting the right fit, the right recommendation, and – most importantly – the right returns process. We’re talking with Nadia Boujarwah, Co-Founder and CEO of Dia & Co, an inclusive apparel retailer that considers itself just as much of a tech company as it does a retailer. We dig into AI, Gen Z, and virtual try-on tech, and we get details on Dia’s TikTok strategy.
Listen to learn:
•The future of sizing and try-on technology •How Dia & Co has rethought returns to encourage the process •Learnings from engaging with and selling to Gen Z •Advice for brands and retailers on being more inclusive •Why Dia & Co recently acquired 11 Honoré
When you’re one of the largest CPGs in the world, understanding consumers has become more important than ever. For Kellog’s, this means leaning into such technologies as artificial intelligence and machine learning, and connecting the dots between their data across all channels.
In this episode of Tech Transformation, CGT Senior Editor Lisa Johnston talks with Charisse Hughes, SVP and Chief Brand and Advanced Analytics Officer, and Lesley Salmon, SVP and CIO of Kellogg Company, about what they’re seeing when it comes to today’s consumer behavior changes and how they’re using data and technology to prepare for the consumer of tomorrow.
Listen to learn:
•How Kellogg’s is preparing for the consumer of 2035 •What personalization means to Kellogg’s and how it prevents it from becoming a buzzword •How it's experimenting with DTC •Where it sees the future of CPG commerce •Where it’s using artificial intelligence and machine learning •The consumer data that’s important to Kellogg’s
Over 95% of Ulta Beauty's sales come from members of its loyalty program, so is it any wonder they’re hyper-focused on taking their game to the next level when it comes to personalization technology?
In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking with Kelly Mahoney, Ulta Beauty’s VP of customer marketing, about how they’re standing out in a sea of loyalty programs. We’re joined by Richard Widdowson of SAS to share how retailers are using data and analytics to make these decisions about consumer experiences more quickly than ever.
Listen to learn:
•How Ulta Beauty’s Glam Lab virtual beauty tool is paying off •How its mobile experiences and technology are supporting consumer experiences and in-store associates •How the value of the store experience differs by generation, especially with Gen Z •How data and analytics are helping retailers react to consumer trends more quickly
We’re talking with Nicole Nelson, most recently SVP of decision science, data science, and applied machine learning at Best Buy, about lessons for successful transformations, including running through a list of lessons. We’re also giving a sneak preview of Analytics Unite 2022, held June 21-23 in Chicago (AnalyticsUnite.com).
Listen to learn:
•How technology and analytics transformation are different yet one in the same
•How technology and data science teams can work together for successful transformations
•What a sideliner is, how to know one when you see one, and how they can advance your mission
•Why having shared goals is so important (yet often so challenging)
•How to identify your blind spots and help your team identify their own – and then how to move past them
•A sneak preview of Nelsons’ Analytics Unite keynote
In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking about the metaverse and what it might actually mean for retailers and consumer goods. We’re talking with Mike Proulx, VP Research Director at Forrester Research, about their new State of the Metaverse Report.
We dig into:
•Myths and realities of the metaverse •Why this isn’t just for gamers •How retailers need to prepare •What brands risk by experimenting (or not) •What hiring for the metaverse looks like right now •What this has to do with Web3 •When this all might start to feel a little more “real”
In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re talking about the future of personalization – both in stores and online. We’re talking with Tyler Wozny, Chief Digital Officer for Madison Reed, the hair color brand and retailer that’s using technology to do some pretty awesome things in consumer engagement.
Listen as we dig into such topics as: Where it makes sense to use augmented reality – and where it can become a gimmick How Madison Reed is using machine learning to leverage its 20 million consumer profiles The KPIs it uses to measure success How it’s continuing to disrupt as larger CPGs level-up their own personalization capabilities Why choosing a tech partner can sometimes feel a little bit like using Tinder.
In this episode of Tech Transformation, we sit down with Seth Goldman, co-founder of Eat the Change, Honest Tea, and PLNT Burger, to break down some of the differences of innovating in a startup vs. a giant company. We talk about what it’s like trying to balance conscious consumption with making a profit in the food space, and we discuss greenwashing in the consumer goods industry.
Other topics discussed with Goldman, who also sits on the board of Beyond Meat: •What it’s like for Goldman being back in a more start-up, entrepreneurial role, and those "hindsight is 20/20" moments he’s drawing from •Why launching a kid’s version of Honest Tea was so impactful and how he’s using that perspective now •The differences between re-doing food and un-doing food, and what’s required for brands to be successful •The making of Eat the Change’s newest product innovation, Cosmic Carrot Chews •How CPGs can balance greenwashing with the value of achieving incremental progress •The challenge and importance of balancing conscious consumption with operating and generating profits in the food space
In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re continuing our deep dive into the role that security plays in today’s retail and consumer goods environments. This is part three of our three-part series that’s sponsored by Microsoft, and we’re once again talking with Jim Eckart, Chief Security Advisor for Microsoft. We dig into the role of security in the supply chain, including the different challenges and risks — and just what motivates cyberattackers. We also break down the ways retailers can protect themselves, as well as how accountability for operational security is changing.
In this episode of Tech Transformation with CGT and RIS News, we’re talking about learning to scale, both your tech stack and your tech career. We’re talking with Jason Johnson, CIO of Sweetwater about what’s it’s like moving up the ranks into the CIO role. We’re talking about what makes a strong leader, and we’re digging into pros and cons when it comes to building your own tech in house and what it can mean for the rest of your IT staff. Stay tuned for that and more on this episode of Tech Transformation.
In this episode of Tech Transformation, we’re digging deeper into the role that security plays in today’s retail and consumer goods environments. This is part two of our three-part series sponsored by Microsoft, where we’re talking with Jim Eckart, Chief Security Advisor for Microsoft, about today’s most pressing concerns. We’re talking about the new realities of the retail workforce, what they mean for today’s key security challenges, and just some of the things that are keeping retail security experts up at night.
In this episode of Tech Transformation with CGT and RIS, we talk with Kirk Ball, EVP and CIO of Giant Eagle, about the state of grocery technology and innovation in today’s stores and how things are changing. Ball shares insight into some of the tech today’s retail workforce finds the most valuable, how this has shifted, and the steps Giant Eagle is taking to foster team connections. Also: Listen for perspective on what the metaverse might mean for retailers and more.
In this episode of Tech Transformation sponsored by Microsoft, we look at the role that security plays in today’s retail and consumer goods environments. We talk with Jim Eckart, Chief Security Advisor for Microsoft, as part of a three-part series that’s digging into some of today’s most pressing security concerns. In this first part, we explore some of the different concerns retailers might have depending on how they interact with consumers. We talk about the privacy matters that come into play during customer support, and we dig into the technologies that are helping retailers and consumer goods companies reduce their risk of fraud.
In this episode of Tech Transformation with CGT and RIS, Senior Editor Lisa Johnston talks with Wakefern Food Corp. CIO Cheryl Williams about the most recent pandemic wave's impact on grocery retailers, and how they’re using their 20/20 hindsight to roll with the new challenges. Williams shares how Wakefern is drawing from the pandemic’s early days to navigate today and previews some of the latest tech innovations they have on the horizon. Listen for insight into the future of checkout-free stores, consumer behavior, and in-store robots.
Tech Transformation with CGT and RIS News is a new podcast where we explore the innovative tech strategies and trends in retail and consumer goods.