AI Primer for CPG Operations

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This guide is designed to help Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brand leaders and operators – regardless of technical background – understand and immediately use AI tools to drive efficiency in everyday operations. You'll find clear use cases, accessible tools, and ready-made prompts for integrating AI into your workflows.

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Why use AI for CPG operations?

Common AI tools offer effective, every day advantages for CPG brands, including:

• Automating repetitive tasks (e.g., reporting, forecasting, deductions)
  
  
• Enhancing creativity for marketing and product development
  
  
• Optimizing supply chain and inventory management
  
  
• Providing faster, data-driven insights for better decisions
  
  

How to Get Started

You don’t need to be a programmer or hire a data scientist to use AI. The following tools and prompts can be used today by any operator or leader in a CPG business.

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Everyday Use Cases & Tools

1. Marketing & Content Creation

• Tool: ChatGPT (OpenAI), Jasper, Copy.ai, Banner Bear
  Use for writing social posts, ads, product descriptions, and responding to customer reviews.
  
  
  • Prompt Example:
    "Write a Facebook post announcing our new [product] launch. Focus on excitement and include a call to action."
    
    
  • Prompt Example:
    "Summarize the following customer review into two sentences for a testimonial: [paste review]."
    
    

2. Consumer Insights & Trends

• Tool: ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity Deep Research
  Use for quick market research, summarizing reports, and ideation for new products.
  
  
  • Prompt Example:
    "Summarize the latest consumer trends in healthy snacks in North America."
    
    
  • Prompt Example:
    "Generate 5 new product ideas based on the trend of plant-based foods."
    
    

3. Supply Chain Optimization

• Tool: ChatGPT (for scenario planning), Claude with Claude Projects or Google Sheets with Gemini
  Use for automating reporting, forecasting demand, or scenario planning.
  
  
  • Prompt Example:
    "Generate a weekly inventory reorder schedule based on the following sales data: [paste data]."
    
    
  • Prompt Example:
    "Analyze this dataset for sales trends and highlight any anomalies: [paste spreadsheet data]."
    
    

4. Customer Support & Engagement

• Tool: ChatGPT, Zendesk AI, Notebook LM
  Collate customer support tickets and responses to common support questions
  
  
  • Prompt Example:
    "Draft a professional and empathetic response to a customer whose order was delivered late."
    
    
  • Prompt Example:
    "List the top 5 frequently asked questions about our [product] from this set of reviews"
    
    

5. Visual Assets Creation

• Tool: Canva with Magic Write, Midjourney, Gamma
  Create engaging visuals for packaging, social media, or powerpoint presentations.
  
  
  • Example:
    Turn call transcripts and notes into professional powerpoints
    
    
  • Prompt Example:
    "Create a product mockup of a new drink in a modern, minimalist style."
    
    

Key Tips for CPG Brand Leaders

• Start small: Pilot AI tools on one process first—such as automating document retrieval or disputing invalid deductions.
  
  
• Focus on ROI: Track time saved, revenue recovered, or any process improvement.
  
  
• Encourage experimentation: Let teams try different tools and share best practices.
  
  
• Upskill staff: Offer training, but show value quickly with real examples.
  
  

Additional Resources

• OpenAI ChatGPT: General text generation and brainstorming
• Jasper: AI copywriting tailored for brands
• Canva: AI-powered design for non-designers
• Google Deep Research: Broad research and productivity tools
• Microsoft Copilot: AI assistance inside Microsoft Office tools
• Notebook LM: Collate internal documents and ask questions
• Gamma App: AI generated powerpoints

With these tools and prompt ideas, every operator or leader in your CPG business can confidently explore AI to unlock efficiency and innovation. You don’t have to be technical—just curious and open to experimentation!

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