Data harmonization enhances the quality and integrity of your business data to create a single source of truth.
Data harmonization
Data harmonization enhances the quality and integrity of your business data to create a single source of truth.
Learn how Blacksmith TPM automatically retrieves daily data feeds and updates commodity price formulas for its customers.
CPGs that want to understand promotional metrics and identify performance trends, need more visibility… they need a TPO solution.
A list of my 17 favorite CPG podcasts. A multi-task friendly resource where you can learn industry trends and tips.
Food brokers kept their finger on the pulse of industry changes through research, partner connections, and technology.
Post-event analysis helps CPGs answer important questions about promotions, see category trends, and quantify COVID sales.
Using virtual research, menu optimization is easy. You can test different scenarios and implement those that maximize sales.
Data harmonization gives CPGs a true view of business performance. Find insights from ecommerce, brick-and-mortar, and specialty channels data.
Foodservice sales enablement software equips salespeople with the tools they need to work efficiently, maximize business, and drive revenue.
K-12 school foodservice is highly specialized and complex. You no longer need to spend time gathering product information for school bids!
We learned from CPG customers and subject matter experts about best practices in post-event analysis and data harmonization.
Learn why Spangler Candy has selected Blacksmith Applications as its trade promotion management and optimization solution provider.
Learn the 5 key CPG marketing challenges and learn how the consumer packaged goods industry can turn those challenges into opportunities.
Trade marketing is a B2B marketing strategy designed to increase consumer demand for a product through partnerships.
Trade promotion management is the planning and processing of trade spend alongside optimization of your promotion activities.
Even looking ahead, we know that the pandemic will still be in the picture. What key CPG trends are going to dominate 2021?
Learn how after competing head-to-head with another end-to-end solution provider, Blacksmith Applications trade solutions won the day.
CPGs can’t afford to not sell online if you want to be competitive in today’s marketplace.
As Love Good Fats quickly expands its presence in-store and online, managing trade programs on Excel isn’t cutting it.
The reasons CPGs look at ERPs are really same reasons they look at TPM functionality.
With Blacksmith’s trade software, Nestlé has produced more than 14,000 trade programs and over 2.6 million billback transactions. Learn more.
If you seek a holistic, intuitive trade promotion planning tool then Blacksmith has the SaaS solution for you.
Richardson says that Blacksmith came out on top not only within the foodservice segment but also in retail where their capabilities are less widely known.
Blacksmith’s Advanced Analytics application gives foodservice manufacturers critical business insights on-demand.
After researching trade promotion management and optimization software vendors, Purely Elizabeth decided to implement Blacksmith TPM and TPO.
When the North American business at Ito En decided to augment their strategic planning approach with technology solutions, one of the top priority applications was trade promotion management (TPM). “Some colleagues within our organization and also external influencers were aware
With Blacksmith TPM, Impossible Foods can efficiently run their programs and have full visibility into workflow, profit, claims, and deviations.
Through automation, Wayne Farms enhances claim processing, broker commission payments and trade spending contract management.
The Clorox Professional Division streamlined its trade management processes to build real results.
TPO software generates accurate baselines so CPGs like Snyder's-Lance can evaluate post-promotion results in real time.
To improve its trade promotion management approach, Basic American Foods selected Blacksmtih TPM to manage its foodservice trade spend.
The virus is affecting every industry and every person, and the CPG supply chain and consumer behaviors are no exception. Read more.
CPG businesses continue to see disruption due to COVID-19. The grocery channel is adapting to changes – state to state, market to market.
Foodservice manufacturers and COVID-19 business impacts. This topic doesn’t need much introduction – it’s all around us – changing our habits and decisions.
COVID-19 has totally changed consumer shopping behaviors. Find out what this means for your CPG business.
84% of industry leaders and decision makers think that sales will grow in 2020.
$55 billion in CPG trade spending will migrate online in coming years since 80% of consumers browse or research grocery products online.
Are you experiencing trade promotion tehnology challenges? The solution is trade promotion execution (TPx).
Since 2012, the foodservice team has used Blacksmith TPM software to have a regular clear line of sight to all budget dollars.
CPG data analytics address product, pricing and customer behaviors. Only 9% of businesses have fully implemented an analytics operating model.
Retailers want collaboration. Using data analysis and optimization, CPG companies can go to retail customers and modify sales plans.
To limit TPO functionality to only a customer insights department would severely decrease the insights that the application gives others.
Take TPO data and use it as a weapon for profitability – optimize your sales plan throughout the year to influence your bottom line.
Although integrating new software shouldn’t be taken lightly, TPM and TPO implementation will not engulf your IT resources.
Butterball was ready for an integrated trade promotion management process that included planning and P&L management.
Blacksmith's foodservice TPM "isn’t just a systematic tool, it’s a partnership," explains Lantmännen Unibake's Commercial Controller.
Shifting to an RGM approach is to shift from managing spend to managing revenue. Set a realistic plan and rules for your data.
We asked two CPG experts to explain their oganization's journey to TPx success. See what leaders from InnovAsian and Kelloggs think.
Tyson upgraded from its legacy trade promotion management tool to Blacksmith TPM due to inefficiencies and time consuming functionality.
Land O'Lakes implemented Blacksmith TPO solution which streamlined its business processes and analytical work to help it gain control of the trade investment.
There are burning issues surrounding us, and together, we can blaze new trails, acting together as the initial attack to industry changes and trends.
While the trade promotion optimizationn process should be simple, the outcomes should be powerful enough to make an impact.
While data lakes provide access to the vast amount of data a company has, there is significant manual work to fish out any insights.
Retailers are offering more in-store data to consumer goods manufacturers. It's time for CPGs to take their data and analyze it.
Retailer collaboration driven by predictive analytics is helping manufacturers and their partners drive better results.
Sales planning doesn't have to be a repeat of last year. Have these data-driven conversations to change your promotional outcomes.
Position your organization trade ROI, implement guardrails to protect your investment and align revenue generation objectives.
Leveraging a TPO tool enables you to create promotional plans that optimize spend and fuel your volume, revenue and profit goals.
Move past a mindset of “what are we spending?” to a more strategic mindset of “what is the optimal return?”.
Getting an accurate trade investment ROI during sales planning has proven problematic for many CPGs.
The elusiveness of accurate baselines has hindered understanding and opportunity. Build baselines that accurately reflect in-store activity.
3 motivators for you to keep investing in trade promotions. To sustain revenue generation there are proven, data-driven options.
Lack of visibility to trade spend analytics leaves CPG companies vulnerable to poor investments and competitive disadvantages
Strengthen your trade spend with trade promotion optimization functionality that will smooth your baselines and generate accurate lift coefficients.
CPGs can prioritize a comprehensive revenue growth management (RGM) approach to trade investment, pricing, budgeting and funding guidelines.
In response to foodborne illness and consumer concerns, Walmart announced its blockchain technology implementation to ensure food traceability and safety.
Not sure what conferences to attend this year? We've created a list of all of the big food and beverage events in 2019.
In a world where more than half of trade deals don't break even, our goal is to provide insights and expertise on trade promotion management trends.
Gen Z is shaking up the food industry. CPG manufacturers that build a relationship with Gen Z will reap benefits as their spending power expands.
Manufacturers that understand the importance of technology, health and sustainability will be ahead of the game.
Sysco isn’t supposed to deduct on category management products, but if you suspect they are, read on to find out what to do about it.
Distributor trade dollars should be used to the manufacturer’s advantage. One concern we hear is, “I suspect my dollars allocated to local marketing are wasteful. Are they?”
Trade promotion management is a complicated process. Here's what some food & beverage industry experts find to be the biggest mistakes manufacturers make.
We asked five industry experts, "What has been the biggest disruption to the food and beverage industry in 2018? Has it/will it impact trade spending now/in the future?"
The rise of store brands has diminished manufacturers’ traditional advertising and pricing power. Private-label dollar share could reach 25.7 percent by 2027.
“Amazon is placing its bet on the future of the food industry,” says Errol Schweizer, a former Whole Foods executive.
Online CPG sales are growing two times as fast as online sales in general. The future of consumer goods is fast-paced and requires an equally fast response.
Between 4-10% of food purchased by foodservice operations is thrown out before reaching the plate. Can manufacturers help reduce waste?
These food and beverage thought leaders will help you stay abreast of new buying trends to trade promotion management advances and everything in between.
Product innovation doesn't focus on beverages. Selling a unique beverage adds to the meal experience. Learn more about beverage trends here.
There is only a 50/50 chance that any given trade promotion will be successful. Only 21% of CG manufacturers are satisfied with their ability to manage promotions.
Sara Bowen and Rossann Williams brought the Starbucks Pay Equity story to life. Sara, for me, was the most inspiring speaker of the conference. Her passion is captivating and authentic.
Many foodservice analytics tools are so complex that even the NSA would be hard-pressed to crack the code. Gain impactful insights with the right platform.
Congratulations to the team at Land O’Lakes! Land O’Lakes’ deduction balance is 20% less than what it had been historically, a really impressive result.
A combined compete/collaborate approach may be in order as Amazon flexes its muscle in the grocery world.
Koch Foods really took the time to learn what approach would produce the best payout. They’re using TPM to maximize their efforts.
How do you reach retail consumers? Multiply your paths to purchase by using technology. Map the buying model by understanding and anticipating consumer behavior at every stage: planning, purchasing, and fulfillment. Run experiments in digital stores – they give you
During the May 2018 Smoke Jumpers sessions, Blacksmith Applications awarded Pinnacle Foods for adoption of new capabilities.
KraftHeinz is in the beginning stages of implementing Blacksmith TPM to a business unit that did not have a trade system in the past.
Trade promotion optimization delivers values to CPG companies. Learn how to overcome challenges for better promotional events.
Smoke Jumpers XVII had a varied agenda — so we've compiled the biggest takeaways in industry trends, expectations and challenges.
Food is a big part of consumer spending; Americans spend $627 billion on groceries. Will shoppers start favoring online stores?
The consumer votes with their feet and if we are to win their dollar then all players in the supply chain must work together to give them what they want.
Today’s digital shopper is spending about 25% of their food budget online; this number is anticipated to grow five-fold over the next decade.
59% of trade promotions net loss because brands continue to overlook strategic trends instead of implementing new practices and technologies. Read more.
As the countdown to 2018 begins, we took a look back at what content was most helpful and relevant to you. This blog review features our most-read trade spend posts of 2017.
With the 3D printing, it will be easier to customize ingredients and nutrients, minimize chemical additives, and advance sustainability in food.
Auto pay supports the processing and reimbursement of corporate shelter, buying group rebates and local distributor rate-based offers.
Trade spend subject matter experts lead discussion groups at Smoke Jumpers XVI, then share their top trade spend best practices and takeaways.
We’ve researched customer performance and evaluated data over time to learn that trade spend software delivers a compelling ROI, ranging from 7% – 17%.
Manufacturers can support c-stores approach to foodservice by providing healthy and fresh products. 90% of c-stores have basic foodservice programs.
Consumer goods companies are embracing trade spend data in order to generate actionable decisions that improve trade promotions.
You and your team are probably spreadsheet ninjas. You've likely used spreadsheets to manage pricing data for years. It has to change. Find out how modern commerce can give you a winning advantage with B2B buyers.
CPG manufacturers are inundated with information from multiple data sources. Learn how to analyze your data to identify customer and brand opportunities.
Did you know: non-aligned independent operators collectively spend more than $100 billion annually on their purchases.
Ready to ditch Excel, email chains and long meetings? Advocate for a trade promotion management software and garner support from an executive.
At least 60% of companies are using custom/manual processes. Don’t miss out on improvement opportunities because you’re using Excel.
It’s simple. Reporting tactics have enabled Smucker’s to drive their deduction balance down to an all-time low.
When looking for a trade and pricing application that facilitates (and improves) budgeting, planning and decision-making, these are the 3 questions to ask.
For this company's data dreams to come true, they would have to be thoughtful about the CRM integration approach, the inputs and the desired outcome.
Pilgrim's implemented Blacksmith TPM in 5 months and successfully converted trade processes from its legacy system.
Blacksmith Applications recognized Smithfield Foods with the customer award for superior integration with an enterprise platform.
Tyson Foods was recognized for their commitment to industry excellence in trade promotion management.
The process isn’t perfect. The data isn’t perfect. It’s likely that the effort will never be 100% complete, but the insights gained are 100% better.
Nestlé expands TPM capabilities. Nestlé, one of the world’s most notable food companies, implemented Blacksmith TPM in 2016.
Smucker’s took home the customer award for adoption of our trade promotion analytics platform.
Sales, IT, marketing, operations, and management can improve business decisions with the right foodservice TPM application.
Four days. Seven educational workshops. Thousands of participants. One message: ignite leadership with speed and purpose.
