POI Trade Vendor Report Review • Blacksmith Applications
The annual POI Vendor Panorama has been released! Each year, the Promotion Optimization Institute (POI) highlights technologies that help CPGs improve promotional outcomes and drive pricing efficiency.
Consider Blacksmith if you seek a holistic planning tool that is intuitive.
~ 2020 POI Vendor Panorama
Blacksmith Applications has once again been recognized as a best-in-class trade promotion software provider.
RECOGNIZED AS AN INTUITIVE END-TO-END SOLUTION
A CGT article says that CPGs are exploring various technologies that can help them improve the future by making promotions worth the investment. Rich Products, for example, wanted a trade promotion solution that fulfilled the company’s need for “data consistency across all divisions,” explains Casey Joiner, Trade Marketing Manager.
That search led the company to leave its legacy system for Blacksmith’s end-to-end trade management and optimization solution.
“Blacksmith is a great business partner,” says Tamie Griffith of Rich Products. She goes on to say that during the vendor selection process the Blacksmith team really helped her team find ways to make their current trade investment approach better. “They know the business – both foodservice and retail. They are a true partner that you can grow and develop with.”
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THE CRITICAL ROLE OF DATA MANAGEMENT
Year after year, the report says that CPG companies have issues with data management. Companies using an end-to-end automated trade software shouldn’t feel this pain.
According to the POI Panorama, “Blacksmith carries the weight of the initial data work and partners with its clients to establish ongoing data governance best practices.”
“Our TPO features robust data harmonization. This supports customers to have one source of truth for all data related to event performance,” says Terry Ziegler, General Manager for the Blacksmith TPO product. “In the Blacksmith TPO solution, all of your data is harmonized. We bring data from your spreadsheets or TPM, your ERP system, and your syndicated provider into one manageable screen.”
PANDEMIC-PROOF TPO
Of course, we can’t talk about optimizing promotions in 2020 and not mention the pandemic. Business got complicated (consumer demand, logistics, costs, labor, consumer behavior… the list goes on!)
Blacksmith’s TPO “is adaptable and flexible with changed scenarios like these [pandemic],” says Angela Rosenquist, Vice President of Sales at InnovAsian. “It’s invaluable to be able to evaluate situations and optimize what you’re looking to accomplish.”
Let’s talk about how TPO software helps CPG manufacturers drive profitable decision making… even during uncertain times:
- Automated post-event analysis
- True baseline calculations
- Volume and pricing trend graphs
- What-if scenarios
Rosenquist continues, “With TPO and good data at our fingertips, we have a way to figure out how to flatten or normalize baselines as much as we can to gauge the back half [of the year.]”
Sarika Sadarangani of Ventura Foods says “Across all of the categories we compete in, we have seen an increase of first-time buyers. We are partnering with our sata vendors to monitor the increase and analyze if it’s sustainable.” She adds that from the manufacturing side, the top priority is to fulfill customer orders to the best of their ability.
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WHY BLACKSMITH
Blacksmith is recognized for its leadership, seasoned development and implementation teams, and exceptional brand name. The breadth of talent within the organization and depth of optimization capabilities are exceptional.
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Many thanks to the Promotion Optimization Institute for recognizing our passion and product capabilities.
We’ve been celebrating the addition of many new customers to our TPO family this year.
If you’re interested in seeing the Blacksmith TPO solution in action, watch this web demo or just give us a shout to talk optimization.
