Faced with volatile consumer preferences and rapid changes in demand, consumer products supply chain leaders are striving to achieve touchless planning, an approach designed to minimize human intervention in the supply chain planning processes.  

We encourage companies to consider an evolution toward minimal touch planning as a more realistic and feasible goal for most modern CPG companies. This is largely due to challenges in data quality and accuracy, which make fully autonomous planning difficult to achieve. Minimal touch planning balances advanced automation technologies with human oversight, resulting in increased efficiency without compromising the essential human element. Therefore, minimal touch approaches should prioritize exception management, where human oversight adds the most value.   

Readiness Assessment: Is Your Company Prepared for Touchless Planning? 

As CPG companies look to transition toward touchless or minimal-touch planning, a thorough readiness assessment becomes essential. Key capabilities required for this shift include: 

• Data Maturity: Companies must have a strong foundation in data analytics, including access to high-quality master data, transactional, and driver data that are timely and relevant to their operations. A robust data governance framework must be in place to ensure the quality and consistency of these datasets. 
• Technology Infrastructure: An agile tech infrastructure that supports data integration, cloud computing, and AI capabilities is crucial for enabling advanced analytics and automation across Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain technologies. 
• Organizational Mindset: A cultural shift towards innovation, collaboration, and risk-taking is necessary for adopting AI-driven strategies. An understanding that AI-powered supply chain planning elevates the end-to-end planning process and unlocks bandwidth for human operators to engage in meaningful discussions with their cross-functional partners and customers. 
• Change Management: A robust change management strategy to track planner adoption, cross-functional input (especially from Commercial teams), and the foresight and preparation to address resistance and align stakeholders in the journey toward touchless planning is equally as critical for success. 

Evolution to Minimal Touch Planning and Beyond 

Advanced planning software includes the capabilities to transform CPG supply chains to touchless planning. Platforms – such as SAP IBP, Logility, Kinaxis, and o9 – leverage machine learning (ML) to enhance forecasting accuracy and have the ability to automate planning tasks.  

For example, SAP IBP uses ML for time series analysis, demand sensing, and exception management, helping planners identify trends and anomalies with minimal manual intervention. Kinaxis Maestro integrates AI to support concurrent planning and real-time decision-making, while o9 emphasizes AI-driven analytics to unify siloed planning processes and accelerate responsiveness. And Logility integrates ML into its supply chain planning platform, which autonomously manages routine decisions, allowing planners to focus on strategic exceptions. 

Moving Toward Touchless Planning in CPG Supply Chains 

To assess your organization’s preparedness for AI-driven planning and the transition to touchless operations, it’s essential to understand both the technological and strategic requirements involved. Our team at Clarkston can provide insights and tailored support to help you navigate this transformation effectively.  

Reach out today to explore how we can guide your journey toward smarter, more automated planning solutions. 

Contributions from Chris Podkowka