Retailers and consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers spend billions of dollars every year on technology that helps them better understand market trends, brand performance and customer experiences. Their investment delivers visibility in almost every part of the supply chain, from inventory and stockroom, to marketing and EPOS. However, it is at the last mile – the crucial point when products reach the shelves and many customers make a decision – where the technology runs out and visibility drops to near zero.
However, things are starting to change. Artificial Intelligence, specifically image recognition and deep learning, is now being employed in the retail sector to address this very challenge.