How to win over IT with a centralized CPG data solution

A step-by-step guide to engaging internal IT teams about the benefits of a real-time data platform, while addressing concerns about data governance, integration, and reliability.

Implementing a new platform into a company’s technology stack can seem simple, but it often involves multiple decision-makers who need to assess the uses and costs, and consider if it fits into a budget. For CPGs interested in a data platform like Crisp, this will usually mean consulting with an internal IT team. IT will not only assess how the platform fits into the existing stack, but also serve as gatekeepers of the valuable retail data that Crisp ingests and analyzes.

CPG team members in sales, marketing, and operations often recognize the benefits of Crisp’s real-time sales and inventory harmonization across retail accounts right away.

However, especially in enterprise-level organizations, large-scale IT departments are typically cautious about disrupting their company’s current digital landscape, and for valid reasons. They understand the amount of work required to ensure data security and the need to prevent disruptions to company operations.

At Crisp, we work with hundreds of CPGs ranging from emerging brands to multi-billion dollar enterprise organizations. We’ve seen working with countless stakeholders that when  implemented successfully, Crisp can serve as a single source of truth that every team in a company can use to leverage real-time sales and inventory data across multiple retailers and distributors.

In order to help teams share the value of Crisp with internal stakeholders, we’ve created this guide that covers:

• The role of a centralized CPG data platform to unite teams across the company.
• How adopting a platform like Crisp equips CPG companies with accurate data, essential for making strategic decisions.
• How minimal IT lift in implementation can transform organizations and generate serious ROI.

Data governance and offering a seat at the table

When the term “data platform,” is mentioned, IT might have legitimate concerns about data governance — and it’s better to have those conversations early. Instead of moving ahead and requesting to dismantle existing systems, provide IT with a seat at the table to actively participate in a decision-making process.

When implementing a new platform like Crisp, involving the IT team from the beginning can prove crucial. Consider including them in informational meetings to ensure they understand the benefits of the proposed platform and can actively contribute to identifying and addressing potential concerns with an expert.

IT teams have a critical role in controlling the flow of company data and managing access to it. Their active participation in adopting Crisp ensures that data governance considerations are addressed, risks are mitigated, and that the framework can be implemented into existing systems.

When implementing a new platform like Crisp, involving the IT team from the beginning can prove crucial. Consider including them in informational meetings to ensure they understand the benefits of the proposed platform and can actively contribute to identifying and addressing potential concerns with an expert.

Outline the benefits of an internal data transformation

In the retail industry, many of the technological systems currently in use are outdated, causing significant challenges for CPG teams aiming to work with accurate and dependable data. Unfortunately, these challenges create additional work and difficulties for the IT team, putting them in a difficult position:

Should they invest time and resources into a tool that transforms their data processes, or continue with the status quo, despite the difficulties and delays?

You can share with IT how implementing a centralized CPG data solution can benefit teams across your organization, including:

1. It’s easy to get started
   
   At Crisp, we recognize the concerns of your IT team about the potential challenges involved in executing a data overhaul. That’s why Crisp has built a smooth, low-lift onboarding process, ensuring a seamless connection between your existing systems and a unified and trustworthy data source. 
   
   Attempting to build internal data pipelines that aggregate and harmonize data across retailers can be a time-consuming and complex task – often taking upwards of a year to complete.
   
   By utilizing Crisp, we can have your team live with dependable, real-time data in less than 30 days.

2. It establishes a ‘single source of truth’
   
   In customary data processes, lack of integration between databases and software means that CPG teams need to rely on slow and manual data extraction and reporting methods. Naturally, these additional systems and steps lead to higher costs for the company overall.
   
   This fragmented structure results in CPG teams working with delayed, outdated, and disorganized data when making strategic decisions. By the time data reaches analysts, supply chain, and marketing teams from retailers or other areas of the company, it is already obsolete.
   
   Now, envision this scenario magnified as a CPG brand looks to expand its distribution and grow. These processes simply do not function effectively.
   
   Teams require a single, reliable source of data to guide their decision-making.
   
   Platforms like Crisp gather all the necessary sales and inventory data that CPG teams require from retailers and distributors, and consolidate it into a single platform. This single source of truth enables all teams to easily access data whenever needed – in the platform’s native dashboards, or through to BI, cloud, and data warehouse tools. 
   
   Tip: Consider asking the IT team about potential cost and time savings by operating a single data platform rather than multiple isolated systems.

In customary data processes, lack of integration between databases and software means that CPG teams need to rely on slow and manual data extraction and reporting methods. Naturally, these additional systems and steps lead to higher costs for the company overall.

3. The data is dependable
   
   An IT team should contemplate the reliability of their company’s existing data processes. If data from individual retail accounts is isolated, and often outdated by the time it reaches the appropriate teams, how trustworthy can it be?
   
   Technology evolves as the industry adjusts to the needs of consumers and businesses. In today’s fast-moving retail environment, many companies who began online as direct-to-consumer brands are accustomed to highly granular, real-time sales data. Why should brick and mortar be any different?
   
   CPG data platforms like Crisp ingest data from retailer portals as soon as it’s made available – often on a daily basis. And while these portals sometimes undergo updates and changes, Crisp’s connections remain secure, always ensuring timely, reliable data delivery. 
   
   Tip: Discuss the reliability of current data pipelines with your IT team, and see if troubleshooting issues is ever a time-consuming process. 

4. Timely data leads to better decisions
   
   Making decisions based on outdated data can lead to uninformed and costly outcomes. For example, CPG analysts may make incorrect calculations regarding inventory and sales velocity, which could lead to out-of-stocks, or overstocking resulting in waste. And marketing teams may allocate a significant portion of their advertising budget to promote a retail location that does not generate sales.
   
   In order to remain competitive, CPGs require accurate, real-time data to make informed decisions based on data. 
   
   By embracing an overhaul of current data processes and implementing a centralized CPG data platform, IT teams can assist sales, marketing, and supply chain teams in making well-informed, revenue-increasing decisions across the board.
   
   Tip: Offer the IT team examples of decisions that can be made with real-time, store-level sales and inventory data.

5. The ROI is real
   
   It’s no secret that retail brands operate on razor-thin margins, and companies are under pressure to maximize efficiency while working with tight budgets. Understandably, many organizations are hesitant to undergo a data overhaul due to the associated costs. However, it’s crucial to recognize that a data transformation offers numerous opportunities to recoup an initial investment.
   
   So, how can a data transformation deliver a positive return on investment?
   
   By implementing a centralized platform that provides accessible and reliable sales and inventory data across multiple retailers and distributors, CPG teams can now:
   
   Identify and capitalize on sales trends: Through highly granular data analysis, teams can identify sales trends that drive higher sales velocity for specific products, retail locations, and promotions.
   
   Drive efficient supply chain management: With real-time visibility into inventory levels, teams can proactively monitor and optimize their supply chain strategy, resulting in cost savings and improved operational efficiency.
   
   Explore new distribution opportunities: Leveraging regional, retail, and product data, organizations can uncover untapped distribution channels, enabling them to expand their reach and increase market share.
   
   Tip: Go the extra mile and present a breakdown to the IT team of how access to real-time, trustworthy data will lead to a greater return on investment.

Interested in sharing Crisp with your colleagues? Book a demo with our team.

Want to learn more about CPG data? Check this out: How Crisp normalizes data (and why it matters for CPG brands)