A woman in a boutique checks the address of a delivery on her laptop

Consumer Goods

Together with our clients, we are shaping the future of the consumer goods & retail industry. Taking a holistic view of the entire value chain, we develop strategic solutions and implement them with a clear focus on measurable results. Our international expertise is built on many years of project experience across the food, packaging, apparel, cosmetics, and sports sectors, as well as in both wholesale and retail.

Opportunities

Making the industry fit for the future

Consumer goods & retail – opportunities and challenges

In order to grow and remain competitive as an organization, existing business models have to be updated and realigned with the ever-changing demands and expectations of customers. Moreover, the sustainability of products, their manufacture and their packaging are increasingly influential in consumers’ buying decisions. Companies must comply with regulatory requirements and get products to market faster than ever, yet also efficiently. Ultimately, the digital transformation also places new requirements on employees in the consumer goods and retail industry. In parallel, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and automation are reshaping entire value chains: from innovation and production to logistics. Global dynamics demand more robust supply chains and new business models that enable faster adaptation to market shifts and changing customer demands.

Through our expertise and our industry-experienced consultants, we understand these industry challenges and see opportunities in them that we can tap into with and for our clients. This is how we make the industry fit for the future and ensure that our clients benefit from developments within the industry.

We help you with every facet of the business

We know the challenges and understand the opportunities and risks in the consumer goods and retail industry. Our approach links digital innovation with strategic resilience using AI-driven analytics and scenario planning. Throughout the process, we maintain an open dialogue with employees and leadership teams and always keep people at the center of transformation.

"Competetiveness in the Consumer Goods & Retail sector comes from aligninig new technologies with customer centricity."

Dr. Roman Hipp

Industry Lead Consumer Goods

Porsche Consulting

Solutions

Our Concepts for the Consumer Goods Industry & Retail

Strategic Transformation

Which strategies are effective in helping companies grow and become more innovative?

Constant change in the industry calls for strategic transformations. The focus in the consumer goods and retail industry is on brand strategies. Strong and successful brands are optimally adapted to specific customer groups. At the same time, digital and disruptive business models such as in-house e-commerce channels are becoming increasingly important. Moreover, AI enables deeper consumer insights, personalized communication, and dynamic pricing and assortment management.

We help organizations design and implement their business model, as well as their corporate, product and function strategies, in optimal fashion. We combine analytical and technological capabilities with strategic market expertise to help develop growth strategies, identify innovation potential early, and systematically unlock opportunities.

Generating Growth

How can companies gain new customers and secure their loyalty for the long haul?

Today, things revolve around the customer. So it’s crucial to understand cross-channel customer journeys and individual needs. With specific analytical tools and optimal data evaluation, pricing, customer retention and advertising can all be adapted and improved in a highly targeted manner. It’s possible, for example, to use personas to describe a specific customer type based on demographic or personal characteristics. Smart demand forecasting helps identify opportunities early and allocate resources efficiently. Combining data insights with market experience allows companies to capture new growth areas, even in volatile markets. Simulations further support the evaluation of geopolitical risks, supply chain disruptions, and price volatility, empowering organizations to make informed and forward-looking decisions.

We help companies adopt the perspectives of their customer base and their company perspectives at the same time as a foundation for sustained growth. This makes it possible to seamlessly connect sales channels and put the customer at the center of the organization and processes.

Managing Costs

How can the value creation chain be optimized through data-driven and digital processes?

Constant cost pressure is a key challenge in the industry. Changed market dynamics through new competitors or changed customer preferences call for consistent revision of the business model and individual processes. The focus here is on the areas of procurement, production and sales. The task is to make targeted use of new technologies and analytics in production and to automate core production processes.

The use of artificial intelligence across production, logistics, and planning enables additional efficiency gains through automated demand forecasting, energy optimization, and predictive maintenance. Digital twins and real-time data help identify interdependencies along global supply chains and strengthen resilience against geopolitical disruptions. We help our clients with the challenge of creating the value creation chain and organization of the future while simultaneously raising productivity and lowering costs.

Focus on People

What will the organization of the future look like?

Changing value creation chains require fundamental changes in the organization. These changes, in turn, require structured change management. Relevant impacts, as well as risks and barriers, affecting the entire organization must be identified in a clear and transparent way. Involving the workforce and setting up training concepts for employees and managers are key factors in determining the success of such a transformation. As the use of AI expands, new roles, capabilities, and ethical questions emerge. We help companies develop digital and AI competencies, foster acceptance of new technologies, and establish clear governance frameworks to ensure responsible AI use. In this way, technology becomes an enabler, not an end in itself.

We assist companies in implementing effective transformation measures and ensure that changes are addressed and successfully communicated in a target-group-appropriate manner. This improves acceptance of the change and cultivates the idea management process within the workforce.

Modeling Sustainability

How do you ensure a successful transition to a sustainable organization and value creation chain?

Sustainability is a key competitive factor that increasingly decides whether or not a product will be bought. Successful companies manage to harmonize their business objectives with social and environmental commitments. In the consumer goods and retail industry, transparency plays a particularly critical role for end customers. Climate risks, geopolitical dependencies, and tightening regulations are gaining importance. AI agents help enhance supply chain transparency, measure CO₂ emissions, and systematically track ESG targets. By combining sustainability management with data-driven decision models, sustainability becomes a true strategic steering mechanism.

We help companies define and implement their sustainability strategy. This includes the introduction and ongoing development of sustainability initiatives as well as the development of viable concepts on that basis. Along the way, we assist organizations with comprehensive solution strategies to help them become sustainable and carbon-neutral companies.