If you’re a professional working within Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), we can assume you landed on this article for a few reasons.
➡️ The most obvious: you’re looking for the BEST CPG software to fill a gap within your business operations.
➡️ You understand the impact digital transformation has had on CPG and technology is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but a must to scale against the competition — it was estimated CPG manufacturers spent $23.8 billion on digital transformation in 2023 alone.
➡️ You’ve seen CPG giants like Heineken and Coca-Cola listen to their customers in an “always-on” fashion through real-time feedback using customer experience (CX) software. BTW, it’s doubling their market share.
No matter your motive for learning about CPG software, there is one thing we know to be true: CPG customers have higher expectations than ever before and the only way to meet these new demands is through technology geared towards improving the customer experience.
Advancements in technology empower CPG companies to transform their operations, and those investing in technology now will outpace competitors.
So, are you ready to see what software is right for your business needs in the upcoming year?
Let’s get started.
What Does Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Mean?
CPG or Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) refers to the industry that produces everyday products that consumers use frequently and need to replenish regularly.
These items, which include food and beverages, toiletries, over-the-counter drugs, and other consumables, are typically sold in packaging designed for quick sale and consumption.
High competition, thin profit margins, and extensive distribution networks characterize the CPG industry. Effective supply chain management, marketing strategies, and consumer insights are critical for success in this sector — that’s why we included all different software types to help overcome challenges in these areas.
What Is Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Software?
Software for consumer packaged goods is a specialized suite of digital tools designed to enhance the efficiency and productivity of companies within the CPG industry.
This software can encompass a range of functionalities, including enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain management, inventory control, procurement, and sales management.
CPG software enables businesses to streamline operations, improve product lifecycle management, and gain real-time insights into market trends and consumer behaviors.
By leveraging advanced analytics and automation, CPG software helps companies optimize their supply chains, reduce costs, and increase profitability.
How to Choose the Best CPG Software
1. Identify Your Business Needs
Key Processes: Determine the core processes (inventory management, supply chain, sales forecasting) the software must support.
Scalability: Ensure the software can grow with your business.
Industry Challenges: Address specific challenges like complex supply chains or regulatory compliance.
2. Evaluate Essential Features
Inventory & Supply Chain Management: Real-time tracking, demand planning, and optimization tools.
Sales & Distribution: Streamline order processing, sales tracking, and logistics.
Trade Promotion Management: Plan, execute, and analyze promotions to maximize ROI.
Analytics & Reporting: Real-time insights into sales, customer trends, and operations.
Compliance & Traceability: Ensure the software meets industry regulations and offers supply chain traceability.
3. Check Integration Capabilities
ERP Integration: Seamless data flow with your existing ERP system.
Third-Party Systems: Compatibility with CRM, e-commerce, and logistics platforms.
Cloud vs. On-Premise: Choose based on your need for flexibility or control.
4. Assess User Experience
Ease of Use: Intuitive interface for quick adoption.
Mobile Access: Essential for teams on the go.
Customization: Tailor dashboards, reports, and workflows to your needs.
5. Consider Costs
Total Cost of Ownership: Include licensing, implementation, and maintenance.
Return on Investment: Assess potential efficiency gains and revenue growth.
6. Request Demos & Trials
Software Demos: See the software in action.
Free Trials: Test with your data and processes.
7. Check Reviews or Analyst Reports
Gartner Ratings: Discover how a massive research firm ranks various software.
G2 Customer Reviews: Check out what real users think of each platform.
By focusing on these key areas, you can select the best CPG software to drive efficiency, support growth, and keep your business competitive in 2025 and beyond.
10 Best Software for Consumer Packaged Goods
The CPG industry faces unique challenges, including supply chain complexities, tight margins, and the need for agile operations (we spoke about them at our Beverage Experience Summit).
Various software solutions have emerged to address these challenges, offering capabilities ranging from ERP to procurement and inventory management.
That’s why we hand-picked ten of the best software solutions for the CPG industry; let’s get into it.
1. CustomerGauge For Exceptional CPG Experiences: Reach Every Outlet With Real-Time Feedback
For CPG, the old way of gathering once-a-year market research just isn't cutting it anymore — why?
With industry evolutions like digital transformation, customers now expect businesses to provide personalized experiences at all times, and you can't do that through an annual report.
That's why agile, "always-on" digital feedback approaches are critical to channel relationships. And in such a crowded market like CPG, those who put their customers at the heart of what they do continue to come out on top.
Brands must start building stronger relationships with their distributors, manufacturers, retail outlets, and more to make a big difference in the industry in 2025.
That’s why CustomerGauge’s mission is to deepen human relationships through customer feedback technology.
Trusted by 100+ of the best CPG companies on the planet, CustomerGauge gives businesses a global view of what their outlets are saying through “always-on” real-time feedback.
Working directly with CPG giants including Coca-Cola, Heineken, Just Eat Takeaway, AB InBev, and more, “always-on” feedback is CPG’s new competitive edge to becoming the customer’s partner of choice helping them move from stagnant market research to active customer experience.
From Modern and Traditional Trade to HoReCa, CustomerGauge gives CPG brands the opportunity to:
Survey all outlets. It’s not just a single point of contact who should be receiving your surveys — you want to receive feedback from the head office to outlets in an “always-on” fashion to anticipate customer needs.
Benchmark results in real-time. Gain a deeper understanding of market trends, consumer preferences, and operational performance through the world’s largest CPG B2B experience benchmark data set.
Follow-up and grow market share. Quickly deliver prioritized action plans to your team to enable better service, improved operations, and marketshare growth to scale business faster.
- Close-the-loop artificial intelligence (AI) assistant. Our closed-loop assistant powered by AI, or GaugieAI, transforms the feedback response system by analyzing customer feedback in real-time and crafting personalized, professional responses. This significantly reduces the time needed to reply while boosting customer satisfaction.
- Enhanced campaign builder. Designed to maximize feedback collection across various survey distribution methods such as emails, SMS, and WhatsApp, this powerful tool offers personalized domains, automated reminders, and more, ensuring higher response rates and meaningful feedback. The user-friendly survey builder allows frontline teams to create custom surveys tailored to customer preferences effortlessly.
- Geocoding capabilities. This cutting-edge feature equips frontline teams with a detailed understanding of customer engagement and loyalty within their geographic regions. By mapping customer data, teams can prioritize visits and create action plans that address specific areas.
- Localization by language. Delivering a personalized customer experience includes speaking their language. Our fully integrated language platform supports 198 languages and locales to help improve response rates. Additionally, real-time translations are available to further enhance communication.
2. NetSuite ERP for Financial, CRM, and eCommerce Solutions
In CPG, it’s essential to streamline and automate processes across departments, providing a unified platform for managing key business functions.
With 38,000 customers, NetSuite enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a comprehensive, cloud-based ERP solution that integrates financial, CRM, and eCommerce functionalities. It's particularly valued for its scalability and flexibility, making it suitable for CPG companies of all sizes.
A few key areas it helps gain visibility into are:
General Ledger: Manages all financial transactions, consolidating them in real-time.
Accounts Payable/Receivable: Tracks what the company owes and is owed, managing payments and collections efficiently.
Financial Reporting: Generates detailed financial statements, reports, and dashboards to provide insights into financial performance.
Order Processing: Automates the order-to-cash process, from sales order management to fulfillment.
Billing: Manages billing processes, including invoicing and recurring billing.
NetSuite ERP solution consists of a single, integrated suite of applications for managing accounting, production, supply chain and warehouse operations, and more.
3. SAP S/4HANA for Inventory Management, Procurement, and More
SAP S/4HANA is a powerful ERP system known for its real-time data processing capabilities.
The next-generation ERP suite designed by SAP is built on the SAP HANA in-memory database and provides advanced capabilities for managing business processes in real-time.
It supports various CPG operations including inventory management, production planning, and procurement, helping businesses improve efficiency and decision-making.
Some of SAP HANA’s core features include:
Inventory and Warehouse Management: Real-time tracking and management of inventory levels across multiple locations.
Procurement and Sourcing: Streamlines the procurement process, from requisitioning to supplier management.
Manufacturing: Supports various production methods, including discrete, process, and repetitive manufacturing, with real-time insights into production processes.
Sales and Distribution: Manages the entire order-to-cash process, including order processing, pricing, and delivery.
With its simplified IT landscape leading to lower costs to the software’s scalability, this is a reliable tool for CPG businesses from small enterprises to large global corporations.
4. Vividly for Trade Promotion Management
Vividly is a software platform designed to help CPG companies optimize their trade promotion management. It focuses on providing real-time insights and tools that enable businesses to manage, plan, and analyze their trade promotions more effectively.
Vividly offers a wide range of benefits such as:
Planning and Execution: Vividly allows users to plan and execute trade promotions with precision. The platform helps businesses create promotions that align with their sales strategies and objectives.
Performance Analysis: Vividly offers powerful analytics tools to assess the effectiveness of trade promotions. Businesses can track key metrics such as sales uplift, promotional spending, and ROI.
Integrated Communication: The platform includes communication tools that allow teams to work together seamlessly, sharing insights and updates in real-time.
ERP and CRM Integration: Vividly integrates seamlessly with existing ERP and CRM systems, allowing for smooth data flow and unified business processes.
5. LEAFIO AI for Demand Planning and Forecasting
LEAFIO AI is a comprehensive software platform designed to enhance supply chain and inventory management for retail and wholesale businesses.
By leveraging artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, LEAFIO AI helps businesses streamline operations, optimize inventory levels, and improve overall efficiency.
LEAFIO AI offers key features like:
Demand Forecasting: LEAFIO AI uses AI algorithms to accurately predict product demand, helping businesses maintain optimal inventory levels. This reduces the risks of stockouts and overstocking, ensuring the right products are available when needed.
Automated Replenishment: The software automates the replenishment process by generating purchase orders based on real-time data and demand forecasts. This minimizes manual intervention and ensures timely restocking.
Logistics and Distribution: The platform helps optimize logistics and distribution by analyzing routes, delivery times, and costs, ensuring efficient movement of goods through the supply chain.
Shelf Space Management: The software helps optimize shelf space allocation based on sales data and customer behavior, improving product visibility and turnover.
LEAFIO AI is a powerful tool for retail and wholesale businesses looking to optimize their supply chain and inventory management through AI-driven technology, resulting in better efficiency, cost savings, and improved customer satisfaction.
6. Infor CloudSuite Food & Beverage for Quality Control and Compliance Management
Infor CloudSuite is a comprehensive suite of cloud-based ERP software solutions designed to meet the needs of various industries.
Developed by Infor, a global leader in business software, CloudSuite offers industry-specific functionalities and tools to help businesses manage their operations more efficiently and effectively.
Plus, it’s specifically designed for the food and beverage sector within the CPG industry, for production scheduling, quality control, and compliance management, ensuring products meet industry standards.
You’ll find upon logging into your custom dashboard, features will include:
Preconfigured Processes: The software includes preconfigured business processes and best practices for each industry, enabling faster implementation and more effective operations.
Financial Management: Infor CloudSuite offers robust financial management tools, including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, financial planning, and analytics. These tools help businesses manage their financial operations and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
Human Capital Management (HCM): CloudSuite includes comprehensive HR tools for managing employee records, payroll, recruitment, talent management, and workforce analytics.
Infor CloudSuite is a powerful and versatile ERP solution for CPG looking to truly adapt to changing market conditions and achieve strategic goals.
7. Epicor Kinetic for Manufacturing and Supply Chain Optimization
Calling all manufacturers! This one’s for you.
Epicor Kinetic offers robust manufacturing and distribution capabilities, with a focus on usability and real-time data insights.
It supports lean manufacturing processes and supply chain optimization, essential for CPG businesses striving for efficiency.
Here's an overview of what Epicor Kinetic offers:
Production Planning and Scheduling: Epicor Kinetic helps manufacturers optimize production schedules and resources. It includes tools for job scheduling, production planning, and managing work orders to ensure efficient manufacturing processes.
Shop Floor Control: The software provides real-time visibility into shop floor operations, allowing managers to monitor production progress, machine performance, and labor utilization. This helps in identifying bottlenecks and improving overall efficiency.
Quality Management: Epicor Kinetic includes robust quality management tools that help businesses maintain high standards by tracking quality metrics, managing inspections, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.
Logistics and Distribution: The software supports efficient logistics and distribution processes, including shipping, receiving, and warehouse management, ensuring that products are delivered on time and at the lowest cost.
If you’re ready to streamline your manufacturing process and procedures, Epicor Kinetic is a great option to consider.
8. Quickbase for No-Code Custom Applications
Quickbase is a no-code/low-code platform designed to help businesses create custom applications that streamline processes, manage data, and improve collaboration.
It is particularly useful for organizations that need to build business apps quickly without relying heavily on IT resources or extensive coding knowledge.
Key features you’ll find in Quickbase are:
Custom App Building: Quickbase enables users to create custom business applications using a no-code or low-code approach. This means users can build apps by simply dragging and dropping elements, without needing advanced programming skills.
Templates and Pre-Built Apps: The platform offers a variety of templates and pre-built apps that users can customize to fit their specific needs. These templates cover common business processes like project management, CRM, and inventory tracking.
Audit Trails: The platform provides audit trails that track changes to data and workflows, helping organizations maintain compliance and accountability.
Quickbase is an ideal platform for CPG organizations looking to empower their teams to create custom business solutions, improve operational efficiency, and foster better collaboration without extensive IT resources.
9. Promomash for Organization and Analysis of Revenue-Generating Activities
From planning and execution to analysis and reporting, Promomash is a great all-in-one tool for CPG brands to stay organized and track their revenue.
The software platform is designed to help CPG companies manage and optimize their promotional activities through a comprehensive set of tools to streamline the entire promotion management process
Campaign Planning: Promomash provides tools to plan and organize promotional campaigns, allowing users to set goals, budgets, and timelines. The software supports various types of promotions, including in-store events, digital campaigns, and trade promotions.
Task Management: The platform includes task management features that help teams coordinate and execute promotional activities. Users can assign tasks, track progress, and ensure that all aspects of a campaign are on schedule.
Field Sales Management: Promomash helps manage and optimize the performance of field sales teams. It allows managers to assign territories, track sales activities, and monitor the effectiveness of in-store promotions.
Merchandising and Sampling: The software supports merchandising activities, such as product placement and sampling, by providing field teams with tools to report on and optimize their in-store efforts.
Promomash is a solution for CPG companies looking to optimize their promotional activities, improve field team performance, and drive better results from their marketing efforts.
10. Zycus for Contract Management
Zycus is a leading procurement software suite designed to help organizations manage and optimize their procurement and sourcing processes.
It includes tools for eProcurement, spend analysis, contract management, and supplier management, helping businesses optimize their procurement processes and ensure compliance.
Users can expect Zycus to have:
Spend Analysis: Zycus provides powerful spend analysis tools that allow organizations to gain insights into their spending patterns. It helps identify savings opportunities, track compliance, and make data-driven decisions to optimize procurement.
Category Management: The platform supports effective category management by providing tools to analyze spending across different categories, helping businesses develop and implement category strategies.
Procure-to-Pay (P2P): Zycus offers a comprehensive procure-to-pay solution that automates the entire purchasing process, from requisition creation to purchase order management and invoice processing. This streamlines procurement workflows and improves efficiency.
Catalog Management: The platform supports electronic catalogs, enabling users to manage supplier catalogs, standardize purchasing, and ensure that employees are purchasing from preferred suppliers at negotiated prices.
So, what software will you choose?
With industry evolutions like digital transformation, CPG companies can’t avoid going digital.
The solutions we shared offer CPG companies data to streamline operations from enhancing supply chain efficiency to improving overall business performance.
By leveraging technologies like CustomerGauge, businesses can better navigate the complexities of the CPG market and drive market share growth.
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