In the past decade the consumer sector has faced the most sustained period of disruption in its history. Customer expectations have shifted dramatically, digital channels have become the primary route to market for many products and services, and global events have made supply chains less predictable. At the same time, ESG and regulatory requirements have become more complex, and new competitors have emerged with operating models designed from the ground up to take advantage of these shifts.

Traditional consumer business models, built on rigid processes, siloed data and instinct-driven decision-making,  are struggling to keep pace. Today’s consumer expects seamless, personalised experiences across every interaction, whether in-store, online, via mobile apps or through direct-to-consumer platforms. They want accurate stock levels and fulfilment timelines in real time, competitive and transparent pricing, and the assurance that their personal data is secure.

Consumer businesses must now meet these expectations while running leaner operations, containing costs, staying compliant and managing supply chains that stretch across multiple geographies and sales channels. The convergence of these demands is not something manual or semi-automated methods can handle at the required speed or scale.

Intelligent Automation is designed for this environment. By combining artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation and advanced analytics, IA creates systems that can process vast volumes of data, learn from patterns, predict outcomes and act without constant human intervention. The result is an operating model that is faster, more accurate and able to adapt in real time to market changes.

This paper explores where Intelligent Automation can deliver the greatest impact in the consumer sector, and how it can be applied to achieve measurable commercial outcomes. Each operational area is examined with a focus on the value it creates and the organisational capabilities it enables. The aim is not simply to automate tasks, but to transform how consumer businesses operate, compete and grow.

Access the whitepaper here