What to expect from Vertical AI in 2026

Introduction

Artificial intelligence is no longer speculative technology. It is a core driver of differentiation, productivity and competitive advantage in the Consumer Products industry.

Across Retail Execution, Trade Promotion Management (TPM) and Distributor Management Systems (DMS), organisations are using Vertical AI to drive step‑change improvements in execution quality, commercial effectiveness and business outcomes. The difference between companies that adopt Vertical AI at scale and those that do not will determine winners and losers in the next decade.

This blog explores where the industry has come from, what to expect in 2026, and practical advice for Consumer Products organisations on how to realise the value of AI.

The impact of AI on Consumer Products so far

of CPG leaders had adopted AI in 2025

AI has shifted from isolated pilots to mainstream operational use across Consumer Products companies.

AI is now widely used to improve forecasting, optimise promotions, streamline claims and enable smarter in‑store decisions.

Industry research shows that 71% of CPG leaders had adopted AI in at least one business function in 2025, with measurable benefits including revenue growth and cost reduction.

Companies reported up to 69% increases in revenue and 72% reductions in costs through AI applications in forecasting, trade promotions and supply chain automation. (SR Analytics)

Vertical AI in Action

Aforza’s Vertical AI “Ava” is a practical example of AI embedded into the commercial execution stack. Ava is designed to work across Retail Execution, TPM and DMS workflows on the Aforza platform; guiding field teams, recommending next best actions, automating manual tasks and generating insights in real time. The platform supports:

Retail Execution with intelligent visit plans and offline mobile guidance.
Trade Promotion Management with planning, optimisation and accrual automation supported by AI‑powered scenario modelling.
Distributor Management Systems that unify indirect channel operations and improve order accuracy and visibility.

Aforza’s solutions have earned multiple Best‑in‑Class distinctions from the Promotion Optimization Institute, reflecting strong industry validation of AI‑enabled execution, planning and analytics capabilities. You can read the full POI report here.

Predictions for AI in 2026

The AI landscape in 2026 will be shaped by broader adoption, deeper integration and more autonomous capabilities. Below are key trends with implications for Consumer Products companies.

AI becomes enterprise infrastructure

By 2026, AI will no longer be a set of experimental tools. Instead it will become core operational infrastructure embedded across commercial and supply workflows. Senior leadership will drive AI strategies, tying them directly to performance metrics and enterprise goals.

Implications:

Organisations with enterprise‑wide AI strategies will make faster, better decisions in trade planning and execution.
Companies that fail to adopt AI as infrastructure risk falling behind in responsiveness and execution quality.

Autonomous (Agentic) AI manages complex workflows

Agentic AI (systems that can autonomously execute multi‑step tasks) will gain traction. These solutions will manage entire workflows with minimal human oversight, from monitoring execution compliance to initiating corrective actions.

In TPM: Agentic AI can automate planning, execution oversight and post‑promotion analysis, significantly reducing manual work and increasing accuracy. Deloitte highlights that agentic AI in TPM can enhance ROI, strengthen retailer collaboration and reduce time spent on routine tasks. (Deloitte)
In Retail Execution: AI systems will automatically analyse store conditions and coach field reps in real time, further raising productivity.

Multimodal Vertical AI increases insights and engagement

Future Vertical AI will blend text, images and behavioural data to generate richer insights. For field teams, this means context‑aware guidance that combines shelf imagery with sales and inventory trends. For TPM teams, AI will simulate promotion outcomes by ingesting historical performance, POS data and external variables like weather patterns.

Such capabilities will improve prediction accuracy and help teams adapt plans mid‑promotion, a function increasingly supported by real‑time analytics. Recent industry reports show AI‑driven analytics can dramatically reduce stockouts and errors in promotion execution. (Synovia Digital)

The productivity gap widens between AI‑enabled and non‑AI companies

Research suggests that AI adoption produces measurable productivity gains. Generative AI implementations have increased sales and conversion metrics by up to 16.3 per cent in retail environments according to recent field research, reinforcing the competitive value of AI. (Cornell University). Aforza’s own experience with AG Barr showed significant productivity impact.

Industry impact:

AI‑enabled companies will benefit from faster execution cycles, improved accuracy in planning and strengthened ability to respond to market change.
Organisations without AI will see slower decision cycles, higher costs and weaker execution outcomes.

Responsible AI governance becomes imperative

As AI autonomy grows, governance, encompassing transparency, ethical use and data stewardship, will determine long‑term trust and scalability. Academic research highlights consumer concerns around privacy and bias in AI systems, underscoring the need for ethical frameworks. (Cornell University)

Consumer Products companies must integrate governance into their AI rollout plans to ensure trust from customers, partners and regulatory bodies.

Measuring Vertical AI Impact

*Industry averages based on AI in CPG adoption research. (SR Analytics)

Advice for Consumer Product companies to realise the value of AI

To succeed in 2026, companies must take practical steps to embed AI into core commercial functions.

Vertical AI as a strategic priority

Vertical AI cannot be an afterthought. Invest in AI strategy with clear KPIs tied to trade promotion outcomes, Retail Execution quality and distributor performance.

Build shared data foundations

AI requires clean, connected data across planning, execution and analytics. Platforms that unify data across Retail Execution, TPM and DMS (such as those from Aforza) provide a single source of truth, enabling better decisions and outcomes.

Govern responsibly

Design governance frameworks around transparency, ethical use and privacy from Day One. This builds trust internally and externally, and mitigates regulatory risk.

Upskill commercial teams

Vertical AI augments human capability. Equip your sales, planning and commercial leaders with the skills to interpret AI insights and act on them quickly.

Measure & iterate

Track performance with measurable outcomes (e.g. promotion lift, execution compliance, order accuracy). Review performance regularly and refine the AI strategy.

Start Your Vertical AI Journey with Ava

See how leading Consumer Products organisations are preparing for 2026 with Ava, Aforza’s Vertical AI. Access real world use cases that show how AI embedded into execution and planning delivers faster decisions, stronger execution and better outcomes.

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