Artificial intelligence offers an array of benefits for beverage-makers
In an early episode of “SpongeBob SquarePants,” Squidward accidentally locks himself in the freezer of the Krusty Krab and travels to the future. While in the future, Squidward begins to panic. He lays on the floor, curls up in a ball and slowly says “Future, future!”
Although there’s no cause to panic, it’s evident that the future is upon us with the ever-evolving technology of artificial intelligence (AI).
Thor Olof Philogène, co-founder and CEO of Stockholm, Sweden-based Stravito, says that AI has rapidly progressed in recent years, especially with generative AI.
“One advancement is its ability to significantly increase the speed and accuracy of market research analysis,” Philogène says. “In Stravito’s case, our AI-powered knowledge management solution enables employees within global organizations to store, discover and integrate market and consumer insights with ease, so businesses can make informed business decisions faster.”
Stravito Assistant, a generative AI-powered tool, offers a conversational way for employees to identify relevant market and consumer insights, he notes.
“Individuals begin in Explore Mode, which helps them uncover what’s already known across their organization’s entire research library,” Philogène explains. “They can then shift into Focus Mode for deeper analysis and execution. This helps individuals quickly move from discovery to decision, further streamlining workflows so teams spend less time searching for and summarizing research and more time applying insights to decision-making.”
Eric Linxwiler, senior vice president at TradeBeyond, San Diego, states that AI advancements have shifted from narrow, rule-based automation to highly adaptive, predictive systems capable of contextual decision-making. Within the food and beverage space, Linxwiler notes that AI goes beyond forecasting and automation and now offers real-time decision support.
“Computer vision systems identify product anomalies in milliseconds,” he says. “Natural language processing tools monitor consumer sentiment across social media and product reviews. Deep learning algorithms are increasingly embedded within supply chain platforms to detect bottlenecks or ESG risks across multi-tier networks, often before they materialize.”
TradeBeyond’s risk management module is an example of an AI-powered tool that enables beverage-makers to identify specific products at risk of failing quality standards, Linxwiler shares.
“These systems prioritize inspection and QA resources toward high-risk items, making quality control more focused and efficient — a critical advantage in the food industry,” he adds.
Shannon Hynds, CEO of Quickcode, McLean, Va., notes that AI technology has progressed at an unprecedented pace that offers “new capabilities that are reshaping supply chains, enhancing trade compliance and driving operational efficiency.”
She lists several areas where AI advancements have impacted the beverage industry, one being real-time trade compliance and tariff management. Hynds calls this a game-changer.
“AI-powered platforms can now track changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and other regulatory updates across multiple countries, ensuring that businesses stay ahead of shifting tariffs and trade policies,” she explains. “AI tools can instantly identify how these tariffs impact specific products, recommend alternative sourcing strategies and even predict future regulatory changes. This level of agility is essential for maintaining profitability and avoiding costly compliance errors.”
This feature allows Quickcode to instantly alert beverage companies and help them adjust pricing strategies or sourcing options, if necessary.
“This guarantees compliance while minimizing costs and avoiding expensive penalties,” Hynds says. “The result is not just increased sales and market share, but also a more agile, responsive and future-ready business tool.”
Hynds also points to enhanced supply chain visibility and optimization.
“AI can analyze vast amounts of data from suppliers, logistics providers and market trends to optimize inventory levels, reduce lead times and minimize disruptions,” she says. “For instance, AI can predict potential bottlenecks in the supply chain caused by geopolitical events, natural disasters or labor strikes. Beverage companies can adjust their operations, secure alternative suppliers or reroute shipments to avoid delays when they proactively identify these risks.”
Intelligent product classification, compliance audits and proactive monitoring of regulatory changes are other factors in the industry impacted by advancements in AI, according to Hynds.
“These advancements in AI have been nothing short of transformative to the beverage industry,” she says. “Embracing AI is no longer optional, but is a necessity. Beverage companies who integrate AI into their operations will be better positioned to thrive in this increasingly unpredictable North American supply chain.”