AI and services like ChatGPT have exploded in popularity in 2023 as people start to realize the power that can be harnessed. But as with anything new, businesses are slow to adopt. It’s especially true in the food and beverage manufacturing space where new technology adoption traditionally lags behind other industries. 

Here’s why food, beverage and supplement manufacturers should start using AI services today. 

Recipes: Food and Beverage companies spend thousands of dollars developing and refining product recipes while supplement manufacturers are always refining their mixing formulas. But with inconsistent supply chains, what happens when you can’t get the ingredients you need? ChatGPT and AI can suggest alternatives and help develop new products. 

Here for instance is what you’ll get asking for a sugar substitute for chocolate chip cookies with a very basic prompt.

I have a food manufacturing company that makes chocolate chip cookies but I always run out of sugar. What can I substitute as an acceptable sweetener?

If your food manufacturing company frequently runs out of sugar for making chocolate chip cookies, there are several acceptable sweetener substitutes that you can consider. However, it is important to note that each alternative may impact the final taste, texture, and appearance of your cookies. Some common sugar substitutes include:

• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar is a direct substitute for white sugar and can add a slightly different flavor and texture to your cookies, giving them a chewier consistency and a more caramel-like taste.

• Powdered Sugar: Also known as confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar, this can be used as a substitute for white sugar. Note that it is sweeter and has a finer texture, so you may need to adjust the quantity accordingly and the texture of your cookies might be slightly different.

etc.

The response continues with more substitutes and how to adjust the recipe. A more thorough and nuanced prompt will go even further an deeper.

Will ChatGPT replace your food development teams? No-but it can help them save hundreds of hours in developmental time. 

Pricing Issues: Inflation and inconsistent supply chains are still problems affecting the industry. AI can help pinpoint problem areas to focus on to maintain and lower cost-of-goods sold and offer suggestions. 

Inventory Optimization: Does your company struggle with maintaining proper inventory levels? Are you carrying too much? Use AI to help maintain proper inventory levels and stop tying too much of your free cash flow into ingredients sitting on the shelf-“just in case.” 

Sales and Marketing: AI services can help your company build an ideal customer profile, create marketing material, complete with images to match each stage of the customer journey and close sales faster. 

Pro-Tip: The more details you can give an AI system like ChatGPT the better your results will be. 

The use case for AI cuts across all departments and can have a big impact on your company’s bottom line today. New advances are being made regularly and the services will only get better. The time to start using AI and ChatGPT is now. 

Did You Know? Our ERP partner SYSPRO has AI and Machine Learning capabilities built-in to its software. With the latest release of the manufacturing and distribution exclusive suite of modules you can leverage both the power of ERP to optimize your business and AI to streamline and improve your business operations. 

Conclusion: The time has come to start embracing AI and AI services. We’re at the beginning and it won’t be long before your competitors are using it to erode your market share and take your profits. 

What are you waiting for?