A Beginner's Guide for CPG Teams If you work in trade promotion management for a CPG brand, you've likely felt the pressure: promotional spending accounts for 15-25% of gross revenue, yet most companies struggle to accurately measure ROI or predict which promotions will actually drive incremental sales. Traditional promotional planning relies heavily on historical averages and gut instinct, leaving significant trade investment on the table. The good news? AI is transforming how leading brands approach promotional effectiveness. AI Trade Promotion Optimization uses machine learning algorithms to analyze massive datasets—point-of-sale transactions, competitive pricing, weather patterns, local events, and consumer behavior—to recommend optimal promotional strategies. Instead of applying the same promotional cadence across all retailers, AI identifies which promotions work best for specific channels, regions, and customer segments.…