Is AI the Future of NPD?

Sapporo released its first alcoholic beverage developed using AI: Otoko Ume Sour Salty Plum. Sapporo worked alongside IBM to develop an AI system that reduces the time and cost of new product development.

The brewery said that based on the inputs, “the AI system is able to predict the target product composition. It then produces a recipe which consists of a recommendation for the specific combination of raw materials [and the] ratio (mixing amount) of each material.” Sapporo also confirmed that “the system can create recipes and ingredient combinations that humans would not have thought of.”

With the use of this system, Sapporo has reduced the time needed to work through their NPD process by 50%. Because of this efficiency, they are integrating this system as a key component of their NPD process going forward.

Not all of us are able to develop an AI NPD system, but that does not mean that we should not look at ways of increasing our efficiencies in new product development.

Many of the brewers I have talked with seem to say that their NPD process could use some improvement. It is always challenging to get sales, marketing, operations, and brewing teams aligned on the best product to bring to market. With established processes and a voice from each department in the room, effective, efficient and innovative product development can happen. There is no reason that we need to be extremely stressed and pressed to the wire when ABPs roll around.

Let’s chat all things NPD and how we can build a process that works for you and your team so that your best ideas never miss the shelf!