HEINEKEN has become a leader in digital innovation by utilizing the Power Platform to develop thousands of customized applications and automations. With over 7,500 makers contributing to the creation of more than 10,000 applications, HEINEKEN has harnessed these solutions to enhance various operational aspects, such as safety, quality control, fraud detection, and customer satisfaction. The implementation of advanced AI-powered agents has further improved productivity for both employees and customers.

To manage this explosive growth, HEINEKEN established Managed Environments, allowing a small team of five to oversee over 8,000 environments. This governance structure ensures that applications are developed securely and efficiently, moving from personal productivity environments to shared production environments as their user base grows. For instance, logistics trade term validation apps have automated the process of checking tens of thousands of orders daily, replacing manual checks and saving significant time.

AI also plays a crucial role in HEINEKEN’s operations. The AI-powered 'PowerBot' assists employees by handling a variety of tasks, seamlessly integrating into platforms like Teams to boost efficiency. External AI agents have been deployed for customer support, reducing call center inquiries and enhancing customer satisfaction by providing quick answers to frequently asked questions.

HEINEKEN's focus on AI extends to embedding capabilities in various apps, such as using Azure OpenAI for compliance checks in the legal department. Meanwhile, tools like Power BI help track the impact of these innovations, resulting in an impressive 3.1 million hours of increased productivity. The advancing use of Power Platform and AI tools illustrates HEINEKEN's commitment to digital transformation, reinforcing its position as a top brewer globally while ensuring efficient governance and high operational standards.

The beauty industry is set for a transformative year in 2026, driven by evolving consumer behaviors, AI advancements, and the rise of social commerce. According to NIQ data, global beauty sales surged 10% in the past year, reflecting resilient consumer demand even amidst tightening budgets.

Tara James Taylor, SVP Global Beauty, emphasizes that brands that leverage performance, transparency, and seamless commerce will pave the way for future success. Consumers prioritize product efficacy and ingredient transparency, with nearly half of those using generative AI relying on it for beauty recommendations. This underscores the importance of credible claims and visible results.

To meet consumer expectations, brands should focus on several leadership imperatives: establish trust through clear ingredient transparency, utilize technology to validate product performance, and demonstrate how AI enhances quality and safety standards.

AI's role in the beauty sector is multifaceted. It enhances smart manufacturing for real-time quality control, provides agentic assistance for improved service and inventory management, offers personalized diagnostics for skin and shade matching, and creates generative content for customized marketing strategies.

Emerging trends include the Beauty Tech Revolution, where diagnostics and virtual try-ons enhance personalization; the dual-track market of premiumization versus affordability; and the integration of beauty and wellness through innovative products. Signals from consumers indicate a growing interest in AI shopping tools and a willingness to invest in experiential products.

As social commerce gains traction—22% of consumers have purchased beauty items via TikTok—brands must adapt their strategies to capture regional markets and engage with cultural nuances. Ultimately, investing in AI and social commerce will be essential for brands aiming to thrive in this dynamic landscape.

Procter & Gamble (P&G), a leader in consumer goods, has been at the forefront of leveraging analytics to enhance customer understanding and product positioning since the 1924 study on Ivory soap. This foundational insight shifted Ivory's marketing strategy, positioning it as a personal care product rather than just a household item.

Today, P&G integrates advanced analytics along with generative and agentic AI within its operations, addressing critical business challenges. Under the leadership of Jeff Goldman, P&G has assembled a robust team of data scientists and AI engineers to deploy AI algorithms across key sectors, including marketing and supply chain.

The company's innovative "AI factory" platform has drastically reduced the model deployment time by about six months, optimizing data sources and software tools. One prominent application is the Pampers My Perfect Fit, which utilizes AI-driven questionnaires for precise diaper sizing. Additionally, a system in Brazil optimizes customer order scheduling, effectively reducing stock shortages by 15%.

P&G also harnesses generative AI to enhance productivity through tools like chatPG and askPG, fostering collaboration between research and commercial teams. In research and development, AI algorithms have accelerated molecular discovery, exemplified by the Perfume Development Digital Suite, which speeds up fragrance creation by five times.

By partnering with educational institutions, P&G is strengthening its workforce's data and AI capabilities, with over 4,000 executives completing AI upskilling programs. As P&G continues its digital evolution, its commitment to AI positions it at the forefront of innovation within the consumer goods sector, demonstrating a strategic approach to leveraging technology for growth and adaptability.

NIQ faced limitations with its manual item coding process, which involved extracting structured data from product packaging images. Recognizing the need for an automated solution to enhance scalability and reduce operational costs, NIQ implemented Microsoft Foundry's tools, including Azure OpenAI, Azure Document Intelligence, and Azure AI Search, to create Capture as a Service (CaaS). This innovative approach automated item coding, resulting in a remarkable 90% reduction in coding time.

With CaaS, NIQ is now capable of processing tens of thousands of products in hours, whereas the previous method took weeks. This automation has not only accelerated product insights but also allowed NIQ to expand its services into 25 new markets. The solution brings unprecedented speed and efficiency, highlighted by the ability to code 32,000 products in just 10 hours—compared to the 300 hours required previously.

The integration of AI has transformed NIQ's operational framework, merging deep market expertise with state-of-the-art technology. The system uses a panel of AI "experts" to extract and verify packaging data while ensuring accuracy through Azure AI Search's validation features. This shift minimizes human error, which is critical in product safety labeling, deriving significant advantages for consumers and manufacturers alike.

CaaS has also led to the launch of the NIQ Product Insights service, providing clients with exceptional visibility into consumer preferences and product attributes. This transformation showcases NIQ's strategic advantage through automation, enabling cost efficiency and faster insights across the globe. Looking ahead, NIQ plans to explore further enhancements with Microsoft Agent Framework to tailor item coding to diverse client datasets, solidifying its position as a leader in consumer intelligence.