A Blueprint for the Breakthrough

Back in the day, I worked in merchandising for an Italian jeans brand—yes, the kind that made you feel cooler just by wearing denim.

- FRANCIS J. KONG

My process? A mix of instinct, manager "chit-chat," and international shopping sprees to Italy and Hong Kong. Two seasons a year. All vibes, little data. It was more fashion fortune-telling than precision planning.

Fast forward to today: AI doesn't just guess—it knows. The game has changed, and if we don't keep up, we risk becoming vintage faster than those boot-cut jeans.

An article from McKinsey & Company caught my eye as it addresses the current situation that many companies are struggling through.

The consumer business of the future won't resemble what we know today. What used to take teams weeks to analyze and implement—like inventory forecasts, pricing shifts, and campaign performance—can now be done in hours, sometimes even minutes, with the help of AI and automation.

In this era of disruption, leaders must ask a deeper question: Are we merely digitizing old processes, or are we truly reimagining the future of work?

Research indicates that by 2035, up to 55 percent of all current activities in consumer organizations may be impacted by automation. From the factory floor to the boardroom, no function is untouched.

However, the intricate data leaves many executives overwhelmed, and even though they recognize the need to adapt, they remain stuck due to the complex nature of change.

The real engine behind all this change? Consumers!

Consumers are demanding, discerning, and digitally empowered.

They want what they want—when they want it and how they want it. And honestly, who can blame them?