Consumers have spoken—and they want healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable product formulations without giving up taste, texture, or performance. Whether it’s a low‑sugar snack that still hits the sweet spot, a skincare cream with all‑natural actives, or a plant‑based cleaner that’s tough on grime but safe for families, expectations are higher than ever.
For CPG brands, that means rethinking how product formulas are developed—fast.
Why the Old Way of Formulating Doesn’t Cut It Anymore
Let’s face it: traditional formulation is slow. Data lives in silos—spreadsheets here, paper notebooks there—and teams spend more time hunting for information than innovating.
Meanwhile:
- 79% of consumers check nutrition labels before buying.
- Sugar, salt, and fat taxes are on the rise.
- Ingredient costs are unpredictable.
If you’re not building health and sustainability into your products from day one, you’re already behind.
💡 79% of consumers check nutrition labels before buying.
The Rise of the Digital Lab
Imagine all your R&D data—every test, experiment, and ingredient profile—in one secure, searchable space. That’s the power of a digital lab.
The payoff?
- 80% less time spent reviewing data
- 70% less time aggregating info
- 30% fewer materials wasted
When teams can instantly access past experiments and proven templates, they can go from idea to launch in weeks, not years.
📊 Digital labs can cut review time by 80%.
AI: Your New Formulation Co‑Pilot
Formulation is a balancing act—taste, texture, cost, availability, compliance. AI can crunch all those variables at once, making recommendations in minutes instead of months.
With AI‑powered predictive modeling, you can test changes virtually before touching a single ingredient. That means:
- Fewer physical experiments
- Faster regulatory checks
- More room to innovate with natural and active ingredients
🤖 AI helps cut physical experiments by 50%.
From the Lab Bench to the Factory Floor
Scaling a formula from a 500ml lab batch to a 5,000‑liter production run isn’t a simple swap—it’s a science. Different equipment, heating times, and mixing speeds can make or break the final product.
By simulating production conditions ahead of time, teams can nail consistency, cost‑efficiency, and quality before they even fire up the factory.
Compliance: No Longer an End‑of‑Line Check
Too many brands wait until the last step to run compliance checks—only to discover a key ingredient won’t pass in their target market.
With real‑time regulatory assessment, you can screen ingredients early and make sure you’re green‑lit for every market you’re targeting, long before you invest in large‑scale production.
Specifications Everyone Can Trust
Inconsistent specs slow down approvals and risk costly recalls. Standardizing product specifications in a central, accessible platform keeps every team—from R&D to marketing—on the same page.
Bonus: it makes proving “low sugar” or “gluten‑free” claims a whole lot easier.
The Big Takeaway
Smarter formulation isn’t just about making better products—it’s about making them faster, more efficiently, and with full confidence they’ll meet consumer expectations and regulatory demands.
The future belongs to brands that connect their science, data, and creativity in one streamlined process. With the right tools, you can innovate boldly, scale confidently, and deliver products that truly stand out.
🚀 Innovate boldly. Scale confidently.
👉 Read more here and download our latest ebook: The Smart, AI-Driven Formulation Strategy
Brian Carboni is the Global Marketing Director for the CPG-Retail Industry at Dassault Systèmes.