169 A call to action Before an organisation can take the leap and start using agentic AI though, it must first have a solid foundation to work from. “The promise of generative and agentic AI is immense, but fears remain regarding blackbox decisions, data quality and organisational resistance to AI-led change,” says Zhou. “It is critical for organisations to develop responsible AI principles, be transparent and implement change management to realise the full potential of these technologies.” To build a solid base for agentic AI, organisations must have the right technology stack, security and governance measures, a strong data foundation, clear use cases, an experimental mindset and employees who are well-equipped to work with the technology. Organisations must ensure the AI can only act within authorised boundaries and drive awareness and training to encourage employees to embrace the tools and techniques in their work. A clear buy versus build philosophy is also vital because it will help to avoid sunk cost and lost time further down the line. So, what’s the next step for CPG retailers? RGM needs to evolve from a siloed function to a cross-enterprise capability. According to POI’s 2025 RGM Insights, 56 per cent of organisations need to improve trade promotion and pricing optimisation, with 49 per cent citing pricing a key lever for RGM efficiency. The call to action is simple. “AI is not just a tool, it’s a teammate,” says Zhou. “The winners will be those who build agentic systems, democratise decision-making and lead with agility, not legacy. Now is the time to recalibrate your strategy, rewire your systems and reimagine what’s possible with RGM in the age of agentic AI.” RETAIL & CG Photo: iStock/gorodenkoff
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