Coca-Cola has introduced an AI-powered feature called Perfect Basket within its Coke Buddy platform. The tool uses a central recommendation engine to analyze historical orders, seasonal demand, local weather, and purchasing trends to suggest specific inventory quantities for retailers.
The Coke Buddy platform is currently used by approximately 39,000 retail outlets across Malaysia. According to company data, 83% of these participating retailers have adopted the AI-generated recommendations when placing their orders.
Retailers who utilized the Perfect Basket suggestions reported stronger sales revenue growth compared to similar outlets that did not follow the recommendations. The company noted that merchants retain final control over their purchasing decisions.
The platform generates granular data on purchasing frequency and inventory turnover. This information could potentially be used to bridge the gap between operational data and financial services, as many small businesses currently struggle to access flexible credit.
Research indicates that 75% of small and mid-sized businesses intend to use AI features offered by financial institutions within the next two years. For companies with over $1 million in annual revenue, this interest increases to 83%.
