Top Crowdsourcing Trends in the Consumer Packaged Goods Industry

Consumer input is reshaping the CPG industry in a major way—45% of product innovations now come directly from consumers, according to a study by Accenture. Companies that embrace their customers’ ideas are seeing impressive results: faster development cycles, stronger customer relationships, and better problem-solving.

Our team at MindSumo has identified five key trends that show how crowdsourcing is shaping the future of CPG. Take a look at what we found:

Crowdsourcing and CPG: Why They’re a Perfect Match

1. AI-Powered Crowdsourcing Platforms

The numbers tell the story: 92% of consumer goods decision-makers use data to improve their pricing and promotions, according to a Salesforce report. New AI-driven crowdsourcing platforms are turning this data into powerful insights, helping brands process consumer feedback and adapt to preferences with unprecedented speed.

The impact is substantial. McKinsey’s recent forum of R&D leaders reveals that AI-enhanced innovation has the potential to deliver remarkable results:

• Up to 50% increase in market fit
• Product performance improvements of 15–60%
• Potential 50% boost in workplace productivity
• Up to 40% reduction in time to market

Companies in the CPG industry using these platforms can adjust their strategies and create products that truly connect with consumers. This results in better market fit and stronger customer relationships.

2. Co-Creation With Consumers

Brands are discovering the power of bringing customers directly into their creative process. From selecting new flavors to designing packaging and shaping marketing campaigns, customer involvement is proving invaluable. For example, one Fortune 500 snack brand partnered with MindSumo to gather over 200 consumer-generated product ideas, resulting in a successful new flavor line.

Brands are also including customers in their social initiatives to ensure their messaging aligns with consumer values. This collaborative approach results in products people genuinely want while boosting brand loyalty.

As these deeper connections grow, they help drive long-term success, which makes brands more in tune with their customers and their needs.

3. Crowdsourced Quality Testing

Quality testing has long been a bottleneck—expensive, time-consuming, and often disappointing. The Promotion Optimization Institute reports that only 19% of CPG brands are satisfied with their retail execution. Crowdsourced testing offers a faster, more effective solution.

Recent research in the International Journal of Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering confirms that companies using crowdsourced testing see significant cost savings compared to traditional methods. By sending product samples directly to consumers, brands receive valuable feedback in the development stages.

This direct engagement helps brands gather real feedback, leading to better quality testing and fewer wasted ideas. Instead of taking a trial-and-error approach that drives up costs, companies can refine their products early and save valuable time and resources.

4. Sustainability and Eco-Innovation

Environmental responsibility is a growing priority for both consumers and brands. Crowdsourcing helps companies develop creative solutions to reduce plastic use, introduce biodegradable materials, and design reusable packaging.

MindSumo has collaborated with multiple Fortune 500 food manufacturers to rethink packaging in ways that benefit both the environment and brand reputation. These partnerships have led to smarter designs that cut waste, enhance functionality, and align with consumer expectations.

Ultimately, prioritizing the planet helps companies build deeper trust with customers and create measurable environmental change.

5. Open Innovation for Supply Chains

Supply chain challenges are continuing to grow, with Resilinc reporting a 40% increase in disruptions in 2024. In response, many brands are using crowdsourcing to boost their resilience. This strategy helps businesses access diverse expertise to find practical solutions for challenging issues.

Crowdsourcing helps companies find alternative suppliers, improve their logistics, and increase transparency in their supply chains. These improvements lead to better efficiency and higher customer satisfaction.

With a more flexible supply chain, brands can meet customer needs more easily and continue to grow, even in uncertain times.

For more info on open innovation and crowdsourcing, check out MindSumo’s resources page.

Crowdsourcing Success Stories in the CPG Industry

MindSumo has helped leading CPG brands tackle a variety of complex challenges through crowdsourcing:

• A Fortune 500 CPG company collected over 220 creative product name ideas for a new product line, validating their strategy.
• A national home products manufacturer generated 20-25 new product ideas each month, with half sourced through crowdsourcing, driving continuous innovation.
• A Fortune 100 manufacturer delivered several R&D solutions while building a talent pipeline for future projects.

These examples highlight how MindSumo drives product innovation and consumer engagement in the CPG space through our community of Gen Z and Millennial solvers.

Want to see how crowdsourcing takes innovation to the next level? Share your challenge with us, and we’ll create a custom plan to show how crowdsourcing can meet your needs. Just fill out our short form to get started.

Contact us to schedule a Zoom meeting today.