Catch Up: Are Traasdahl of Crisp
An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Are Traasdahl (founder and CEO) of Crisp, which was honored in our:
We last spoke in 2024. What has Crisp been up to since then?
Thank you for the opportunity and the recognition! Over the last 12 months, our customer base has continued to grow exponentially and we have over 6000 CPGs on our platform, including the largest brands in the world.
We recently acquired three companies to add to our portfolio of capabilities and accelerate our global reach. This includes the acquisition of Shelf Engine, which provides advanced forecasting and order automation capabilities to reduce retail food waste. And we acquired SKUtrak (Atheon Analytics) and ClearBox Analytics, representing our first foray into the UK.
Connecting these solutions with the capabilities of the Crisp platform will empower CPGs, retailers, and distributors to achieve better business outcomes globally.
What’s new with the future mission or goals of the company?
Our mission (to create a zero-waste supply chain)Â remains front and center for the company. What is new for us, and for the industry, is the ability to leverage AI effectively to unlock faster reporting and to drive meaningful actions that benefit our customers. Earlier this year, we launched a set of AI Blueprints designed to jumpstart insights with minimal setup. For example, our Anomaly Detection Blueprint will help brands stay ahead of sales and inventory surprises by flagging unexpected patterns in sales and inventory data. We will be launching another set of AI Blueprints soon.
What have you learned or has surprised you about the industry since we last spoke?
The retail industry is now weathering new supply chain pressures. As we learned during the pandemic, supply chain disruptions are rarely predictable. At Crisp, we believe that in order for companies to stay ahead of disruptions, the key is to create a data foundation that allows for agility in daily operations and to address significant events that require rapid response. We recognize the value of supply chain agility and are committed to helping our partners implement the latest technology available to create a system of collaborative commerce.