From Excel to Innovation: AI in Confectionery R&D
Date: July 03, 2026
Duration: 4 hours
Language: English
Location: Online
Cost: € 570.00
The confectionery industry is approaching a digital tipping point. While marketing and sales have long been transformed by specialized platforms, product development is often still stuck in the “Excel trap” – fragmented data, manual processes, and inefficient workflows. The numbers are clear: product developers spend around 25% of their time – roughly two hours per day – on purely administrative tasks such as data retrieval or manual nutritional calculations. That is time lost for what truly matters: real innovation.
In this expert seminar, we take a closer look at the realities behind digital transformation in R&D. We explore the concept of the “R&D lag” — the critical delay between initial idea and market readiness — and demonstrate how artificial intelligence and automated workflows can significantly accelerate this process.
We equip you with the methods and mindset to evolve from a traditional product developer into an “AI Hero” within your organization. Learn how establishing a “Single Source of Truth” enables smarter decision-making, and how an “AI by Design” approach can create sustainable competitive advantages for your business.
- Heads of R&D / Innovation Managers
- Product Developers / Food Technologists
- Digital Transformation / IT Leads (Food Industry)
- Quality & Regulatory Managers
- Technical Directors / Operations Leaders
- Innovation-driven SMEs and mid-sized manufacturers
The Anatomy of Inefficiency: Why R&D Is Often Too Slow Today
• The Excel Trap: Where time is lost — and how data chaos slows down innovation
AI in Practice
• Real-world applications: How AI measurably accelerates development processes
Roadmap to Digital R&D
• Step by step toward efficient, AI-driven product development
Best Practice Exchange
• Dialogue on future market trends
– subject to changes –
- Course documents in digital form
- Refreshments: Snacks and drinks
- Lunch in the ZDS canteen
- Certificate of attendance
Required:
- A stable internet connection
- A laptop, PC or tablet with an up-to-date browser (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge. Please ensure your browser is up to date.)
- Headset or speakers and microphone (a headset is recommended for better sound quality)
- Webcam (optional, but recommended)
- Access to the seminar platform (Zoom – you will receive login details in advance)
Optional:
- Power supply/charger nearby
- Notepad or digital device for taking notes
Questions?
If you have any questions about the event, please contact our project organization:
seminar@zds-solingen.de
+49 (0) 212 59 61 32
Your course instructor:
Christian Klein,
UMYNO Solutions
