Guidance is an operations platform for growing CPG (consumer packaged goods) brands, positioned as the "mathematical operating system for CPG brands." According to its official materials, Guidance is currently in a commercialization rebuild phase with CPG design partners, with the goal of building an interconnected operations platform that connects demand planning, inventory, COGS, traceability, and co-packer workflows.
Core design philosophy The platform emphasizes that all capabilities are connected to the same shared data model: when one number changes, all downstream content updates automatically.
Main planned capabilities
- Interconnected COGS model: a target cost model that connects ingredients, freight, packaging, yields, labor, and co-packing fees into an auditable structure, with traceable cost inputs.
- Lot traceability: target traceability design that supports lot genealogy, forward and backward tracing, and the data structures food brands need for recall readiness and audit confidence.
- Cost pass-through: target workflows that show how supplier cost changes flow through BOMs, COGS, and margin analysis for affected products and channels.
- Multi-channel inventory: a target inventory model providing location-aware visibility into warehouses, third-party logistics (3PL), and in-transit inventory by lot, SKU, and location.
- MRP and purchasing: target purchasing and planning workflows that consider lead times, MOQs, demand signals, and production requirements when making replenishment decisions.
- Conversational configuration: a target onboarding workflow that turns a structured conversation about your operations into an initial configuration blueprint, precisely mapping the workflows you actually run.
Module planning The platform is planned as eight modules, each connected to the same shared data model, with design partners shaping the launch order:
- Planned lot tracking, location management, and multi-warehouse visibility
- Bill of materials (BOM), lot management, yield tracking, and production scheduling
- Purchase orders, supplier management, receiving, and MRP-driven replenishment
- Order management, lot allocation, shipment tracking, and customer documentation
- Planned forward recall, backward traceability, lot genealogy, and lot-location visibility
- Planned material requirements planning, demand-driven replenishment, and purchasing suggestions
- Planned COGS and margin analysis, landed cost tracking, and lot-level cost allocation
- Planned organic material balance, FSMA 204 traceability, and audit documentation workflows
How to use it and current status Guidance does not yet offer an actual product demo. Early access is currently open, recruiting design partners among CPG brands, and participants can jointly shape the commercial build,workflow priorities, and launch order. The official statement says it will respond within 48 hours and will not send spam.
Applicable scenarios Suitable for growing CPG brands that need to integrate demand planning, inventory, costing, traceability, and co-packing collaboration, especially food brands focused on FSMA 204 compliance and organic material balance.
Limitations The platform is not yet officially launched, and all capabilities are planned or target states. It does not currently provide an actual product demo, pricing, specific usage steps, or verification information for implemented features.
