AI-enabling Solution of the Year (Client Side) – Mars Inc.

Mars’ V2C (Volume to Customer) platform stands out as a textbook case of what happens when AI is applied as the engine of enterprise transformation rather than just a bolt-on. This is not just another AI pilot or analytics dashboard; V2C is a fully operational, cross-functional decision intelligence platform that has redefined how Sales, Customer Care, and Supply Chain teams work together. 

At its core, V2C does what most enterprises aspire to but rarely achieve: it breaks silos, streamlines decision-making, and delivers measurable business impact at speed and scale. By eliminating over 50 hours of manual coordination per decision cycle and automating 85% of routine decisions, V2C has enabled Mars to move from reactive firefighting to proactive, data-led execution. 

The platform is deeply grounded in business reality. It was designed with, and for, the people who use it. The design process brought together more than 50 cross-functional employees to co-develop a solution that reflects the real-world complexity of balancing service levels, supply constraints, customer expectations, and commercial objectives. The result is a platform that aligns incentives and delivers clarity in the grey areas where trade-offs are made. 

The AI within V2C does not replace human judgment but actively amplifies it. By automating routine allocations and surfacing only the most complex or high-value decisions for human review, the system enables decision-making by exception. This shift allows associates to focus on strategic tasks, not spreadsheet gymnastics. It is arguably AI augmentation in its most pragmatic and impactful form. 

The impact on the business has been tangible. In just six months, V2C unlocked over $6 million in incremental sales, improved working capital, and enhanced the company’s ability to service strategic customers. It is now the backbone of a weekly decision-making rhythm (up from a monthly cadence) giving Mars the agility to respond to shifting demand, promotions, and supply volatility in near real time. 

By increasing transparency into Mars’ supply capabilities, V2C has strengthened relationships with key customers, enabling better joint planning and trust; AI is demonstrably delivering clear commercial value while deepening customer collaboration. 

What sets V2C apart is its scope, speed, and strategic alignment. Many AI solutions struggle to scale beyond one function or geography, whereas V2C was built from day one to serve the enterprise. It integrates with Mars’ transactional systems, sits on a connected data layer, and serves as a common source of truth across the value chain. This is decision intelligence not as a tool, but as an operating model. 

Plenty of projects suffer from hype and disconnected proof-of-concepts, but Mars’ V2C solution is the real thing: enterprise-grade AI that delivers faster, smarter, and more aligned decisions. 

DataIQ Awards North America 2025
Year: 2025
Category: AI-Enabling Solution of the Year (Client Side)

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