Tibersoft’s Navigators Conference 2025 brought together top minds in Food Away from Home sales, revenue growth, finance and trade from the largest food manufacturing companies for two days of candid discussions and collaborative sessions. This year’s conference centered on a powerful theme to empower FAFH leaders to be “Experts in the Moment.” Here is a look at the highlights from the event for all the FAFH navigators who attended.
The Core Conversation at Navigators 2025
The central theme was inspired by a pivotal conversation the Tibersoft team had with Ryan Merriman of Kellanova at IFMA President’s Conference 2024, who captured the frustration many FAFH leaders feel when he said, “I don’t need more data. I have it all already, please don’t sell me another data solution”. Merriman’s comment reflects a common industry challenge where manufacturers are overwhelmed with data but lack unified, actionable insights.
Data Latency: A Barrier to Real-Time Insight
During a pre-conference roundtable, leaders from across Tibersoft’s customer base gathered to address the significant obstacle of data latency. Chris Hart, President of Tibersoft, reflected on the company’s long history of driving industry change, dating back 15 years to the launch of OPTRADE with Conagra. He reaffirmed Tibersoft’s leadership in pushing for faster, more consistent data availability.
The group examined the root causes of data latency. Discussions pointed to the supply chain’s complexity, a lack of automation in reporting, and older, fragmented IT systems that prevent seamless integration. With operator-level data sometimes lagging for months, it can be difficult to get a clear and timely picture of FAFH performance. Tibersoft will continue to lead this industry conversation through ongoing roundtable discussions.
Making the Most of Your Data
Because systemic change takes time, Tibersoft challenged attendees to take immediate action with the data they already have. Sessions explored best practices for working with incomplete datasets and improving processes for insight delivery. This approach is rooted in the “Jobs to be Done” framework, which prioritizes clear outcomes over simple data access.
A standout example showed what this means for a finance team. Imagine a sales rep requests to extend a trade program for an operator, projecting they will buy 100,000 pounds of product. An expert in the moment can instantly see this operator’s historical volume is only 18,000 pounds a year. Armed with this fact, they can immediately ask the right strategic questions before approving the deal. This is the difference between having data and having answers.
Industry Outlook
Throughout the conference, leaders shared valuable perspectives on the future of the FAFH sector. A standout presentation from Charlie McConnell provided a forward-looking view of market dynamics and economic pressures. His presentation gave attendees a broader context for the industry’s challenges and innovations. It served as a timely reminder that FAFH leaders must keep an eye on the horizon to be “experts in the moment.”
Product Vision and Roadmap
Chris Hart shared updates on the Tibersoft product roadmap, with a presentation showcasing new features that empower teams to extract more actionable, accurate insights. The product demos showed how Tibersoft’s roadmap aligns with the “expert in the moment” vision. Attendees weighed in on the new solutions on the horizon to solve industry challenges with the opportunity to collaborate and partner on their development.
Engaging Sessions and a Night at the Rockies
The conference was not all business, as the Tibersoft team treated guests to a night at the Colorado Rockies stadium to unwind and connect informally with peers.
Looking Ahead
The spirit of Navigators 2025 lives on in the collective drive toward collaboration and innovation. Tibersoft and its partners will continue to lead the charge, empowering leaders to act intelligently and decisively in the moment.
The insights and collaboration seen at Navigators are a core part of the Tibersoft client experience. If you are ready to empower your team to be experts in the moment, then let’s connect. Talk to our team to explore Tibersoft’s product capabilities and learn how you can join our client community of FAFH leaders.
