For years, your role in packaging technology and agent management was about relationships, established vendor lists, and incremental improvements. You knew the players, you knew the processes, and you knew how to navigate the existing ecosystem to get things done. That felt like a solid career path, built on proven methods and predictable outcomes.
The fact of the matter is, AI isn't just optimizing production lines; it's fundamentally changing how packaging decisions are made and executed, often bypassing traditional agent layers. What that means is, the value proposition of simply connecting people or managing known tech is evaporating fast, whether you like it or not. The old value chain is breaking, period full stop.
The new model demands you move from managing relationships to directing AI-powered systems that identify, procure, and even design packaging solutions. You're not just finding the right agent; you're building the intelligence layer that makes the agent—or the need for one—obsolete. This isn't about using a new tool; it's about building a new operating system for your entire function.
This isn't a threat; it's a choice. You can either wait for your company to hand you an AI tool and tell you what to do, or you can get on the front side of this wave and start directing AI to create new value in packaging. What are you waiting for? Like literally, what are you waiting for, when the opportunity to lead this shift is right in front of you?