The $96M impact of capstone projects Fortune 500 companies

A critical part of developing new skills is putting theoretical knowledge into practice. And that’s exactly what capstone projects facilitate. 

Capstone projects ensure employees apply new skills internally to generate positive business impact and ROI. 

Every Correlation One training program includes a capstone project where employees apply course learnings to real-world, organizational challenges. These projects are more than just skills development exercises as they create significant ROI for our clients. 

The impact of capstone projects in 2024 for Correlation One clients garnered over:

• $71M in untapped revenue potential 
• 3,500 hours of productivity gains 
• $25M in cost savings 

Read on for highlights from this year’s standout projects and to learn how to replicate these results in your organization. 

The most noteworthy capstone projects of 2024

1. Generative AI insights foster a $50M revenue opportunity

A commercial team at a Fortune 100, consumer packaged goods (CPG) company focused their generative AI capstone project on a key business challenge — declining in-store sales. They used generative AI to:

• Collect and analyze consumer data 
• Establish targeted propensity offers
• Develop a geo-targeting ad strategy
• Implement predictive modeling
• Create personalized promotions and loyalty programs

The commercial team's strategic use of generative AI set the stage for impressive business outcomes. The expected results from their capstone project include:

• 15% increase in average order value
• 20% higher purchase frequency
• 10% reduction in marketing costs
• An additional $50M in annual revenue 

2. A virtual assistant that saves $17M in labor costs

A team of 3 Marketing Directors at a Fortune 100 company focused their generative AI capstone project on maximizing efficiency and employee well-being. They looked at how using generative AI as a virtual assistant could:

• Save $17M in labor costs
• Increase workforce productivity by 33% 
• Allow for a 4-day workweek

3. Product distribution changes produce a $9.3M growth opportunity

Another notable capstone project is that of an Insights & Business Analytics Specialist at a Fortune 500, global, CPG enterprise. 

This employee took learnings from Correlation One’s training on a custom revenue growth management (RGM) tool to find new sales opportunities. 

Their capstone project leveraged the RGM tool to showcase how expanding the distribution of 4 SKUs could deliver:

• 40% regional sales growth
• Higher all commodities volume (ACV) 
• $9.3M in additional revenue

4. Automated dealer replenishment delivers $7.5M in cost savings

3 managers from a Fortune 100 automotive company participated in a 6-week digital transformation upskilling program. As part of their training, they completed: 

• Upskilling sessions on data literacy, AI, and machine learning 
• A capstone project focused on optimizing inventory management

The 3 managers applied their knowledge of AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics to improve and automate the inventory management process. Together, they achieved $7.5M in cost savings by: 

• Automatically replenishing part inventory based on market demand and supply chain conditions
• Improving the company’s net utilization, fill rate, and cash flow
• Strengthening the customer experience

5. Using generative AI to establish a new $6M market

A Senior Manager, Strategy and Senior Manager, Digital Experiences collaborated on a capstone project that presented their company with a new, $6M market opportunity. 

During their generative AI training with Correlation One, the pair completed a capstone project that applied generative AI for: 

• Market research 
• Social listening 
• Data analytics 

The insights generated from their generative AI use allowed them to identify a new, $6M revenue opportunity in a saturated, mature market. 

6. Data-driven insights fuel a $2.6M revenue growth strategy

A Strategic Pricing and Commercial Planning Manager at a Fortune 500, CPG company completed a capstone project that detailed a $2.6M growth strategy. 

In their capstone project, the employee used an in-house RGM tool to build a 3-prong growth strategy. It outlined how the CPG company could: 

1. Achieve 6.2% net sales growth from packaging and messaging enhancements
2. Increase profit margins by 190 bps through product optimization
3. Obtain 8.8% net sales growth by adjusting pricing

The impact of the above capstone project culminated in a $2.6M revenue growth opportunity for the global, CPG enterprise. 

7. Data-driven insights lead to a new SKU worth $3M

The last capstone project from our 2024 highlight reel is that of a Senior CRM Specialist. This employee applied skills from training on an in-house RGM tool to:

• Perform data analysis 
• Identify market growth opportunities

Their capstone project revealed a sizable market opportunity for an SKU at a lower price point than the company’s existing products. 

Empowered with this insight, the Senior CRM Specialist focused on introducing a more affordable SKU to drive sales in small supermarkets. The employee projected this SKU to increase market share and revenue by $3M.

How do I produce these results at my organization?

The above capstone projects highlight the value that strategic workforce development objectives bring to your organization. 

To achieve similar results, your organization must invest in practical, hands-on learning that directly addresses your business challenges. 

Correlation One's capstone projects are just one way that we tailor our programs to the organizational needs of our clients and ensure scalable, measurable results. Partner with Correlation One to: 

• Strengthen employee AI and data skills across your organization
• Increase workforce adoption of tech tools
• Drive strong ROI from workforce development initiatives 

Interested in working with us? Get started today.