Build at Bain: Three questions with a consultant on building a custom AI tool
Build at Bain: Three questions with a consultant on building a custom AI tool
How one Bain consultant turned a bold AI idea into a real-world solution that’s transforming retail strategy
Kunal Jain, a consultant in our Amsterdam office, has turned his interest in AI into practical solutions for clients. In this Q&A, he expands on how Bain’s innovative culture inspired him to build a custom tool that helps retail clients quickly analyze shelf images and make smarter in-store decisions.
Hear from Kunal Jain, a consultant in our Amsterdam office, as he shares how he built a custom GPT to advance retail strategy.
1. Can you share an example of a specific AI-driven project you've worked on and its impact?
I built a custom GPT that analyzes shelf images and delivers on brands, share of shelf, placement effectiveness, and much more. While working on a pet food client in Mexico, the tool processed 50+ images in under a minute, something that would have taken the team a couple of hours and Spanish fluency. The tool automates the end-to-end shelf analysis process, saving the team immense time and providing our clients with data-backed recommendation on in-store execution strategy.
2. Why did you choose Bain, and how has innovation shaped your experience here?
I chose Bain because the firm is relentless about staying at the frontier of knowledge and the partnership with OpenAI is just the perfect example of that. Every Bain employee now has an enterprise account with ChatGPT. We've already deployed many GPTs to accelerate analysis, streamline research, and automate low-value tasks, thus allowing us to spend more time on areas that provide client value.
Earlier this year, Kunal showcased his shelf analytics GPT at the ChatGPT Olympics—an co-sponsored event with OpenAI spotlighting AI innovation across the firm. The competition gave Bain employees the chance to present their custom GPTs in front of a panel of firm leaders, including Bain's Worldwide Managing Partner, and executives from OpenAI. Kunal's presentation highlighted the practical impact of his tool and underscored how Bain actively celebrates and scales grassroots innovation.
3. What advice would you give to someone considering a career at Bain?
Bain is the perfect place for anyone who's bold enough to challenge the status quo, and eager to make a real impact. The opportunities for growth and development are very nice, especially for those passionate about leveraging AI on solving complex problems. Personally, for me, my goal is to expand my AI toolkit and help shape Bain's next generation of AI-driven client solutions.
