Founder and CEO, Asbiverse Group. Creator of Route to Shopper®
Most performance gaps are not about knowledge. They are about the distance between intention and execution. My life’s work is closing it, so capability shows up in what people actually do, not only in what they know.
Fastest way to catch-up is to Slow Down.Ankur Shiv Bhandari
About ASB
“Speak Shopper or Get Shelved. The choice every sales professional faces in the age of AI.”
Ankur Shiv Bhandari is the founder and CEO of Asbiverse Group. His life’s work centres on one universal challenge that faces every individual and every organisation, in any sector and at every level: the gap between knowing what needs to be done and consistently doing it.
To close that gap, Ankur created Intentonomics®, the science of strengthening choices. It addresses the force that turns knowledge into consistent action: intent. Most performance shortfalls are not caused by a lack of information, tools or talent. They come from the distance between intention and execution. Intentonomics® makes that distance visible and then closes it, whether the setting is a boardroom, a factory floor, a government department, a classroom or an individual career.
Intentonomics® anchors his broader Excellence Intelligence™ framework which, together with K.S.A.R.™ and PIFFLE®, enables organisations to build Capability Ecosystems that deliver measurable and sustainable results. Through Asbiverse Group these methodologies drive commercial excellence in Consumer Goods and Retail, and through Intent Institute they extend to government, industry, professional and public services, and organisations of every kind.
The most complete expression of this work is Route to Shopper®, the world’s most comprehensive commercial excellence methodology for Consumer Goods and Retail. It carries a clear conviction: placing the shopper at the centre of every commercial decision is the most powerful and sustainable source of value creation available to any brand or retailer.
Starting his career at grassroots level in India, Ankur has spent more than two decades based in the United Kingdom, working at every level of hierarchy across every commercially active continent. He has served as employee and trusted adviser to some of the world’s most respected organisations, and has always believed that the principles of intent and capability that drive commercial excellence have a place in public life too.
In public life
The principles of intent and capability that drive commercial excellence belong in public service too. Ankur served as the first Indian origin Mayor of Bracknell Forest.
Employee and trusted adviser across some of the world’s most respected organisations
The methodologies
Three connected methodologies answer the why, the what and the how. Together they form Excellence Intelligence™, and their most complete proof is Route to Shopper®.
The science of strengthening choices. It works on intent, the force that turns knowledge into consistent action, and makes the gap between intention and execution visible so it can be closed.
The operational integration framework. It translates intent into the structures, standards and routines that let capability show up reliably in day to day work.
The method that puts the frameworks to work with people. It is how capability is built, embedded and sustained across a team or a whole organisation.
The world’s most comprehensive commercial excellence methodology for Consumer Goods and Retail professionals. Route to Shopper® is where the knowing-doing principle is proven at the highest level, placing the shopper at the centre of every commercial decision. It is built on the GUIDE™ and PATHS™ frameworks and is the organising idea behind Shopper Focused Value Creation.
GUIDE™ sets the brand and manufacturer perspective. PATHS™ sets the retailer and channel perspective. Together they cover the full commercial picture.
The ecosystem
The same principles of intent and capability apply whether the work is commercial or not. That is why Ankur’s world is built as two connected brands that share one methodology spine.
Commercial Excellence, in Consumer Goods and Retail
A business ecosystem built around a single organising principle: Shopper Focused Value Creation. Five specialist divisions come together under one purpose and one proprietary methodology, Route to Shopper®. No other organisation owns this complete ecosystem.
Learning and Transformation, beyond Consumer Goods and Retail
Where knowing becomes doing. Intent Institute brings the same methodologies, led by Intentonomics®, to organisations outside Consumer Goods and Retail: government and public services, regulated industries, wider enterprise, education and beyond. A fully managed learning and transformation service that closes the gap between knowing and doing.
Driven by Intentonomics®
The book, available now
The Shopurai® Way to Future-Proof Your Sales Career in the Age of AI. The sales professionals who will thrive are not just those with the gift of the gab or the most data. They are the ones who know how to Speak Shopper.
Grounded in 25 years of global commercial experience across 50 plus countries, the book brings the Route to Shopper® methodology to a global audience for the first time and offers a response to every professional wondering whether a machine is about to take their career.
“While AI can optimise a promotion in ninety seconds, it cannot form the intent to serve a human being standing in front of a shelf. If you work in consumer goods or retail, this book is not optional reading.”
Wayne Levings, CEO Kantar Americas and Global Chief Client Officer, Kantar
The journey
From grassroots selling in India to global transformation programmes, the classroom and public office. The roles are grouped by the part of life they belong to.
A business ecosystem built around Shopper Focused Value Creation. Every dollar of revenue in Consumer Goods and Retail is ultimately decided by a shopper, and building the capability, tools and intelligence to create value at that moment is the most important work a commercial organisation can do.
Five specialist divisions come together under one purpose. The Commercial Excellence Academy develops the people who create shopper value. Autumn Dew Studio designs the packaging and point of purchase materials that influence the shopper at the shelf. Ougment provides the analytics and intelligence that reveal where shopper value is created or lost. Direczion aligns entire organisations around the shopper beyond the sales function. Asbiverse itself drives the research, innovation and infrastructure that connects all five, connected by one philosophy and one proprietary methodology, Route to Shopper®.
Led Kantar Retail’s growth and delivered projects across parts of South East Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Translated Kantar Retail’s global capability offer into what was relevant for each region, won new clients and managed existing global relationships.
Sales transformation consultant for Consumer Goods industries, with a focus on sales strategy and CRM.
Progressive commercial roles across national account management, market strategy and planning, and campus recruitment leadership.
Depot management, new market development, dead market revivals, Dulux product launches, channel management and sales promotion strategy.
Developed the market for a bakery start up across five states of India including Delhi and the National Capital Region, heading the total sales force and making the brand a leader in three states and a strong competitor in two.
Supported academic research and teaching with a focus on capability development, realising strong synergies between the latest research thinking and professional practice.
Represented the Borough of Bracknell Forest as its First Citizen. The first person of Indian origin and the first person of colour elected to the role.
Elected as the first ever Asian origin Borough Councillor in the May 2019 elections, serving the community across ward needs, economic and skills development, the planning committee and multiple community projects.
Enclothed as a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Marketors, focused on the development of the marketing profession.
In ASB’s words
A body of thinking on intent, action, perseverance and perspective. Choose a theme.
“Knowing what to do and how to do it are two separate things.”
“Understanding the destination doesn’t guarantee the journey; it takes action to bridge the gap between knowing and doing.”
“Recognizing the goal is easy; the challenge lies in the steps you take to get there.”
“The map is not the journey; knowing the way and walking the path are worlds apart.”
“Knowing what to do is insight; doing it is execution. Success requires mastering both.”
“The knowledge of what to do plants the seed; the action of doing it nurtures the growth.”
“Understanding the ’what’ is just the beginning; it’s in mastering the ’how’ that dreams turn into reality.”
“It’s one thing to have the recipe, but it’s another to create the masterpiece.”
“Inaction is a type of Action.”
“Reflection without Action churns no Butter.”
“You can have the blueprint, but without the tools and Intent, the building never rises.”
“Intent NOT Content drives Transformation.”
“Fastest way to catch-up is to Slow Down.”
“Rock Bottom is an illusion broken by Perseverance and Patience.”
“Being scared is a natural biological response, Being afraid is a choice.”
“In the cry of the Bird, the silence of the Mountain was heard.”
“Insignificance is a significantly relative feeling. It absolutely does not exist.”
“If you want an Answer, a Question will have to be asked.”
“In the search lies the allure of the possibility of being found.”
“Let your Journey decide your Destination.”
“Ignorance is the only path to knowledge.”
“Knowing what to do and how to do it are two separate things.”
“Understanding the destination doesn’t guarantee the journey; it takes action to bridge the gap between knowing and doing.”
“Recognizing the goal is easy; the challenge lies in the steps you take to get there.”
“The map is not the journey; knowing the way and walking the path are worlds apart.”
“Knowing what to do is insight; doing it is execution. Success requires mastering both.”
“The knowledge of what to do plants the seed; the action of doing it nurtures the growth.”
“Understanding the ’what’ is just the beginning; it’s in mastering the ’how’ that dreams turn into reality.”
“It’s one thing to have the recipe, but it’s another to create the masterpiece.”
“Inaction is a type of Action.”
“Reflection without Action churns no Butter.”
“You can have the blueprint, but without the tools and Intent, the building never rises.”
“Intent NOT Content drives Transformation.”
“Fastest way to catch-up is to Slow Down.”
“Rock Bottom is an illusion broken by Perseverance and Patience.”
“Being scared is a natural biological response, Being afraid is a choice.”
“In the cry of the Bird, the silence of the Mountain was heard.”
“Insignificance is a significantly relative feeling. It absolutely does not exist.”
“If you want an Answer, a Question will have to be asked.”
“In the search lies the allure of the possibility of being found.”
“Let your Journey decide your Destination.”
“Ignorance is the only path to knowledge.”
Speaking and events
Talks, webinars and podcast conversations on commercial excellence, shopper behaviour and closing the knowing-doing gap. If a room, a panel or a mic needs a voice on any of these, that is a conversation worth having.
Featured talk
TEDx talk
Ankur at TEDxStMarysUniversityTwickenham on the role of intent and the move from knowing to doing, built on four pillars with examples from business, family, law and public life.
Upcoming sessions
A working session on turning shopper understanding into commercial action, drawn from the book and Route to Shopper®.
A conversation on the knowing-doing gap and why most capability programmes stall before they change anything.
Recent appearances
Insights and blogs
Four streams of writing across the ecosystem. Open a stream that fits what you are working on.
The ecosystem wide stream on driving excellence through intent, spanning commercial and non commercial worlds alike.
Writing on intent, the force that turns knowledge into consistent action, and how to make it stronger.
Practical thinking on shopper focused value creation and the methodology that puts the shopper at the centre of every commercial decision.
The more personal writing on perseverance, perspective and the space between knowing and doing.
Questions, answered
What is the knowing-doing gap?
It is the distance between knowing what needs to be done and consistently doing it. Most performance shortfalls are not caused by a lack of information, tools or talent. They come from that distance between intention and execution. Ankur’s work makes it visible and then closes it.
What is Intentonomics®?
Intentonomics® is the science of strengthening choices. It works on intent, the force that turns knowledge into consistent action, and anchors the broader Excellence Intelligence™ framework alongside K.S.A.R.™ and PIFFLE®.
What is Route to Shopper®?
The world’s most comprehensive commercial excellence methodology for Consumer Goods and Retail. Built on the GUIDE™ and PATHS™ frameworks across 79 modules, it places the shopper at the centre of every commercial decision.
How does Intent Institute relate to Asbiverse Group?
Intent Institute is Ankur’s sister brand to Asbiverse Group. Asbiverse Group applies the methodologies to commercial excellence in Consumer Goods and Retail. Intent Institute brings the same methodologies, led by Intentonomics®, to organisations beyond that world, including government, public services, regulated industries and enterprise.
What is the book about?
Speak Shopper or Get Shelved brings the Route to Shopper® methodology to a global audience for the first time. It distils 25 plus years of commercial experience across 50 plus countries into a practical roadmap for every professional navigating the arrival of AI.
Connect
Follow the thinking, start a conversation, or bring intent and capability to your own organisation.
Commercial excellence for Consumer Goods and Retail, or learning and transformation for every other kind of organisation.
