TLDR: A new report by Economist Impact, supported by Infosys, highlights how global brands Ikea and LVMH are effectively integrating AI technology into their operations. Ikea focuses on empowering employees and achieving tangible results in areas like supply chain and design, while LVMH leverages AI to enhance customer service and creative processes, emphasizing human oversight.
A recent report titled ‘Enterprise AI in Action,’ a ten-part series from Economist Impact and supported by Infosys, reveals how leading companies like Ikea and LVMH are making significant strides in adopting artificial intelligence technology. The findings, published on November 10, 2025, showcase practical approaches to AI implementation that yield tangible business outcomes.
Ikea has adopted a strategic and ethical framework for its AI integration. The furniture giant has established clear boundaries, explicitly stating that AI will not be used in hiring or surveillance. Instead, AI projects are prioritized through its ‘democratic design’ principles, focusing on sustainability, quality, and affordability. A key aspect of Ikea’s strategy is its commitment to AI literacy, which is given the same priority as mandatory health and safety training. The company is actively upskilling 70,000 employees and empowering local teams to customize central AI tools to meet their specific needs. This approach has led to concrete results, such as improved forecasting systems that ensure their popular meatballs remain in stock and room planning tools that save countless hours of manual work.
Luxury conglomerate LVMH is also demonstrating innovative AI adoption, utilizing the technology to amplify its core strengths: craftsmanship, attentive service, and extensive client data. In LVMH stores, AI is deployed to automate routine tasks, thereby freeing up sales advisers to dedicate more time to client interactions. Within its creative studios, algorithms are used to inform the creative process, though the final design decisions remain firmly in the hands of human designers. The overarching lesson from LVMH’s strategy is to leverage AI to sharpen existing capabilities rather than attempting to completely reinvent them.
Eddie Millev, Lead Researcher for Enterprise AI in Action at Economist Impact, commented on the broader implications of AI adoption, stating, “Everyone knows that artificial intelligence will reshape their business. The task is to steer between hype and despair, and to turn the technology into real gains.” Millev further emphasized the importance of foundational practices: “Our research finds that the surest way for firms to prepare for AI is to get the basics right: empower workers.”
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The report underscores that both Ikea and LVMH exemplify how meaningful AI adoption can be achieved through clear priorities, empowered staff, and a focus on enhancing human capabilities rather than replacing them.
