TLDR: Unilever and Accenture have announced a significant expansion of their strategic partnership, focusing on leveraging generative AI to enhance digital operations, drive efficiencies, and establish new industry benchmarks for productivity. Unilever aims to scale its existing 500 AI applications and utilize Accenture’s GenWizard platform to accelerate technology and digital product development.
NEW YORK and LONDON – September 5, 2024 – Global consumer goods giant Unilever (LON: ULVR) and professional services leader Accenture (NYSE: ACN) have unveiled a substantial expansion of their long-standing strategic partnership. This multi-year program is designed to simplify Unilever’s digital core and extensively apply generative artificial intelligence (AI) to achieve greater efficiencies and bolster business agility across its worldwide operations. The collaboration seeks to set a new industry standard for productivity powered by generative AI.
Unilever, which already boasts 500 AI applications in use, has seen notable efficiency gains from its initial AI implementations. Hein Schumacher, CEO of Unilever, emphasized the strategic importance of this deeper integration: “We have already introduced 500 AI applications across Unilever, helping us to reach new levels of efficiency. But as AI matures and becomes increasingly intelligent and intuitive, we see so much more potential. Now, as part of our action plan to deliver faster growth, drive productivity, and dial up performance, we’re going deeper. With the help of Accenture’s world-class tools and capabilities, we will be able to analyze where and how AI can have the highest transformational impact and deliver the greatest returns.”
A cornerstone of this expanded partnership is the utilization of Accenture’s proprietary GenWizard platform. This advanced generative AI platform features over 350 patents and a comprehensive suite of ready-to-apply tools and frameworks, designed to meet diverse technology objectives and accelerate digital product development. Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO of Accenture, highlighted the platform’s potential: “This next exciting chapter in our decades-long collaboration with Unilever will raise the bar on how enterprises can scale gen AI to power productivity and value at speed. Accenture’s GenWizard platform will enable Unilever to create a full spectrum of targeted gen AI solutions across its business that can realize efficiencies and cost savings, uncover new ways of working and ultimately help drive competitive advantage.”
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The initiative builds upon previous joint efforts to explore and scale generative AI applications within Unilever’s business, including projects originating from its “Horizon3 Labs.” The focus will be on scaling successful AI use cases that have already demonstrated significant cost reductions and operational efficiencies globally. Unilever operates in over 190 countries, with its more than 400 brands used by 3.4 billion people daily. The company reported sales of nearly GBP £59.6 billion in 2023 and employs 128,000 individuals. Accenture, with approximately 750,000 employees, provides professional services to clients in over 120 countries, helping them build digital cores, optimize operations, and accelerate revenue growth.
