Unilever and Accenture have established a new industry standard in Generative AI productivity. The multi-year project will simplify Unilever’s digital core and apply generative AI that will drive efficiencies and improved business agility.

Unilever is a British multinational fast-moving consumer goods company. With the company still adapting to life after determining it would no longer be jointly headquartered in the UK and Netherlands, it announced plans to save €800 million over the next three years – involving the sale of multiple properties, while cutting approximately 7,500 mainly office jobs worldwide.

At the same time, Unilever is looking to leverage artificial intelligence to boost efficiency across its operations. At the heart of this is a new programme with Accenture, which will see the consultancy establish the foundation on which to set a “new industry standard in gen-AI powered productivity”. This includes scaling use cases that have shown to be effective in delivering cost reductions and operational efficiencies across the business globally – using Accenture’s GenWizard platform.

Julie Sweet, chair and CEO, Accenture, commented, “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 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.” 

GenWizard platform has more than 350 patents and ready-to-apply tools and frameworks. According to Unilever, the firm will now use the platform to accelerate technology and digital product development, reduce operating costs and release capacity to focus efforts on areas of the organization most likely to unlock business value.  

Hein Schumacher CEO, Unilever, added, “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.”