Unilever Partners with Accenture to Pioneer New Benchmarks in Generative AI-Driven Efficiency

Unilever Partners with Accenture to Pioneer New Benchmarks in Generative AI-Driven Efficiency

(IN BRIEF) Unilever and Accenture are enhancing their partnership to set a new benchmark in generative AI-driven productivity. Through a multi-year program, Unilever aims to build on its existing AI applications and leverage Accenture’s GenWizard platform to drive efficiencies, cost savings, and business agility. Unilever’s CEO, Hein Schumacher, emphasized the potential of advanced AI in transforming operations, while Accenture’s CEO, Julie Sweet, highlighted the role of the GenWizard platform in achieving these goals. This collaboration is part of Unilever’s broader strategy to explore and scale innovative AI solutions across its global operations.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 6-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Unilever and Accenture have announced an ambitious new collaboration aimed at redefining productivity standards through the application of generative AI. This strategic partnership marks a significant expansion of their existing relationship and promises to set a new benchmark for efficiency and agility within the industry.

The multi-year initiative will see Unilever and Accenture working together to deploy generative AI technologies across Unilever’s global operations. The goal is to streamline digital infrastructure and establish a robust foundation for leveraging AI to drive substantial cost savings and operational improvements.

Hein Schumacher, CEO of Unilever, highlighted the transformative potential of the partnership: “Having already integrated 500 AI applications into our operations, we’re now poised to delve deeper into the possibilities of advanced AI. This initiative is a critical part of our strategy to enhance growth, productivity, and performance. With Accenture’s leading-edge tools and expertise, we aim to identify the most impactful AI applications and maximize their potential.”

Central to this collaboration is the use of Accenture’s GenWizard platform, which boasts over 350 patents and a suite of tools and frameworks designed to address complex technological challenges. This platform will play a crucial role in accelerating Unilever’s digital product development and optimizing its AI capabilities.

Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO of Accenture, expressed enthusiasm for the project: “This expanded partnership with Unilever represents a significant leap forward in our long-standing collaboration. By harnessing the power of Accenture’s GenWizard platform, Unilever will be able to deploy a wide range of targeted generative AI solutions that drive efficiency, uncover new operational methodologies, and enhance competitive advantage.”

The collaboration builds on previous efforts to explore and scale generative AI applications within Unilever. Since the initial announcement, the company has been actively developing and testing new AI concepts and projects through its “Horizon3 Labs.”

About Unilever
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Nutrition and Ice Cream products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 3.4 billion people every day. We have 128,000 employees and generated sales of €59.6 billion in 2023.

For more information about Unilever and our brands, please visit www.unilever.com.

About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent- and innovation-led company with approximately 750,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the world’s leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology and leadership in cloud, data and AI with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability. We are uniquely able to deliver tangible outcomes because of our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Song. These capabilities, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360° value, enable us to help our clients reinvent and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360° value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Forward looking statements
Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “aspires,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook,” “goal,” “target” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance nor promises that goals or targets will be met, and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks include, without limitation, that the partnership might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture, as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” heading in Accenture plc’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture’s expectations.

Media Contacts:

Unilever:
Press-Office.London@unilever.com

Accenture:
Tara Burns
+44 7850 435185
tara.burns@accenture.com

SOURCE: Accenture