AI Supports Colleagues

Since early 2019 an artificial intelligence solution (AI), supported by Microsoft’s cloud platform Azure, has been integrated into the processes of the largest materials distribution and service provider in the Western world.

“alfred” supports its colleagues at materials services in dynamically managing the global logistics network with 271 warehouse sites and more than 150 000 products and services. As with his namesake, Alfred Krupp, all information comes together at alfred. As a first step, alfred will help to optimise transport routes and save year. In addition, materials will be available more quickly at the right locations in the future.
Klaus Keysberg, CEO of thyssenkrupp materials services says, “Artificial intelligence is one of the technologies that will make a decisive contribution
to competitiveness in materials distribution in the future. With alfred we are taking an important step towards making our processes even more efficient and optimising our value chain,” says Klaus
Using Big Data systematically
With AI, the approximately 14 million order items received annually by materials services can be processed and analysed much more efficiently. For the first time, materials experts are also bringing all company data together on a single platform.
Using self-learning algorithms based on Microsoft Azure Machine Learning, alfred analyses all relevant information, generates important findings and supports employees with appropriate recommendations.
Lifelong learning
In the company’s own digital transformation office
in Essen, all strands of digitalisation flow together.
Here, integrated teams of IT experts, engineers and business coordinators work under the direction of Axel Berger, head of digital transformationat thyssenkrupp, on various digitalisation projects that arise directly from the core business of materials services, including alfred.
The materials experts are supported by Microsoft and its global cloud platform Azure. “Joining forces with Microsoft allows us to use advanced technologies for our in-house developments. This enables us to ensure that the projects are very closely linked to our core business on the one hand, and that they are technologically state-of-the-art on the other,” concludes Axel.
thyssenkrupp, Lars Bank. Tel: +49 (201) 844-534416
Email: lars.bank@thyssenkrupp.com
www.thyssenkrupp-materials-services.com