Danone Chalks Out Plan to Boost Workforce Efficiency with AI

Danone announced a multi-year collaboration with Microsoft to integrate AI across Danone’s operations. The partnership is headed to launch a Danone Microsoft AI Academy to upskill all Danone employees to thrive in the AI-driven era.

The partnership program is built on Danone’s recently launched DanSkills’ program, which is designed to upskill and reskill around 100,000 Danone employees for future jobs and attract talent.

In a media update, the company said that 50,000 of its employees already leverage AI using tools like Microsoft Copilot. In addition, the proposed AI academy will provide a plethora of learning opportunities aimed at enhancing the AI literacy and expertise of employees across the organization.

Through this collaboration with Microsoft, Danone will be empowered with cutting-edge AI solutions and use cases for its functions. Initially, the companies will create an AI-enabled supply chain to:

• Elevate operational efficiency, enabling a smarter, more responsive approach to managing logistics and manufacturing through predictive forecasting, real-time adjustments, and streamlined operations.

• Develop digital twinning of core skills to assist data-driven decision-making by core professionals in Danone’s procurement, production, technology, and distribution teams.

Juergen Esser, Danone’s Deputy CEO in charge of Finance, Technology, and Data, said: "Our collaboration with Microsoft will accelerate our AI transformation, providing us with the tools, technology, and expertise to explore new frontiers in data analysis, operational efficiency, and consumer engagement. Working together is not just about technology; it’s about fostering a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and performance across our organization."