Humans and Machines: A Look at Digital Transformation at Covestro
Artificial Intelligence has become a constant assistant - analyzing, optimizing, and accelerating innovations at a rapid pace. According to the Hays HR Report 2024, companies are increasingly using artificial intelligence to boost productivity. But how do we ensure employees see this change as an opportunity rather than a threat? The answer lies in transparency, skill development, and a clear vision for human-machine collaboration.
Meanwhile, a recent Fraunhofer study shows that artificial intelligence adoption in industrial production remains in its early stages - with only 16% direct utilization in production processes. But the potential is huge: AI can automate complex processes, increase efficiency, and create entirely new innovation possibilities.
This is precisely where we at Covestro are focusing our efforts. We don't view artificial intelligence as an experimental future concept, but as an essential part of our digital transformation. Our goal is to bring humans and machines together in ways that create new value - for our employees, our customers, and the entire industry.
AI is our key to the future - and we are actively shaping it
For Covestro, implementing AI isn't a question of "if," but "how." It will determine whether companies lead or fall behind in the future. For us, AI isn't a threat, but a catalyst for progress - a technology that dramatically expands what we can do and opens new horizons.
Our vision is seamless collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence. Imagine: The knowledge of our best experts, accessible to the entire workforce anytime. Development times shrinking from months to days or even hours. A new dimension of efficiency and innovative potential - and we're already working today to make this vision reality.
Covestro Virtual Assistant: Our Springboard into the AI Future
A prime example is the Covestro Virtual Assistant. More than just an assistant, it's our gateway to a new way of working. It combines the strengths of common AI applications with customized functions for Covestro while ensuring the highest data security standards.
With the Covestro Virtual Assistant, we provide each employee with a "silicon-based partner" - support that simplifies routine tasks and promotes creative thinking.
From Finance to Production: AI Revolutionizes Our Company
The impacts of AI are already evident at Covestro:
- Financial Management: Using machine learning, we've revolutionized liquidity management with measurable success. Through improved cash flow forecasts alone, we've saved interest costs of several million euros.
- Autonomous Production: Since June 2024, one of our 15 production lines in Dormagen has been running completely autonomously in batch process - a milestone toward self-controlling facilities. This frees our employees to focus more on energy efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
Human-AI Collaboration: Our Most Valuable Asset
With all our technological innovation, one thing remains clear: AI isn't a replacement technology for humans, but a technology that creates entirely new spaces for innovation and value creation. It handles repetitive tasks and gives us more room for strategic thinking, creativity, and innovation.
That's why we're specifically investing in education and measures that support transformation, so everyone at Covestro can leverage the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. The greatest value of an intelligent future lies in people who quickly learn to adapt to new technology and help shape the future.
Responsible Use of AI
With great opportunities come great challenges. Responsible artificial intelligence use is non-negotiable for us. We rely on clear ethical guidelines, transparency, and data protection to ensure our technology is used responsibly and fairly.
This means we not only implement AI but actively govern it - with clear governance mechanisms and continuous exchange with our employees.
Looking to the Future: AI as a Growth Driver for Covestro
My task as CIO is to orchestrate human-AI collaboration. We bring the best technologies into our company and integrate them meaningfully - first where they generate the greatest economic value. We implement AI in alignment with our values.
I'm convinced: AI will not only make Covestro more efficient but enable completely new business models. By leading the way in this development, we won't just be part of the transformation - we'll actively shape it.
The journey we're on is exciting. AI will fundamentally transform our company and industry. The symbiosis of human and artificial intelligence opens opportunities we can hardly imagine today.
Let's move forward together - with courage, innovative spirit, and the firm conviction that the future will not only be digital but intelligent.
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