Industrial AI: Wilo and Capgemini are strengthening their collaboration on AI transformation
Capgemini will also become part of the Wilo Global WATER AI Academy
Dortmund. The water technology group Wilo and Capgemini, a partner for business transformation in the AI era, are set to further strengthen their collaboration on the digital and AI transformation of Wilo’s business and industrial processes. The partners are creating a harmonised process and data landscape based on SAP S/4HANA that is focused end to end on customer benefits. The aim is to achieve even smarter, more data-driven corporate management and deploy AI throughout the entire value chain. Wilo CEO Oliver Hermes and Henrik Ljungström, Managing Director at Capgemini in Germany, signed the agreement at Wilopark, Wilo’s global headquarters in Dortmund.
“The systematic use of AI is crucial to the competitiveness of industrial companies and economies. At Wilo, we do not view AI as an end in itself, but rather approach it by asking how it can optimise processes whilst empowering people. This is how we are steadily becoming an industrial AI champion”, explains Oliver Hermes, President & Global CEO of the Wilo Group. This approach is derived from Wilo’s Group Strategy and its AI Strategy, which is based on the pillars of Embed, Enable and Embrace. “We embrace AI. And, together with Capgemini, we are laying the groundwork to quickly translate its technological potential into measurable impact – whether in Wilo’s day-to-day business or as part of the Global WATER AI Academy”, Hermes continues.
Like all industries, water management is facing a fundamental transformation driven by AI. Considering that the increasing use of AI leads to an overall higher water consumption, strategic applications for AI-optimised water management can be found across many points in the value chain: from intelligent water consumption in private homes to AI-optimised cooling pumps in large data centres. The objective of the collaboration is to identify where AI-powered services and products have the greatest impact.
Furthermore, Capgemini is joining the Global WATER AI Academy initiated by Wilo – an international hub for education, innovation and collaboration at the interface between water and artificial intelligence. As part of this, Capgemini is contributing its in-depth industry knowledge as well as practical experience gained from similar client projects and tried-and-tested use cases. The use of data platforms, digital twins and AI-powered technologies plays a key role in this. In collaboration with the partners of the Global WATER AI Academy, use cases are to be further developed, optimised and scaled up.
“More and more companies are viewing water as a strategically important resource for their resilience and sustainable transformation. At the same time, there is a growing awareness that water can become a significant business risk if it is not managed responsibly and with foresight. Here at Capgemini, we are convinced that AI-powered technologies, when used responsibly, can play a crucial role in helping us use and manage water more efficiently, resiliently and with a focus on sustainability”, says Henrik Ljungström, Managing Director at Capgemini in Germany. “By transforming its corporate landscape, Wilo is paving the way for an AI-driven future. We are also looking forward to our collaboration with the Global WATER AI Academy, which is addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time.”
The Wilo Global WATER AI Academy brings together science, industry and society internationally, promoting collaboration, innovation, and education in the fields of water and artificial intelligence. The Academy’s network has gained another strong player in Capgemini. In addition to Capgemini, Mitsubishi Electric, the Fläkt Group, InstaDeep, DP World and the EGLV are already on board as industry and technology partners. TU Dortmund, the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, MINES Paris – PSL, the EUREF Talent Campus, Heriot-Watt University and the Centre of Expertise Water Technology are already involved as academic partners.
