thyssenkrupp Materials Services begins to use artificial intelligence

Germany’s thyssenkrupp Materials Services has integrated an artificial intelligence solution (AI), supported by Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform into its processes, Kallanish learns from the company.

In a first stage, ‘alfred’, named after Krupp founder figure in the 19th century Alfred Krupp, will help to optimise transport routes and thus save the transport of thousands of tons/year of material. Going forward, tk Materials Services says it will be able to make all processes more flexible, for example with regard to specific customer requirements for delivery time, pricing or material quality.

“alfred gives us better insight into our customers’ needs so that we can align our offerings accordingly and will also open up new business opportunities for us,” says tk Materials Services ceo Klaus Keysberg.

With the AI, the 14 million order items received annually by tk Materials Services can be processed and analysed much more efficiently, the company says. For the first time, the materials experts are also bringing all company data together on a single platform. Using self-learning algorithms based on Microsoft Azure Machine Learning, the new system analyses all relevant information, generates important findings and gives support, the company explains.

alfred will help in addressing issues such as the most intelligent transport route to supply customers in the best possible way, and the needs of individual locations, the company says. tk Materials Services operates a global logistics network with 271 warehouse sites and more than 150,000 products and services.