Larus Technologies’ AI/ML-based predictive analytics solutions to support Unilever Canada’s business strategies
OTTAWA, September 18, 2020 – Larus Technologies, a leading Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) data analytics company, and Unilever Canada, a leading global consumer goods company, have agreed to work together to develop AI/ML-based solutions.
Under the agreement, Unilever Canada will provide Larus Technologies with access to its data sources and feeds as well as its business intelligence subject matter expertise through its Unilever Canada Collective Intelligence group. The objective is to use advanced analytics and an AI-based solutions to drive faster and better business decision.
“For several years, Unilever Canada’s Collective Intelligence group has been focusing on research and development of advanced analytics products as well as successfully collaborating with government and academia partners in co-creating value in this space,” said Mr. Gary Bogdani, Unilever Canada’s National Sr. Lead, Collective Intelligence . “We have worked with several partners in the past and have found that Larus Technologies possesses great talent and applied experience in supporting critical decisions, software and processes to bring to fruition an end-to-end AI-enabled advanced analytics platform and address various business-related queries through the use of multiple data sources and collective business intelligence.”
The Larus developed solutions will provide Unilever Canada business users with insights and recommendations, generated by its predictive and prescriptive engine to answer multiple questions and support Unilever’s business planning strategies. Through its proven AI/ML capabilities, the system will rapidly learn and recognize patterns of life, events, and tendencies to continually optimize market awareness for decision makers. The framework will automatically answer questions considering various data sources as well as leveraging Unilever historical data.
To further support this initiative, Larus is also receiving advisory services and funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) for a research project that is looking at the development of this AI/ML-based solution and its deployment within Unilever’s analytics pipeline.
“With rapidly changing market and consumer behaviour requiring agile and efficient supply chains and distribution channels – all businesses, from small start-ups to global brand companies need to leverage AI/ML capabilities to plan their business” said Dr. Rami Abielmona, Larus’ Vice-President of Research & Engineering. “Working with Unilever Canada, we have found a world-leading global partner who has the domain expertise and data to guide our AI/ML-based successes, as well as the strategic vision and market positioning to lead by example. Our data-oriented solution provides Unilever Canada with the strategic and operational data edge to meet the demands of an ever-evolving and fast-moving global Consumer Goods industry.”
About Unilever
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2.5 billion consumers a day. It has 150,000 employees and generated sales of €52 billion in 2019. Over half of the company’s footprint is in developing and emerging markets. Unilever has around 400 brands found in homes all over the world, including Dove, Knorr, Dirt Is Good, Rexona, Hellmann’s, Lipton, Wall’s, Lux, Magnum, Axe, Sunsilk and Surf.
Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) underpins the company’s strategy and commits to:
- Helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being by 2020.
- Halving the environmental impact of our products by 2030.
- Enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people by 2020.
The USLP creates value by driving growth and trust, eliminating costs and reducing risks. The company’s sustainable living brands delivered 78% of total growth and 75% of turnover in 2019.
Since 2010 we have been taking action through the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan to help more than a billion people improve their health and well-being, halve our environmental footprint and enhance the livelihoods of millions of people as we grow our business. We have already made significant progress and continue to expand our ambition – most recently committing to ensure 100% of our plastic packaging is fully reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. While there is still more to do, we are proud to have been recognised in 2019 as sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and as the top ranked company in the Globescan/Sustainability Global Corporate Sustainability Leaders survey, for the ni-consecutive year.
For more information about Unilever and its brands, please visit Unilever website
For more information on the USLP.
