(Doc) Assignment on Artificial Intelligence

Networks and Partnerships

Executive Summary
Megatrends result in affecting the operations of a company in both positive and negative
manner. Organisations have to monitor these megatrends to implement appropriate
policies to ensure that they did not reduce their profitability. Digitalisation is a megatrend
which has affected many corporations all around the world. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a
part of digitalisation which has created various challenges and opportunities for businesses.
Unilever is a global brand =which is also affected by AI technology. The company uses this
technology to its advantage by implementing it in its recruitment process to hire talented
employees. The company also uses this technology to predict customer behaviour and
improve its marketing strategy. However, there are limitations to this technology such as
one solution is not suitable for all operations, expensive process, job cuts, and requirement
of human supervision. Recommendations are given in this report which can assist Unilever
in improving the use of AI to achieve success in the consumer goods industry. The company
should align the AI technology with its automation process to improve its effectiveness by
designing new products and reducing wastage in the production process. The corporation
should also collect data on its customers to identify their purchase pattern to form
strategies for its international operations.
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Table of Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................................................3
Artificial Intelligence (AI)............................................................................................................4
Implementation of AI in operations and processes...................................................................5
Use of AI in Unilever...................................................................................................................6
Limitations of AI technology......................................................................................................8
Conclusion................................................................................................................................10
References................................................................................................................................11
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Introduction
Unilever is a multinational corporation which was formed by Anglo-Dutch parentage that
owns a large number of consumer products brands worldwide relating to personal care,
cleaning, beverages and foods (Unilever, 2018). The corporation has hired more than
170,000 employees across the globe, and it is known for changing its offering as per the
market needs while establishing its products in other countries (Feloni, 2017). The
management of the company has to monitor key megatrends which result in opening new
ways and creating challenges for the organisation. Megatrends are referred to global,
sustained and macroeconomic forces of development which influence cultures, businesses,
economy, society and personal lives of individuals. Digitalisation is a megatrend which has
influenced the way Unilever manages its operations globally. In this report, artificial
intelligence (AI) is chosen as the megatrend to understand how it impacts the operations of
Unilever. An overview of this megatrend will be assessed in this report to understand how it
has changed operations and processes of organisations around the world. The impact of this
technology on Unilever will be determined to understand how it has helped and hindered
the operations of the company. Limitations of this technology will be identified to
understand how corporations cannot use it to improve its processes. Recommendations will
be given in this report which can assist Unilever in using this technology to enhance the
effectiveness of its operations.
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