thyssenkrupp Materials Services introduces artificial intelligence solution 'alfred'

June 13, 2019: thyssenkrupp Materials Services has launched 'alfred', an artificial intelligence solution (AI), supported by Microsoft’s cloud platform Azure.

As a first step, alfred helps optimise transport routes and thus save the transport of thousands of tons of material per year. In addition, materials will be available more quickly at the right locations in the future. In the medium term, Materials Services will be able to make all processes along the supply chain more flexible, for example, in order to better take into account specific customer requirements for delivery speed, pricing or material quality.

Summarising alfred's strengths, Klaus Keysberg, CEO of thyssenkrupp Materials Services said: "Artificial intelligence is one of the technologies that will make a decisive contribution to competitiveness in materials distribution in the future. With alfred we are taking an important step towards making our processes even more efficient and optimising our value chain. At the same time, he gives us better insight into our customers' needs so that we can align our offerings accordingly. In the medium term, this holistic approach will also open up new business opportunities for us".

Using self-learning algorithms based on Microsoft Azure Machine Learning, alfred analyses all relevant information, generates important findings and supports employees with appropriate recommendations: Which materials have to be assigned to which industry? Where are materials processed? What would be the most intelligent transport route to supply the customers with materials in the best possible way? What are the needs of the individual locations?

"The intention is very clear: With alfred we are improving our own processes so that we can serve our customers all over the world more efficiently," says Axel Berger, head of digital transformation office at Materials Services.