1. GROUP PROFILE An “augmented” team member The volatility of sea freight prices in recent years has prompted major customers to put contracts out to tender more frequently. These specifi cations often exceed a hundred pages, and the team handling them runs the risk of not always being able to respond to every request. To improve the teams’ operational effi ciency, the IT experts retrieved all tender responses stored in the information system and used generative AI to add value to the data. As a result, 80% of the responses were already available in the information system. This use case enabled the teams to avoid repetitive tasks and concentrate on 20% of data with high added value. More generally, employees have now been made aware of the value of using artifi cial intelligence in carrying out their work. In 2024, the Group launched a secure internal ChatGPT to protect its data and encourage continuous learning. Key fi gures ➔1,400 in-house employees work in digital ➔3.5% of Group revenues are invested in new technologies (excluding cyber security) Warehouse automation and robotics Automated warehouses, robotics and artifi cial intelligence are at the heart of logistics fl ow management in e-commerce. Technology reduces human intervention and improves workplace safety. The Group has to handle seasonal peaks in activity, with high volumes of shipments, and by using smart robots that move autonomously around its warehouses, it can reduce the risk of incidents and eliminate repetitive tasks. In the United States, at the GEODIS distribution center in Columbus, Ohio, AMRs (autonomous mobile robots) have taken on the task of lifting heavy loads, reducing the risk of physical injury to operators and forklift drivers, who can now concentrate on other tasks. The automated order management system implemented at the site handles order picking, replenishment, warehousing and in-store dispatch with minimal human interaction. Key fi gure ➔80 automated sites worldwide (robotics and automation) Drones reduce work fatigue in the United States To cut inventory time in half for one of their customers, American engineering teams used new technologies to optimize stock management. Today, drones navigate across the warehouse completely autonomously, without GPS, Wi-Fi or any special equipment. The technology makes it possible to scan stock 15 times faster than using traditional methods. In addition to improving operational effi ciency, the technology also makes it possible to inspect hard-to-reach or dangerous areas, improving operators’ working comfort. 16 - 2024 ACTIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
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