Global hygiene and health group Essity is partnering with Accenture and Microsoft to accelerate the use of AI agents across the business.

As part of the multi-year deal, the three companies will create a cloud-based technology platform designed to support “next-generation” AI capabilities so that Essity can test and scale new tools across its core business processes and functions.

The initial phase will focus on improving procurement and finance operations, with cross-functional teams aiming to test, observe and continuously improve these areas over a period of time.

In the longer term, Essity plans to scale AI across the company to "reinvent" other end-to-end business processes to support further value and growth.

Essity, which boasts sales across 150 countries through its leading brands TENA and Tork, as well as a range of other hygiene and healthcare businesses, will work with the companies at its AI Centre of Excellence.

The move will see Accenture's cloud, data and AI experts use Microsoft’s advanced technologies such as Azure, Copilot Studio, Power Platform.

It will also collaborate with Microsoft experts for technical guidance and support.

“To accelerate value generation for our consumers, customers and our employees, we are collaborating with Accenture and Microsoft to access strong industry, functional, technical and product expertise, crucial for ensuring we have the agility to move as the market does,” said Carl-Magnus Månsson, Essity’s chief digital and information officer. “We are creating a robust and flexible foundation and approach for developing and embedding data and AI in our core business processes to create value and deliver growth."

He went on to say that the platform will be developed with leading design principles within a responsible AI framework, designed to ensure ethical and legally compliant use and aligned to its "company core values."

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