A Groundbreaking Partnership for a Digital Transformation with IBM
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. and IBM Japan, Ltd. have embarked on a remarkable journey to redefine the discovery of new applications for Mitsui Chemicals’ products. They have combined two powerful forms of Generative AI Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) and IBM Watson Discovery—to streamline their process and maximize agility and accuracy.
“The aim is to improve the top line and expand revenue share of Mitsui Chemicals products by advancing digital transformation in the business domain,” states HASHIMOTO Osamu, President & CEO of Mitsui Chemicals.
IBM Watson: A Catalyst for Innovation
IBM Watson has been a cornerstone in Mitsui Chemicals’ strategy since June 2022, aiding the company in discovering more than 100 new applications for their products across various business units. With plans to further utilize IBM Watson in departments like R&D and corporate, the team continues to analyze a vast array of data, from patents and news to social media posts.
YAMAGUCHI Akio, General Manager and President of IBM Japan, Ltd., highlights an example of the tool’s success: “In SNS analysis, Mitsui Chemicals found that there were many posts such as ‘musty smell in the local railway,’ which led to sales activities of Mitsui Chemicals’ antifungal products for a railway.”
GPT: The Game-Changer for Swift and Accurate Discovery
While IBM Watson has been instrumental in new application discovery, the need for a faster process became apparent. This led to the implementation of GPT, an AI model capable of generating new applications from a copious amount of text data, increasing the speed and precision of discovery drastically.
“GPT’s integration is about focusing on new applications and external environmental factors. The aim is to drastically increase the agility and accuracy of discovering new applications,” says Osamu.
A Future-Ready Approach: Integrating SFA and Robotics
To accelerate the transition from market development to product development, Mitsui Chemicals is integrating Sales Force Automation (SFA), Marketing Automation (MA), Materials Informatics (MI), and Robotics into their workflow. This fusion is expected to improve data sharing across departments, promoting overall business growth.
The Transformation Journey: A Word from the CDO of Mitsui Chemicals
Masao Sambe, CDO of Mitsui Chemicals, provides an optimistic outlook on this innovative venture: “This time, we are engaging with IBM Watson to discover new material applications which will contribute to portfolio transformation by lifting the top line and increasing market share… combined GPT/Generative AI with Watson will enable us to enhance agility, accuracy, and usability in discovering new applications and to optimize stakeholders’ benefits between LOB and R&D.”
In conclusion, the strategic partnership between Mitsui Chemicals and IBM Japan, employing Generative AI for New Application Discovery, is paving the way for the chemical industry’s future. By leveraging the power of AI, they are fostering digital transformation and reshaping the way businesses approach product development and market expansion.
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