Kraft Heinz Pilots Ketchup-Focused Agent as Part of AI Ecosystem Initiative

The Kraft Heinz Co. has developed a proprietary AI agent that gives its workforce direct access to information about how its Heinz ketchup product is manufactured. 

The digital tool, called The Cookbook, was created in partnership with Microsoft using Azure OpenAI as a way to preserve legacy innovation knowledge while investing in “disruptive, digital-first solutions” to drive efficiency and impact, according to Pat Nestor, the head of decision intelligence products and platforms.

Also: Kraft Heinz to split business

The AI agent pulls from a central database that holds insights from Kraft Heinz subject matter experts, allowing employees to ask questions related to the development of the ketchup, including thickness and color of a batch or information about manufacturing efficiency. 

“The Cookbook also leverages existing documentation and digital data systems, which has been critical in helping our team understand potential knowledge gaps as we continue to build out the database that informs the tool,” Nestor tells CGT.

It’s currently being piloted at a U.S. production site for the ketchup. While the company is still gathering feedback, it may expand The Cookbook into additional use cases across the enterprise. 

Measuring ROI

For any tech it is testing, the company has a framework to ensure it will drive value for the business and user, says Nestor. 

The team thinks about this in two ways: 

Quantitative value for the business: Depending on the particular application or use case and where it sits in the ecosystem, this could be sales growth, yield optimization, addressing quality and process challenges, efficiencies, etc.

Qualitative value for people: Are they benefiting from the platform, and do they see value? This can be measured through NPS, engagement scores, etc. 

“As we further deploy and scale The Cookbook, we will continue to monitor and measure value creation within our plants and facilities,” he adds.