EcoVadis uses Azure OpenAI Service capabilities to streamline procurement.
EcoVadis’ AI solution described here enhances buyer productivity by summarizing supplier scorecards and generating insights from vast amounts of structured and unstructured data.
Microsoft Azure enabled EcoVadis to develop and integrate AI solutions at scale. Azure OpenAI Service, integration, and multilingual support boosted productivity and provided insights to procurement professionals.
EcoVadis is a purpose-driven company dedicated to embedding sustainability intelligence into every business decision worldwide. With global, trusted and actionable ratings, businesses of all sizes rely on EcoVadis’ detailed insights to comply with ESG regulations, reduce GHG emissions, and improve the sustainability performance of their business and value chain across 220 industries in 180 countries. Leaders like Johnson & Johnson, L’Oréal, Unilever, Bridgestone, BASF and JPMorgan are among 150,000+ businesses that use EcoVadis ratings, risk, and carbon management tools and e-learning platform to accelerate their journey toward resilience, sustainable growth and positive impact worldwide.
Our flagship solution, EcoVadis Ratings, is the cornerstone of over 1400+ sustainable procurement programs within global value chains. With global, trusted and actionable ratings, businesses of all sizes rely on EcoVadis’ detailed insights to comply with ESG regulations, reduce GHG emissions, and improve the sustainability performance of their business and value chain.
As part of supplier relationship management, buyers spent substantial time processing a large volume of information and data about their trading partners. In response, EcoVadis developed an AI-powered solution that streamlines supplier management, and provides buyers with actionable insights—boosting efficiency, improving decision-making, and integrating sustainability into procurement workflows.
“Microsoft Azure offers seamless integration and powerful AI capabilities that empowers EcoVadis to optimize processes and drive innovation within a reliable platform. We are proud to collaborate with EcoVadis, a long-standing partner and leader in sustainability, and to see our innovations contribute to sustainable development," expressed Deborah Benguigui, Senior ISV Partner Development Manager at Microsoft. Since 2016, EcoVadis has leveraged Microsoft Azure’s cloud and AI tools to enhance sustainability intelligence. From decision intelligence to the use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) solutions in EcoVadis multi-product portfolio, their capabilities have evolved with Azure Machine Learning improving scalability and traceability. Collaborating closely, the EcoVadis and Azure teams are working hand-in-hand to innovate and adopt new developments in the field of AI, to better support client goals and drive customer value. Shared values and a commitment to sustainability, such as being carbon negative by 2030—20 years ahead of the Paris Agreement—also reflect a dedication to a more sustainable future.
“Microsoft Azure offers seamless integration and powerful AI capabilities that empowers EcoVadis to optimize processes and drive innovation within a reliable platform. We are proud to collaborate with EcoVadis, a long-standing partner and leader in sustainability, and to see our innovations contribute to sustainable development.”
Deborah Benguigui, Senior ISV Partner Development Manager, Microsoft
EcoVadis chose Microsoft Azure as its cloud partner for three key reasons.
Seamless integration: EcoVadis had already invested in Microsoft’s software ecosystem, making the transition to Azure smooth and efficient. This allowed the company to leverage existing resources while enhancing operational efficiency.
Cloud expertise: EcoVadis’ cloud architects possessed a deep knowledge of Azure, enabling them to maximize its capabilities for scalability and innovation. While recognizing the benefits of multi-cloud approaches, EcoVadis opted for Azure to optimize its processes within a single, reliable platform.
AI capabilities: Azure OpenAI Service provides a comprehensive set of services to build and deploy AI solutions, and over the past years it allowed EcoVadis’ AI Center of Excellence to quickly iterate and bring various AI solutions to the market, from AI-assisted automation to AI capabilities in its multi-product portfolio.
To address the challenges faced by procurement teams, EcoVadis developed a multilingual AI Assistant powered by Microsoft Azure. This assistant enhances buyer workflows by summarizing supplier scorecards and generating insights from vast amounts of structured and unstructured data.
Interactive inquiries: Buyers can engage with the AI Assistant to obtain insights on supplier sustainability performance over time and recommendations on how suppliers can improve it, benchmark performance across their network, and enquire about sustainability topics, such as biodiversity or commitments to reduce carbon emissions.
Multilingual capabilities: Leveraging EcoVadis data sources and Azure OpenAI Service, the assistant supports multiple languages, enabling global reach.
Enhanced productivity: The AI Assistant enhances supplier relationship management, reducing the time required for manual data analysis and enabling procurement teams to make faster, more informed decisions.
EcoVadis utilized a range of Microsoft Azure services to build and deploy its AI-powered solutions:
Azure OpenAI Service: Used GPT-4o-mini to analyze user queries and responses, and GPT-4o to generate detailed insights.
Azure Machine Learning Service: Managed end-to-end AI lifecycle, from data processing to model deployment.
Azure AI Search: Powered intelligent search capabilities for supplier assessments.
Azure Data Services: Including CosmosDB, Azure Data Lake Storage, and Azure Databricks, this solution ensures efficient data management.
Azure Compute services: Virtual Machines and App Services provide a platform for deploying and managing virtual machines (VMs) within an Azure virtual network.
The AI Assistant is designed to make procurement easier by boosting productivity and improving decision making. EcoVadis tracks its performance through user feedback and keeps improving it over time.
Key benefits observed include:
Improved supply chain governance: The AI Assistant helps procurement teams track supplier performance and benchmark their partners’ performance more efficiently.
Actionable insights: Buyers can quickly derive meaningful insights, leading to more strategic supplier engagements.
EcoVadis plans to grow its AI capabilities and strengthen its partnership with Microsoft Azure. By joining ISV Success, EcoVadis aims to take advantage of personalized AI technical consults, expanded marketplace rewards and cloud credits to accelerate innovation. Recently, EcoVadis became Solutions Partner with certified software for Industry AI, and attained the designation in Sustainability AI. With AI and technology at its core, EcoVadis is committed to making sustainability easier and more accessible for businesses worldwide.
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