Digital Transformation Consulting

The chemical company faced the challenge of aligning innovation efforts with the rapidly increasing demand for sustainability-related chemical products, which require substantial technological advancements and efficiency improvements. To address this, the company partnered with Accenture to leverage digital, data, and AI technologies, notably implementing generative AI to streamline R&D processes. This approach boosted R&D success rates by up to 70%, significantly reducing patent search times and enhancing the accuracy of patent analyses, which led to faster product development cycles and improved intellectual property management.

Additionally, the company needed to differentiate its sustainability offerings in a market where environmental credentials—such as feedstock sources and carbon footprint—were not easily verifiable. To justify premium pricing and build consumer trust, it developed a comprehensive value proposition centered on full transparency and traceability. By deploying blockchain, digital product passports, and digital business networks, the company ensured end-to-end traceability of its products’ sustainability features, providing verifiable information on product origin, environmental impact, and lifecycle, which helped to strengthen its market position.

Recognizing that capturing growth in this sector required a collaborative approach, the company formed strategic partnerships along the value chain. These collaborations included joint innovation projects, shared investments, and risk-sharing arrangements with customers, governments, and new technology or NGO partners. An example cited was Shell’s partnership with airlines and SAF suppliers to create a digital green fuel marketplace, a model that the chemical company adapted to foster similar alliances. This collaborative strategy enabled the company to develop and scale new sustainable solutions efficiently, align with industry shifts, and unlock the growing market opportunity projected to reach $570 billion by 2028—an 11% CAGR—driving significant revenue growth and competitive advantage in the sustainability-focused segment.