TOMRA Collections North America Innovates with IFS.ai for Enhanced Service Delivery
TOMRA Collections North America is experiencing a transformative shift in its operational capabilities thanks to the early adoption of IFS.ai and IFS Cloud. As a pivotal player in the global recycling industry, TOMRA has consistently pledged to optimize its services for managing and recycling an impressive 48 billion used beverage containers annually through its extensive network of reverse vending machines spread across 85,000 installations worldwide. This commitment to sustainability is matched by a dedication to harnessing innovative technology, as evidenced by their recent strategic upgrade to IFS Cloud in 2023.
With IFS Cloud, TOMRA has not only fortified its existing service models but has embraced a flexible, data-driven approach that enhances agility and decision-making. By empowering its field service organization, TOMRA can maintain mission-critical equipment against various challenges such as geographic diversity and climate changes. The standardization of systems and processes globally has been instrumental in achieving significant improvements in key service performance metrics. Remarkably, their first-time fix rate surged to 96–97%—a substantial increase from the previous 84%—and overall operational efficiency saw growth of 27% following the initial deployment of IFS solutions.
Jay Sethuraj, Vice President of Technology at TOMRA North America, expressed enthusiasm over these advancements, stating, "Initial investment in IFS allowed us to establish a foundation for operational efficiency. But IFS Cloud has elevated our capabilities, enabling us to continuously redefine operational excellence. With features like evergreen updates and embedded AI solutions, our adaptability and evolution in real-time have drastically improved."
The shift to IFS Cloud has been fueled by TOMRA's desire for an evergreen operating model, one that ensures the organization stays abreast of the latest technological functionalities without the burden of disruptive upgrades. As such, the time required to implement updates has drastically reduced from eight weeks to six weeks, minimizing system downtime to mere hours. Such compressed timelines have propelled TOMRA into a position of continuous improvement, setting new benchmarks for operational excellence.
One of the most significant advantages of the IFS Cloud framework is its emphasis on configuration over customization. Sethuraj noted, "Choosing a configuration-based approach allows us to tailor the solution distinctly to our needs, removing the risks associated with technical debt of custom code. This balance is what enables our evergreen strategy to not only exist but flourish."
Incorporating embedded AI into their framework, TOMRA has rolled out tools such as the Copilot for Knowledge Search and the What-If Scenario Explorer (WISE), further refining their operational adeptness. Daniel Basile, VP of Field Service at TOMRA North America, highlighted the implications of WISE, stating, "The WISE tool facilitates real-time simulations of planning changes and scheduling effects—like having a sandbox in production. Meanwhile, with Copilot, field technicians gain instantaneous access to our technical knowledge base, reducing onboarding time significantly. Rather than spending 30 minutes or more poring over lengthy manuals, they can receive responses and supporting document links within seconds."
Basile emphasized that these innovations have transitioned the company from a reactive crisis management approach to a proactive foresight strategy. This shift aligns their operations more closely with the strategic aims of delivering sustained value to customers.
Christian Pedersen, Chief Product Officer at IFS, voiced appreciation for TOMRA's pioneering role in adopting IFS Cloud. He elaborated, "Our solutions offer ambitious companies like TOMRA the agility and intelligence necessary to thrive in today’s rapidly changing landscape. Their commitment to continuous improvement, coupled with our AI capabilities, exemplifies a model for service innovation on a broad scale."
Supporting this transition is a robust partnership with Infosys, which TOMRA is leveraging to enhance the speed at which they realize value from their IFS investment. Basile noted, "Our working relationship fosters a true partnership dynamic, allowing the IFS Success team to understand our business needs deeply—ensuring that they tailor the technology to help us fulfill our goals effectively."
In summary, TOMRA Collections North America stands at the forefront of industrial innovation. Through their strategic adoption of IFS.ai and a steadfast focus on operational excellence, they are not only enhancing their service delivery but also setting new standards in the recycling sector, paving the way for a more sustainable future.
With IFS Cloud, TOMRA has not only fortified its existing service models but has embraced a flexible, data-driven approach that enhances agility and decision-making. By empowering its field service organization, TOMRA can maintain mission-critical equipment against various challenges such as geographic diversity and climate changes. The standardization of systems and processes globally has been instrumental in achieving significant improvements in key service performance metrics. Remarkably, their first-time fix rate surged to 96–97%—a substantial increase from the previous 84%—and overall operational efficiency saw growth of 27% following the initial deployment of IFS solutions.
Jay Sethuraj, Vice President of Technology at TOMRA North America, expressed enthusiasm over these advancements, stating, "Initial investment in IFS allowed us to establish a foundation for operational efficiency. But IFS Cloud has elevated our capabilities, enabling us to continuously redefine operational excellence. With features like evergreen updates and embedded AI solutions, our adaptability and evolution in real-time have drastically improved."
The shift to IFS Cloud has been fueled by TOMRA's desire for an evergreen operating model, one that ensures the organization stays abreast of the latest technological functionalities without the burden of disruptive upgrades. As such, the time required to implement updates has drastically reduced from eight weeks to six weeks, minimizing system downtime to mere hours. Such compressed timelines have propelled TOMRA into a position of continuous improvement, setting new benchmarks for operational excellence.
One of the most significant advantages of the IFS Cloud framework is its emphasis on configuration over customization. Sethuraj noted, "Choosing a configuration-based approach allows us to tailor the solution distinctly to our needs, removing the risks associated with technical debt of custom code. This balance is what enables our evergreen strategy to not only exist but flourish."
Incorporating embedded AI into their framework, TOMRA has rolled out tools such as the Copilot for Knowledge Search and the What-If Scenario Explorer (WISE), further refining their operational adeptness. Daniel Basile, VP of Field Service at TOMRA North America, highlighted the implications of WISE, stating, "The WISE tool facilitates real-time simulations of planning changes and scheduling effects—like having a sandbox in production. Meanwhile, with Copilot, field technicians gain instantaneous access to our technical knowledge base, reducing onboarding time significantly. Rather than spending 30 minutes or more poring over lengthy manuals, they can receive responses and supporting document links within seconds."
Basile emphasized that these innovations have transitioned the company from a reactive crisis management approach to a proactive foresight strategy. This shift aligns their operations more closely with the strategic aims of delivering sustained value to customers.
Christian Pedersen, Chief Product Officer at IFS, voiced appreciation for TOMRA's pioneering role in adopting IFS Cloud. He elaborated, "Our solutions offer ambitious companies like TOMRA the agility and intelligence necessary to thrive in today’s rapidly changing landscape. Their commitment to continuous improvement, coupled with our AI capabilities, exemplifies a model for service innovation on a broad scale."
Supporting this transition is a robust partnership with Infosys, which TOMRA is leveraging to enhance the speed at which they realize value from their IFS investment. Basile noted, "Our working relationship fosters a true partnership dynamic, allowing the IFS Success team to understand our business needs deeply—ensuring that they tailor the technology to help us fulfill our goals effectively."
In summary, TOMRA Collections North America stands at the forefront of industrial innovation. Through their strategic adoption of IFS.ai and a steadfast focus on operational excellence, they are not only enhancing their service delivery but also setting new standards in the recycling sector, paving the way for a more sustainable future.
Topics Consumer Technology）
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