Our annual Benchmark Gensuite Impact Conference is always the highlight of our year. It’s an all-too-rare opportunity for us to connect with our vibrant community of subscribers and partners face-to-face, and an electric environment for learning, networking, and collaboration. Taking place in our own backyard in Northern Kentucky, Impact 2024 may well have been the most impactful yet.
All week we showcased the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in Sustainability and EHS Management, and the ways it’s already making a difference within the platform today. On every topic, from contractor management to ergonomics to disclosure reporting, the conference highlighted practical applications, real-world benefits, and the future trajectory of AI in these critical areas.
Live Try-it-Out Gen AI Session
One of the most dynamic displays came Wednesday morning, during the “Live Try-it-Out” Gen AI Session hosted by Steve Belin (Executive Director of Product Management) and Shelby Ackley (Associate Director of Commercial Solutions & Offerings.) This hands-on exploration demonstrated how Genny AI can revolutionize EHS management. Key takeaways from this session included:
- Practical Applications and Benefits: Attendees experienced interactive demonstrations that showcased Genny AI’s capabilities in simplifying tasks, transforming data analysis, and enhancing decision-making processes. The focus was on real-world benefits such as summarizing large volumes of data, extracting insights, and providing data entry assistance to improve the quality of recorded info.
- Task-Specific AI Advisors: The session featured AI advisors like Describe-it AI Advisor which assist users in intelligent task prioritization and data collection. These tools demonstrated AI’s potential to enhance daily EHS tasks and overall management.
Sustainability+ Panel
The Sustainability+ Panel was a riveting discussion led by Amanda Petzinger, VP of Sustainability, Stewardship, Supply Chain & ESG Solutions. The panel brought together leading voices in sustainability from various industries to discuss the evolving role of digital solutions in sustainability practices. Highlights included:
- Digital Transformation in Sustainability: Panelists shared insights on how digital tools are transforming target setting, reporting, stakeholder engagement, and risk management. The discussion emphasized the critical need for accurate data management and the significant impact digital tools can have in streamlining processes and enhancing sustainability initiatives.
- Expert Insights: Leaders such as Jonathan Blaine (HB Fuller), Abbey Messina (Parker Hannifin), Chet Brandon (GrafTech), Julie Hoben (Amphenol), and Sameer Vyas (Huco Consulting) provided a comprehensive overview of challenges and opportunities in integrating advanced technologies like AI into sustainability efforts.
- Key Points: Abbey Messina highlighted the necessity of digital tools for managing KPIs under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), while Julie Hoben discussed the shift in sustainability focus from facility operations to supply chain and product impact, showcasing the transformative role of AI.
AI Innovations Showcase
The breakout sessions and innovation workgroups provided a deeper dive into specific AI innovations, demonstrating their application across various EHS and sustainability domains:
- AI in Incident Management: AI is revolutionizing incident management by facilitating more accurate and efficient data analysis. Sessions demonstrated AI’s ability to identify common problem statements across business units and enable proactive measures.
- AI in Contractor Management: AI technology showcased its potential to save time during document reviews, such as validating a Certificate of Insurance and auto-populating insurance details.
- AI in Ergonomics: The ergonomics breakout sessions highlighted advancements in program management, integrating AI and video analysis to transform risk evaluation. Insights from industry leaders from companies like The Boston Beer Company and Corning, Inc. underscored the impact of AI on ergonomic assessments. With tools like Ergo Evaluator, powered by 3MotionAI, these sessions demonstrated AI’s role in standardizing and accelerating ergonomic assessments and integrating them with the Benchmark Gensuite platform.
- AI in Disclosure Reporting: Updates to the Disclosure Director tool,— including support for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the new Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) questionnaire, European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) guidance, and Genny AI integrations—, were highlighted. These updates streamline disclosure management, ensuring compliance with guidelines and improving data accuracy.
The Benchmark Gensuite Impact 2024 Conference underscored the transformative potential of AI in sustainability and EHS management. From practical applications in incident management and contractor management to innovative solutions in ergonomics and disclosure reporting, AI is set to revolutionize how organizations approach these critical areas.
Looking for more on the future of AI in health, safety, and sustainability? Register for the upcoming third installment in our continuing AI in EHS + Sustainability Collaboration Forum on July 24th and be sure to join the discussion group on LinkedIn!
