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From innovation to transformation: How AI agents are shaping the future of work

Gianluca Simeone & Chiranth Ramaswamy
28 Jan 2025

Imagine this for a future work experience: a user in procurement starts the day by asking their virtual assistant to create a purchase order.

This is an action that requires only the basic facts, ranging from vendor and quantity to item and date, with no manual data entry needed to complete the process.

Likewise, a manufacturing user asks their system to tell them what orders they are likely to miss today, and receives not just a detailed report of real-time progress against plan, but also a series of options for addressing potential problems.

These and countless other use case scenarios form the true vision for business AI in the modern work environment. This vision is already building significant momentum, even while introducing various organizational and technical challenges – and it’s only a couple of years away from transforming the everyday interaction with digital applications.

Early gains

The pace of AI and Gen AI adoption is obviously going to differ by organization, depending upon individual business use cases and perceived benefits. But to identify the tangible value underpinning these considerations is first to identify a future state, and imagine a way of working that combines human and machine components into a complete and harmonized whole.

Such thinking typically puts the focus on “quick wins” made possible by AI, including:

  • Automating manual, repetitive tasks, which can extend from data entry to scheduling and report creation, thereby freeing people up to focus on more creative and complex work.
  • Boosting user productivity: where individuals no longer need to access a range of systems to complete tasks and find answers, and instead rely on AI agents to do the heavy lifting – while proactively delivering insight before they even seek it.
  • Streamlining business processes: where agents offer recommendations and autonomously taking actions across a range of commonly completed tasks.
  • Increasing business resilience by proactively designing response plans to critical scenarios.
  • Supporting complex SAP implementations: for example, supporting the project teams activities on RISE with SAP and GROW with SAP integration, working with an Augmented Software Development Life-cycle, and ensuring high data quality.

According to the Capgemini Research Institute’s report, Data-powered enterprises 2024, AI has the capacity to streamline business processes and enhance business resilience. This aligns perfectly with the potential of Gen AI to transform user experiences and create new revenue opportunities.

All told, Gen AI promises to transform the user experience in terms of the way we interact with information and back-end systems, discover insights, and find inspiration. Just as importantly, the technology is rapidly introducing new revenue opportunities and removing “skills barriers” – such as by enabling people to create complex spreadsheet analysis based on a simple query.

Bumps in the road

When the potential of AI is combined with industry and business use cases, the reasons to act become even harder to ignore. Hence the growing focus today on removing any obstacles in the way – with the headlines being:

  • A lack of trust: a concern that spans ethical considerations as well as a resistance inside many organizations to actively experiment with new – and therefore unproven – technologies.
  • A seeming lack of maturity: where decision-makers are waiting on the technology to become “perfect” before committing, held back by talk of AI hallucinations and output bias.
  • Regulatory concerns: where frameworks such as the European Union’s AI Act 2024 aim to ensure AI systems are safe, transparent, and respectful of fundamental rights – but can impact future innovation.
  • Human nature: which sees people preferring the “comfort zone” that comes with traditional ways of working.

This last point is understandable given the fact that AI brings with it a demand to change standard operating procedures. A transformation takes place in the way tasks are completed, to optimize the mix of human and artificial intelligence required at distinct touchpoints along the way.

A dynamic move forward

Overcoming these impediments is an important next step that requires the continued evangelization of AI and Gen AI from technology leaders. This is a task that Capgemini is heavily involved in, helping our customers to better understand the most suitable options for Gen AI – while also providing training and education to master the different aspects of change management.

Such support is a vital way station for any AI roadmap, as organizations seek guidance on the right approach and common pitfalls, as well as ways to introduce the necessary safeguards and appropriate ways to keep a “human in the loop.”

The good news, certainly from a technical perspective, is that Gen AI does not require major changes to existing IT environments, especially when the AI capabilities offered by SAP and global hyperscalers are taken into account. This situation might change with the advent of multi-agent AI systems, and the number of AI agents interacting autonomously – but that is a bridge most will worry about crossing when they finally reach it.

Final thoughts

Gen AI is often described as a train that is gaining speed. In this context, the key question facing organizations is when to get onboard: should they join now while advances are steady, or risk trying to gain access when the locomotive is hurtling through the station at full throttle?

What’s emerging as best practice is the idea of starting small and validating the potential of Gen AI for different use cases. This approach focuses on non-business-critical processes that can be addressed by out-of-the-box functionality available from providers like Capgemini and SAP. Once these initiatives prove their value, organizations gain the confidence to proceed with more advanced design strategy to tackle the bigger task of integrating Gen AI into the very fabric of day-to-day operations.

Ultimately, it comes down to one overriding thought: how to ensure your business doesn’t get left behind.

Watch this space for our next blog post.

Learn more

Data and AI, Digital core, Gen AI, Technology

A catalyst for change: Gen AI in RISE with SAP transformations

Chiranth Ramaswamy
Jan 28, 2025
Business operations, Gen AI, Technology

AI agents and drone inspections: Transform asset management in energy and utilities

Capgemini
Apr 8, 2025

Author

Gianluca Simeone

Global Enterprise Packages Based Solutions CTIO & Gen-AI
Gianluca works across regions to evolve and share the Capgemini techno vision with our key Clients and within Capgemini, to drive innovations related to SAP and SAP BTP

Chiranth Ramaswamy

Senior Director, Global SAP CoE
Chiranth is a Global Gen AI Ninja and part of the Capgemini SAP CoE. He leads delivery of Gen AI Projects, training of associates and exploration of advances in Gen AI and has lead the build and deployment of Gen AI based tools and processes in Capgemini’s SAP projects. His role as SAP India Industry leader involves the development and use of Capgemini’s Industry solutions including industry reference models built on Signavio, Pre-configured S4/HANA industry solutions and line of business solutions tailored to SAP’s Clean Core approach.

    A catalyst for change: Gen AI in RISE with SAP transformations

    Chiranth Ramaswamy
    28 Jan 2025

    Both artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (Gen AI) play a critical role in RISE with SAP transformations. The latter though, Gen AI, offers specific capabilities for both enriching the deployment of RISE with SAP, and maximizing its potential.

    Let’s take a brief look at what these capabilities are.

    From a big-picture perspective, Gen AI and RISE with SAP share many common goals. Both, after all, are dedicated to driving business transformation. They also increasingly share the same “space” with Gen AI assistants such as Joule, which is now integrated into SAP’s RISE bundling.

    But as with any technology that for many sits somewhere between potential and practical value, Gen AI – particularly in the context of RISE with SAP – still raises many “how” questions:

    • How can it reduce the risk and help optimize the actual deployment of RISE with SAP?
    • How can it enable clear business value, in areas such as procurement and accounts payable?

    The first step to answering these questions is understanding what’s realistically possible. Yet it’s also important to understand what’s suitable, given the fact that a mix of standard AI and automation will most likely be the answer for 80 percent of current Gen AI use cases.

    Gen AI for delivering RISE with SAP transformations

    The true value of Gen AI, in the context of a large, multi-year change program, is its ability to accelerate delivery, reduce the risk profile, and improve efficiency. For example:

    • It can be used as an assistant during implementation workshops, helping answer questions, and creating in-depth reports.
    • Based on these discussions, Gen AI can then create functional specifications, technical designs of custom objects, and configuration documents to significantly ease the manual burden.
    • There’s also an important data migration benefit with Gen AI automatically mapping and transforming data from legacy systems to SAP S/4HANA.
    • Last but not least, Gen AI can be used to generate code, thereby accelerating the software development lifecycle and ensuring quality assurance.

    According to the latest Capgemini Research Institute report, Generative AI in organizations 2024, organizations have seen a fourfold increase in the deployment of generative AI, with 20 percent boosting investments and realizing tangible benefits like enhanced customer engagement and operational efficiency. These benefits are also key drivers behind using Gen AI for RISE with SAP implementations.

    Overall, the correct application of Gen AI can have a huge impact and cut the costs of a RISE with SAP implementation by up to 15–20 percent.

    Gen AI for delivering business value as part of the implementation

    Outside of the delivery conversation, which certainly helps accelerate the benefits of the transformation, what really makes Gen AI a long-term enabler of the value of a transformation based on RISE with SAP are the business use cases. These create the transformational outcomes that provide the all-important business case justification.

    That is why the activation of embedded AI/Gen AI use cases, as well as the identification of additional ones, should always be part of the solution design.

    SAP is heavily investing in integrating Gen AI features into core business processes to automate, optimize, and bring contextual navigation to any task. These capabilities sit at the heart of the Joule offering, which is available via the RISE and GROW with SAP offerings.  These are usually industry-specific and cover a wide range of areas such as:

    • Supply chain resilience
    • Recruitment matching
    • Predictive analytics.

    The value underpinning these activities will manifest in the form of more automated and independent processes, enhanced productivity, and more informed decision-making. Yet equally, it’s about streamlining the way users interact with systems – and making the process easier and more intuitive for creating highly specific outcomes.

    Obstacles to change

    Gen AI may represent a major change in enterprise technology, but its introduction alone does not guarantee success. This is where change management enters the picture, because in reality Gen AI demands changes to standard operating procedures:

    • For people, that means overcoming long-established habits (“I’ve always done it this way…”) and skills resistance (“I’m an expert developer, and don’t need Gen AI…”).
    • For processes, Gen AI inevitably requires a degree of fine-tuning to maximize the outcomes it delivers.

    There can also be an understandable wariness of the technology itself, with concerns extending from ethical considerations to practical day-to-day issues relating to data security and the introduction of bias into any system.

    Embracing what’s possible

    Despite these potential obstacles, it’s an undisputed fact that Gen AI drives better business outcomes. Depending upon the use case, there is also significant value in using the technology now, as an ever-growing number of organizations can confirm. The difference made by RISE with SAP is that it makes adoption far easier and more compelling.

    RISE with SAP might not represent the totality of an organization’s AI strategy, but it does enable the key capabilities such as SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) that are critical to ongoing innovation.  Embedding Gen AI into RISE with SAP is also central to SAP’s long-term AI roadmap, making it important for customers to embrace the opportunity. This is where Capgemini can help, working with our SAP clients to help them:

    • Identify the right use cases for Gen AI, while also deploying standard AI, automation, and hyper-automation
    • Access the tools and accelerators needed to speed up the delivery of projects
    • Utilize our deep relationship with SAP to surround their Gen AI journey with added reassurance
    • Identify new use cases that enrich the ones out of the box from SAP
    • Provide tools and frameworks for a safe, trusted, and cost-effective use of Gen AI.

    Final thoughts

    Improving forecast accuracy, lowering inventory costs, and detecting fraud – these and more use cases represent the ultimate goal of Gen AI projects. With Gen AI, a user can chat with a system, ask it to create a report, a purchase order, or a line of code, and receive increasingly personalized responses. This is the new reality as enabled by RISE with SAP and supported by all the experience and insight available from Capgemini.

    It all points to an exciting future.

    Read our next blog part of the series.

    Author

    Chiranth Ramaswamy

    Senior Director, Global SAP CoE
    Chiranth is a Global Gen AI Ninja and part of the Capgemini SAP CoE. He leads delivery of Gen AI Projects, training of associates and exploration of advances in Gen AI and has lead the build and deployment of Gen AI based tools and processes in Capgemini’s SAP projects. His role as SAP India Industry leader involves the development and use of Capgemini’s Industry solutions including industry reference models built on Signavio, Pre-configured S4/HANA industry solutions and line of business solutions tailored to SAP’s Clean Core approach.

      Diversity, inclusion, and generative AI in financial services

      Annette Moss
      25 Jan 2025

      Promising benefits with potential challenges

      Diversity and inclusion are more than just ethical imperatives—they are critical drivers of innovation and serve as competitive advantages in financial services. In an industry defined by its complexity and the demand for rapid, data-driven decision-making, diverse teams have been shown to outperform homogeneous teams when tackling complex challenges. Sheryl Sandberg’s assertion that “diverse teams make better decisions” captures the essence of why inclusion is a necessity for any organization striving for success, including financial firms. For example, research conducted by Development Dimensions International highlights that top-performing organizations feature 29% women leaders compared to only 23% in underperforming ones. Diversity isn’t a “nice-to-have” feature, it’s a strategic necessity that enhances creativity, improves problem-solving, and drives tangible business outcomes.

      However, the benefits of diversity are not guaranteed, as they can be hindered by challenges that arise during team formation and collaboration. A study on organizational dynamics found that diverse teams often fall into one of three categories: destroyers, equalizers, or creators. Destroyer teams fail due to mistrust, negative stereotyping, and poor collaboration. Members in these teams waste valuable energy on conflicts rather than focusing on innovation. Equalizers, while maintaining surface-level harmony, suppress differences to avoid potential conflict. While these teams may achieve mediocrity, they fail to leverage the creative potential of their diversity. On the other hand, creator teams excel by explicitly recognizing, embracing, and nurturing differences. These teams deliver exceptional results by transforming diverse viewpoints into innovative and effective solutions. The challenge lies in turning destroyer and equalizer teams into creators, and Generative AI (Gen AI) offers a powerful means to achieve this transformation.

      Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0090261600000127

      Transforming team dynamics and enhancing decision-making

      Gen AI has the potential to fundamentally reshape how diverse teams interact and perform by providing data-driven insights and addressing systemic biases. One of its most significant contributions lies in challenging stereotypes. For instance, women leaders in financial services are often mislabeled as risk-averse or overly emotional, while male leaders may be perceived as hasty or less inclusive. Gen AI can offer objective insights that empower leaders of all genders to make more informed decisions, enabling them to leverage their strengths and address areas of improvement. By doing so, Gen AI fosters balanced leadership and enhances team dynamics.

      When equipped with Gen AI, leaders gain access to comprehensive data analysis and summarized insights that would traditionally take weeks or even months to process manually. By receiving these distilled results, leaders can apply their expertise and strengths to make strategic decisions and determine the best course of action. Gen AI ensures that data is distributed fairly across the team, minimizing biases that may inadvertently influence conclusions when handled solely by individuals. Additionally, Gen AI enables leaders to make more informed decisions by processing significantly larger volumes of data than traditional tools or human efforts alone. When integrated with interactive prompts, Gen AI allows team members to “ask questions,” positioning it as an active participant at the decision-making table and fostering a collaborative dynamic.

      Gen AI can also expose hidden gaps in diversity and reveal areas where inclusion efforts may be falling short. By analyzing patterns in team interactions and decision-making processes, Gen AI provides organizations with actionable insights to improve team composition and inclusivity. For example, it can identify biases in credit approval processes, wealth management strategies, or risk assessments that arise from homogeneous perspectives. This ability to spotlight areas for improvement enables financial firms to build teams that truly reflect diverse viewpoints. Additionally, Gen AI supports balanced leadership by offering data-driven recommendations, reducing reliance on subjective judgments, and encouraging equitable collaboration.

      The benefits of integrating Gen AI into decision-making processes extend beyond addressing biases. Gen AI reduces the influence of subjective factors such as emotions or personal relationships, leading to more efficient and accurate decisions—qualities essential in a highly regulated industry. Its ability to process large amounts of data and identify patterns introduces innovative perspectives that may not be apparent to human team members. By acting as an impartial collaborator, Gen AI fosters constructive engagement among team members, helping them move beyond the superficial harmony of equalizer teams to the dynamic innovation of creator teams.

      Balancing innovation with human diversity

      Despite its potential, integrating Gen AI into financial services team dynamics requires careful consideration. Gen AI should be viewed as a complement to human diversity, not a replacement for it. The unique perspectives brought by individuals remain essential, and AI should not overshadow them. Furthermore, for Gen AI to deliver inclusive insights, it must be trained on diverse and representative datasets. In financial services, this means incorporating global market trends, varied client demographics, and cultural nuances into its training data. Without this, the AI risks perpetuating biases instead of mitigating them. Organizations must also navigate the risks associated with integrating AI into decision-making processes. While the introduction of Gen AI may initially seem daunting, the potential for innovation and strategic advantage far outweighs the challenges. The key to high-performing diverse teams lies in how they interact and leverage their differences, and Gen AI serves as a catalyst for these interactions.

      Driving excellence through Gen AI in financial services teams

      For financial services firms, the integration of Gen AI into diverse teams represents a turning point for decision-making processes in today’s complex and competitive business environment. By addressing biases, fostering inclusivity, and enhancing collaboration, Gen AI enables organizations to move beyond the status quo and build high performing teams. It introduces new perspectives, facilitates engagement, and transforms team dynamics. In an industry where cultural and geographic diversity is both inevitable and invaluable, financial institutions that embrace Gen AI as an active participant in decision-making are poised to lead the charge in innovation and success.

      Author

      Annette Moss

      Director, Financial Services Insights & Data

        Reducing financial risks of climate change with advanced data and modeling

        Franco Amalfi
        22 Jan 2025

        Capgemini Business for Planet Modeling uses the intelligence of Google Cloud capabilities to assess the impact of climate change on corporate financials and accelerate sustainable growth.

        A 2023 study calculated that climate change costs the world $16 million per hour, with the global annual cost estimated between $1.7 trillion and $3.1 trillion by 2050. These costs include infrastructure, property, agriculture, and human health and they are expected to increase over time as climate change becomes more severe.

        Big costs mean big impacts on the financial services industry. Banking, asset management, and insurance companies are facing increasing financial risks due to climate change. Understanding climate shifts has become essential to assessing their financial impacts, and the physical risk on banking and insurance portfolios. But there are a huge number of data points to consider at macro, sector, company and asset levels.

        Failing to assess the impacts of climate risks could strongly undermine portfolio performance and competitiveness, especially when adding in the pressures from regulatory bodies to perform stress tests to model and mitigate the impact of climate change on financial services companies. These and other variables mean there is a need for reliable data and predictive models to make more informed business decisions.

        The explosion of new technologies is transforming how we monitor Earth, presenting an incredible opportunity to better understand our planet. Thousands of satellites capture millions of images daily, and advanced sensors continuously gather data on temperature, precipitation, wind, and more-sometimes as often as every second. This unprecedented flow of information provides a comprehensive view of Earth’s systems like never before in history. By leveraging this vast and ever-growing amount of data, we have the potential to unlock critical insights that can empower decision-makers to address climate change more effectively and shape a sustainable future.

        A different modeling approach

        Most financial services institutions struggle with the complex data integration needed for modeling to assess how global variables like economy or energy evolution may be interconnected with climate change. To increase performance and competitiveness, the financial services industry must transform its approach to climate risk modeling. It needs to embrace new scenario generation capabilities and connect macro variables with granular asset-level risk assessment to produce financial statements that consider climate impact.

        To help financial institutions overcome these challenges, Capgemini has developed Business for Planet Modeling (BfPM), a set of climate risk technology and advisory services built on the strength of Google Cloud and its partners. The solution embraces the power of Google Cloud’s geospatial analytics and artificial intelligence to simulate the financial impact of transition, the physical risks of climate change and global variables to enhance forecasting and support better decision-making to reduce risks and uncover new opportunities.

        Unlike conventional methods, BfPM combines a holistic and granular analysis of climate risks, including those related to energy transition, leveraging extensive geospatial data and digital twin technology to stress-test scenarios. Additionally, BfPM’s customizable and scalable solutions seamlessly integrate into existing systems, enhancing forecasting capabilities, reducing risks, and accelerating the sustainability journey, ultimately leading to better financial and environmental outcomes.

        We collaborate with Google Cloud and its partners to leverage Earth observation technologies in Google Earth Engine, Big Query, and Vertex AI, to understand their impact on physical assets. This partnership leverages 300 models and more than 265,000 variables to enable continuous climate risk monitoring and impact assessment. We aggregate and harmonize data from multiple sources, applying climate data science and machine learning on Google Cloud to deliver insights in Google Looker.  

        “At Google Cloud, we are dedicated to leveraging our advanced technologies to drive sustainability and address climate change. By integrating our geospatial analytics, Vertex AI, and Earth observation technologies, we empower organizations like Capgemini to bridge the gap between corporate financials and climate impact. Together, we can create innovative solutions that not only mitigate financial risks but also promote sustainable growth and a healthier planet.”

        Denise Pearl, Global Partner Lead, Sustainability and New Energy, Google Cloud

        Designed to be secure and scalable, BfPM integrates into existing systems, providing easy access to rights management and a user-friendly environment. It harnesses the power of structured and unstructured data and insights to help accelerate the sustainability journey, reduce risk and unlock new opportunities to enhance returns.

        How BfPM is different

        Capgemini’s Business for Planet Modeling (BfPM) for Financial Services stands out by offering platform-based climate risk modeling services to address all use cases for financial services institutions’ including: climate stress testing, scenario analysis, financial planning, sustainability reporting, equity and loan portfolio management. By leveraging the power of Google Cloud’s analytics and AI, BfPM enhances the risk management and forecasting capabilities of financial institutions, enabling them to better understand and mitigate climate risks.

        Key features and benefits:

        • Integration services: BfPM services leverage an extensive ecosystem of specialized partners to integrate the best climate risk modeling solutions that will augment existing risk management tools for better business decisions.
        • Integrated assessment models: BfPM uses a reliable and open-source integrated assessment model (IAM) to generate climate-influenced financial statements and financed emissions projections that will help drive portfolio transition and higher returns.
        • Hybrid approach: by combining global variables such as economy, climate, energy, and carbon taxes with asset-level physical risk analysis, BfPM provides a holistic view of potential impacts on financial statements for equity and loan portfolios.
        • Strategic digital twins: utilizing digital twin technology, BfPM can augment climate stress-testing capabilities and benchmark future business states against climate scenarios. This includes reliable forecast and models on climate, economy, energy, and planetary boundaries, ensuring secure and accurate simulations.
        • Granular data analysis: by leveraging Google Cloud’s extensive data and partners, BfPM pinpoints the geolocation of all assets and analyzes the evolving impact of physical risks on them. This granularity allows for detailed market segment and asset-level analysis, making climate risk actionable.
        • Customizable, scalable & modular solutions: designed to be secure and scalable, BfPM integrates seamlessly into existing systems. It simplifies the integration process, provides auditable outcomes and enhances returns.
        • Advanced scenario generation: BfPM generates scenarios that integrate global variables and assess physical risks based onCoupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) data. Using NGFS and tailored scenarios co-developed with banks, it simulates climate change impacts on equity and loan portfolios, providing essential key performance indicators (KPIs) for risk executives.

        By combining these advanced features, BfPM empowers financial organizations to dynamically analyze business scenarios and plans. This not only supports sustainable transformation but also enhances profitability while reducing the carbon footprint.

        Authors

        Franco Amalfi

        Director, Sustainability Strategic Initiatives and Partners – Americas
        Accomplished professional with extensive experience, spanning sustainability, strategy definition, value selling, management consulting, software development, software implementation, and business development. Experienced in multiple industries; have worked with consumer products, financial services, government, telecommunications, high-technology, pharmaceutical and retail companies.

        Edouard Le Bonté

        Sustainability Banking & Capital Markets Portfolio Head
        Edouard leads the development of Capgemini’s sustainability services for Banking & Capitals Markets institutions. He works closely with global executives to accelerate their net-zero transition through enhanced climate risk modeling. He combines a deep sustainability expertise with extensive knowledge of financial services’ strategy, portfolio development and risk management.

          Featured solution

          Business for planet modeling with Google Cloud

          Capgemini and Google Cloud enhance climate risk analysis for financial services, leveraging AI to boost sustainability, reduce risk, and improve returns.

          Cybersecurity 2025: Embracing resilience in an era of disruption

          Marco Pereira
          Jan 20, 2025

          As we usher in 2025, the cybersecurity battleground has never been more complex. New technologies bring transformative opportunities, yet they also open the door to increasingly sophisticated threats. For business leaders, the mission is clear: anticipate risks, adapt to challenges, and take decisive action to build continuous resilience.

          Here’s a closer look at the key cybersecurity trends shaping 2025, and how organizations can stay ahead in the face of tomorrow’s threats.

          Quantum computing: A new frontier for security challenges

          Quantum computing is no longer a distant dream but an emerging reality with profound implications for cybersecurity. Its potential to break traditional encryption methods threatens the foundations of secure communication and the digital economy. With the quantum computing market projected to reach $5.3 billion by 2029, the urgency for organizations to act has never been greater. Organizations must proactively adopt a flexible and resilient cryptographic approach, transition to post-quantum cryptography, and revamp their cryptographic protocols to remain secure in this new era. Embracing quantum-safe encryption today is the only way to safeguard tomorrow.

          AI and machine learning: A double-edged sword

          Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) continue to revolutionize cybersecurity, enabling faster, more accurate threat detection and response. However, these same tools are being weaponized by adversaries, creating a new breed of AI-driven attacks such as advanced phishing campaigns and deepfake scams. According to our latest Capgemini Research Institute (CRI) report, 55 percent of organizations are already prioritizing Gen AI to advance their cybersecurity.

          To stay ahead, organizations must adopt AI-enabled solutions, not as a luxury but as a necessity. Balancing the benefits of AI while preparing for adversarial uses is critical to staying resilient in this rapidly shifting battlefield.

          The zero trust imperative: Continuous resilience in a borderless world

          “Never trust, always verify” is no longer a buzzword; it’s a cornerstone of modern cybersecurity strategy. As remote and hybrid work become entrenched in our business models, the zero trust framework is critical to securing every interaction – inside and outside the organization. By 2025, Gartner predicts 60 percent of enterprises will have embraced zero trust architectures.

          For leaders, this means adopting a zero trust framework isn’t just about enhancing security; it’s also about enabling agility and maintaining business continuity in a perimeterless world.

          Privacy and compliance: Navigating a regulatory landscape

          As public scrutiny and governmental regulations around data privacy intensify, compliance has shifted from being an operational challenge to a reputational imperative. By 2032, the global data protection market is set to reach $505.98 billion.

          Stay ahead of regulatory changes and use compliance as a differentiator. Transparency and robust data handling can build trust and set you apart in a crowded marketplace.

          Ransomware’s growing shadow

          Ransomware is evolving beyond encryption threats. Today’s attackers weaponize data, leveraging extortion tactics that combine encryption with public data leaks. With ransomware costs projected to hit $71.5 billion by 2026, it’s clear this is no longer just an IT problem – it’s a business risk.

          Beyond technical defenses, build a culture of readiness. Incident response plans, cross-functional drills, and employee awareness are your frontline defenses.

          Evolving security operations: The hyperautomated intelligent Security Operations Center (SOC)

          As threat actors become more sophisticated and early adopters of automation and AI increase the speed, reach, and depth of their attacks, organizations must raise the bar in their security operations.

          With more solutions running in the cloud, leveraging bidirectional API connections to automate hundreds or thousands of playbooks has become imperative. Additionally, security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) systems are evolving to automate complex tasks such as phishing takedowns, vulnerability patching, and malware analysis.

          Moreover, AI can be used to substantially remove false positives and improve context during an incident investigation, increasing the productivity of SOC analysts and reducing alert fatigue.

          2025: An era of disruption and opportunity

          Cybersecurity in 2025 is about much more than mitigating threats – it’s about embedding resilience, innovation, and trust into the core of your organization. It’s a business enabler, a trust builder, and a critical competitive differentiator.

          The path forward requires bold decisions, strategic investments, and a commitment to staying ahead of an ever-evolving threat landscape. Continuous resilience is no longer a choice – it’s a strategic advantage.

          Let’s shape the future of continuous cyber resilience, together.

          Author

          Marco Pereira

          Global Head of Cybersecurity, Cloud Infrastructure Services
          Marco is an industry-recognized cybersecurity thought leader and strategist with over 25 years of leadership and hands-on experience. He has a proven track record of successfully implementing highly complex, large-scale IT transformation projects. Known for his visionary approach, Marco has been instrumental in shaping and executing numerous strategic cybersecurity initiatives. Marco holds a master’s degree in information systems and computer engineering, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA). His unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen enables him to bridge the gap between technology and strategy, driving innovation and achieving organizational goals.

            Modern Bankers in an age of sustainable banking: Three takeaways

            Diederick Levi
            Jan 15, 2025

            Banks play a pivotal role in the sustainability transition. A bank needs to align their strategy with clients’ sustainability ambitions, and bankers need to provide tailored sustainability advice and efficiently gather essential sustainability information. Bankers need support and clear guidance to navigate these new responsibilities. Capgemini offers expertise in ESG data management and sector-specific sustainability trends to make banks and bankers future ready.

            Banks play a crucial role in driving the sustainability transition. Their greatest influence lies in guiding clients towards adopting more sustainable business practices. By redirecting financial resources, banks can significantly speed up the shift towards a greener economy. Yet, to be able to double-down on this role, the financial business case needs to become clearer. Until now, sustainability has been a regulatory-driven and mainly considered as a cost driver.

            The business case can be made: with the market for sustainable finance products expectedly growing from 5.4 trillion now towards $31.1 trillion in 2032, the sustainability transition offers a great opportunity for banks. A bank committed to sustainability must understand the clients that drive this growing demand. Bankers, being the main connection between the bank and the client, will be key to understand these clients.

            Banking will become more multi-faceted, and more complex. Before, a banker could focus on core banking parameters, such as cashflow and collateral. Now, additionally, they need to advise clients what it means to transition to a sustainable future, how to integrate sustainability best practices and accurately report on mandatory ESG disclosures. In this article, we address three important sustainability related focus points for bankers. We believe that taking these client focused considerations into account, leads to a positive business case for sustainable finance. The focus points are:

            1. Bankers need to understand the clients’ sustainability ambitions to align with the bank’s strategy
            2. Bankers will have to offer tailored sustainability advice to clients
            3. Bankers need to effectively gather essential clients’ sustainability information in a non-invasive way

            In the rest of this article, these focus points are explained in more detail.

            Bankers need to understand the clients’ sustainability ambitions to align with the bank’s strategy

            Many bankers already have sustainability related conversations with their clients. Each client is unique; some clients have significant sustainability ambitions, and some are happy with the way things are going now and are reluctant to change. If a bank has an ambitious sustainability strategy, it is important that it attracts clients that have an aligned ambition. Such ambitious banks shift their focus from the ‘traditional creditworthiness view’ towards a new balance, where the clients’ sustainability ambitions and actions are also considered.

            At Capgemini, we developed a simple matrix to show this shift. We combine two important variables when it comes to the bank-client relationship towards sustainability. We take the traditional creditworthiness of the client[1], and combine it with the ‘sustainability ambition’. These sustainability ambitions are the eagerness of the client regarding making a sustainability transition[2], and is placed on the x-axis in the figure below.

            We classify clients on this axis and divide them into a matrix. This helps decide which client type the bank should focus on, and which approach to take for existing clients.

            If a bank itself has high ambitions regarding sustainability, it wants to have equally green clients in their books, whilst ideally also being highly creditworthy.

            For the sake of grouping them, we have named the high creditworthy and sustainability ambitious clients “Superstars”. Less creditworthy but ambitious clients we call “Idealists”. High creditworthy, but low ambitious clients are “Grey Geese”. If they are neither willing to be sustainable, nor sufficient in their creditworthiness, we call them “Strugglers”.

            Of course, all banks with an ambitious sustainability strategy would rather have the Superstars in their portfolio, meaning that there is high competition among banks to bring in these types of clients. When a bank not only wants to focus on this highly competitive client segment, it can also choose to focus on another segment. It can choose for the idealists, which have high sustainability ambitions, but a lower creditworthiness. In this case a higher risk acceptance might be warranted. Ideally, the bankers can push clients towards the Superstars quadrant by offering financial advice. In the same way, there are possibilities for green[3] banks to target Grey Geese. These grey clients can be persuaded by bankers to heighten their sustainability ambition.

            The best focus area for a bank is mostly dependent on the bank’s sustainability strategy but is also influenced by which type of client is most dominant in its current portfolio. An assessment should take place to find the sweet spot for the bank, and if a focus should take place on a specific client segment.

            Bankers will have to give tailored sustainability advice to clients

            Apart from understanding which client to focus on, acting upon sustainability ambitions is extremely difficult. Helping a client with their sustainability transition will be a new skill bankers have to develop. A banker needs to understand the financial position of a client and become versed in sustainability. Generally, they need to focus on three steps.

            1. The climate risks which the client is exposed to
            2. The latest sustainable sector developments for the clients they service
            3. Relevant sustainable banking products for the client’s situation

            Below examples of these steps:

            Climate risks

            A banker needs to understand the climate risk exposure of the client. This is to ensure the client’s business continuity in a changing climate. For example, a banker can point out that if a client has three textile suppliers that are all in the Bangladesh coastal region and deliver 90% of its inventory, more frequent and intensive flooding might be a business continuity risk. Another example is the risk that carbon prices are imposed or heightened for a relatively carbon intensive steelmaker. Bankers need to have a holistic view on these risks, and help clients mitigate them.

            Sector developments on sustainability

            Mitigating these risks is very sector specific. Improving the impact of a fashion boutique store is very different from “greening” steel making. On these matters, sector expertise is of the essence. Bankers should understand the latest sustainability related developments within a sector. Shipping bankers should know the latest ship legislations, which technology could aid the shipping company lower their emissions, and which options should be most beneficial in the client specific situation.

            Sustainable banking products

            Subsequently this knowledge should be combined with financing expertise. There are a lot of new questions bankers can ask, and again, these will need to be highly sector specific. Let’s start with the most important question: “Is a client helped with the financing of their transition?”

            Let’s take the example of a bakery:

            Would a bakery be better off with a new and efficient electrical oven, instead of a gas-powered one? Can we finance that favorably for the client, and will the client be left with sufficient free cashflow? Is the investment in an electrical oven worth it, considering the expected remaining time in business and the resale value of the oven? Are there additional subsidies the client can be helped with? Can the baker install solar panels to lower the oven’s energy costs? What is its energy contract currently, and can it be improved? Favorable financing, and “wiggle room” for bankers to tailor towards the sustainability need of a client often materialize via different products a banker can offer a client. Whether it is a Sustainability Linked Loan, a Green Loan or a Sustainable Mortgage, bankers need to know what they can offer. This also requires effort from a banker.  

            Ideally, a banker becomes an expert in sustainability and can help the client with both the financial case as well as the new sustainability challenges. Yet, this asks a lot of a banker. Not all bankers will be able to become fully comfortable with this new area. In practice, we see that banks sometimes set up a support team. This team supports bankers with specific sustainability related questions. The degree of involvement depends on the amount of help the bankers need regarding sustainability: the support team can join for every client visit, so the responsibilities are split, or only jump in when for example setting highly specialized targets for Sustainability Linked Loan.

            Bankers need to effectively gather essential the clients’ sustainability information in a non-invasive way

            Banks need to understand the sustainability impact of their portfolio. Part of this need comes from regulatory pressure. Regardless, most green banks have also made voluntary commitments to lower their impact on the climate.

            Understanding the sustainability impact of the portfolio requires a lot of new information. Information such as the client’s greenhouse gas emission, or the EU Taxonomy’s ‘greenness of activities’, has traditionally not been something a bank was interested in. After all, it did not convincingly impact the creditworthiness of clients. Likewise, lowering sustainability impact of a bank’s portfolio has not been a goal in the previous decades.

            This means new data challenges arise. As mentioned before, the targeted climate impact reduction goals can only be reached when banks can finance clients on more sustainable business practices, or to only finance (relatively) green assets. This requires detailed and frequently recurring sustainability information on client and asset level.

            Understandably this requires a lot of effort. Luckily there are more benefits apart from regulatory adherence. Having detailed information allows for more sustainable product innovation, picking the most transition-worthy clients, a lower exposure to stranded assets and many types of other benefits, ranging from more sustainable brand recognition to being more attractive for sustainability-conscious talent.

            Sustainability related data requirements and methodologies are not yet standardized. This is currently visible in relatively a lot of variation in client outreach. This frustrates clients and bankers alike, and hampers sound data gathering. Even though clients can have strong sustainability ambitions, it does not mean that clients accept an endless barrage of either vague or oddly specific ESG questions from a banker.

            This creates a squeeze, as a lot of client specific information is also necessary for ESG reporting and for example tracking the bank’s decarbonization pledge. However, these issues can be mitigated. Two key factors play a role in making the client outreach journey smoother; make sure it is client centric and efficient.

            Below two best practices:

            1. Client centricity entails that it is clear why the bank asks certain questions, and how the client benefits. Also, it is important to make sure the client understands the questions asked, as the clients are not ESG experts themselves. They are entrepreneurs or business leaders. Therefore, it is also the perfect opportunity to help the client with their transition. See below an example for an agriculture (horticulture) client: 

            Question: Do you currently have drainage systems?
            Adding the why and the benefit:
            “We would like to assess this, as we see more and more sudden and heavy rainfall in your area. If you make use of drainage systems, or other modern water management practices, it protects your company from floods, and thereby our loan to you. If you have this, we can offer you a discount on the interest rate of 5 basis points”
            This is also an opportunity to help the client further – which might also generate a cross-selling opportunities:
            “If you do not have a drainage system yet, we are able to grant you an additional, very favorable loan to get this installed. Subsequently, we can also offer you a lower premium insurance product than you currently have for crop loss.”

            1. Efficiency can be subdivided in finding a methodology that circumvents client outreach from bankers and making sure information that is requested is used and stored properly, so that bothersome recurring requests are limited.  
              • Using public or third-party data is a more and more common way to retrieve ESG data. Either client specific or location-based information can be derived from an external party. The amount of information offered is growing fast, both from data vendors as well as from more raw data sources, such as national statistics organizations. Alternatively, climate impact estimations are allowed to be made, based on generic client data, such as industry or country of incorporation of the client.
              • Storing and using information properly is key to unburden bankers. This prevents repetitive questions. Yet, as ESG data within the bank is rather new, it is not a given that this is immediately well-implemented. With Capgemini we have designed and implemented data management best practices regarding Sustainability Data. Some key components are as follows:
                • First, a solid process should determine what is considered sustainability data and what is not. This solves multiple discussions before they start. An example is the greenhouse gas emission of a collateral. Is it specific ESG data, or an additional data attribute relating to a collateral – and should remain with the collateral data owner?
                • Secondly, a separate role should be created for an ESG data owner within the Data Office. This person is responsible for the ESG data. This is the go-to person in the organization for ESG data management; whether it is missing data, a prioritization issue, or a decision on a new ESG data system, the ESG data owner should be the main character.
                • Next the ESG Data Use cases need to be clear from a business perspective. This way, it is clear what needs to be implemented. There is a big difference in data needs for reporting or for portfolio steering.
                • When the use case is clear, it needs to be operationalized. Operationalization consists of several activities, such as bringing the use case from words into output data attributes (data that ultimately is being used by the end user), finding the best methodology to get the used data attributes, and distilling such a methodology back to supporting data attributes (input data attributes). The methodology can also be influenced by whether data is already available via existing processes. A final step is converting these attributes into IT requirements, including description, format, frequency of use, etc., and finding the right IT environment to store this information[4].
                • If available, using the existing data architecture -such as a data marketplace – for central storage and reuse, will ascertain that data will not be requested twice, or that old data will be used.

            When data gathering is both client centric and efficient, the client relationship is better, and time is saved. This enables the banker to help clients take the next step in their sustainable transition.

            Conclusion

            The role of bankers is changing quickly. This requires a lot from bankers themselves, and they will need to acquire new skills. They ought to be helped. The banks’ strategy ought to give clear guidance on what a banker should be able to do for different types of clients.

            The bankers should also be helped by a strong data governance regarding ESG data, which ought to give good client data without overburdening the bankers with client outreach questions. This gives focus towards the company and the employees.

            Capgemini can both help in the customer and employee journey’s and is a frontrunner on managing ESG data. Furthermore, Capgemini has sector sustainability experts which can support bankers on the latest trends and their applicability to real customers.

            To find out more, do not hesitate to request a meeting with our expert, Diederick Levi.

            1. Creditworthiness is for example based on the banks’ internal credit risk rating. This rating is also important, because it requires a healthy cashflow or healthy collateral to make sustainability investments. The rating can be seen as a proxy for the two. 

            2. These green ambitions can be measured in different ways, and different organizations have different ways of measuring these Sustainability related ambitions. For example, a bank can inventory whether a client has a realistic transition plan as a measure for green ambitions. 
            3. When saying green banks, in this article ‘banks with an ambitious sustainability strategy’ is meant. 
            4. Often ESG data requires some new data systems, dependent on how the current data architecture is working.

            Our expert

            Diederick Levi

            Manager Sustainability
            Diederick Levi is part of Capgemini’s Invent Financial Services team. He focuses on accelerating the sustainability efforts of clients within the financial sector. Based in the Netherlands, Levi has worked with all major Dutch banks over the past years.

              3 key takeaways from NRF 2025

              Capgemini
              Jan 16, 2025

              A quick visit to NRF’s most recent Big Show made one thing clear: 2025 will be the year where science fiction becomes a shopping reality.

              From AI-enabled hyper-personalized experiences to the rise of responsive ads via retail media networks to next-gen supply chain automation, the retail industry is transforming on all fronts.

              But while retailers face unprecedented disruption across markets, digital enablers and consumers, it is important to remember that this onslaught of change also offers an unparalleled opportunity. Here we offer our take on three ways the retail landscape is changing, the retailers that are at the forefront of these trends, and the steps companies can take to turn fantasy into future success.

              A glimpse from NRF 2025

              Blended retail: Every space has commercial potential

              Long gone are the days of clear delineation between physical and digital channels. Now, retailers are operating in a blended reality, where every space, interaction, and data point has commercial potential.

              Take Gap, for example. In a session led by Bill Forbes, Sr. Director of Mobile Software Engineering, we learned that the retailer has more than 1.6 billion visits to its Gap app. Part of Forbes’s job is figuring out how to leverage AI to draw the insights out of those visits and determine the best touchpoints—digital, physical, or somewhere in between—for shoppers. The retailer is now experimenting with a fashion AI system designed to guide shoppers through tasks such as gifting, event styling, and brand discovery while addressing core challenges like accurate sizing, outfit recommendations, and relevant reviews.

              The takeaway for retailers is that in this current landscape, the product has become the consumer. Retailers are not selling physical goods so much as meeting consumer needs. With an incredible amount of data at their disposal, the business shouldn’t be around static products, but dynamic, personalized experiences that transcend channels and unite touchpoints.

              The new era of connected consumption and contribution

              The customer journey is no longer linear. Nor is it rooted in the idea of passive consumption. Instead, retailers are now operating in a dynamic and connected environment—one where the journey is determined by the customer’s needs, not the retailer’s capabilities.   

              As a result, companies will need to dramatically transform their systems and processes to enable this new paradigm. What used to be back-office functions must expand to include customer-facing applications.

              In a keynote session featuring Burberry CEO Josh Schulman, the retail exec outlined a new framework that the company designed to unite merchants, product development teams, and business leaders to help enhance customer engagement. This initiative focuses on reviewing product archetypes, identifying areas for improvement, and aligning investment, merchandizing and distribution strategies to drive growth.

              The key for retailers is to connect the business with their consumers as closely as they can. The mandate isn’t just about selling products—it’s about being an authentic part of consumers’ lives.

              Know what consumers want

              Every retail success story highlighted at NRF had one thing in common: A deep understanding and focus on the consumer. It’s what’s behind Bath & Body Works’ high NPS scores, Foot Locker’s high-impact loyalty program, and Tommy Hilfiger’s 40-year history as one of the world’s most celebrated brands.

              On one hand, brands and retailers have an incredible amount of data at their disposal to help them make better decisions. But what may be missing is a broader understanding of how consumer behaviors and preferences are changing.

              Filling this gap is the reason for our annual research study by the Capgemini Research Institute, What matters to today’s consumer. Unveiled at NRF 2025, this report highlighted some important findings that retailers can use as a lens when looking at their data.

              For example:

              • Over half (58%) of consumers have replaced traditional search engines with gen AI tools for product/service recommendations, an 86% increase from 2023
              • Two-thirds of shoppers say they would switch retailers due to a lack of sustainability
              • Over the past 12 months, online adverts influenced nearly one-third of online purchases

              Do any of those data points spark new ideas about what to look for in your own data? Do they serve as a starting point when considering investments in new technologies or capabilities, like AI or retail media networks? Do they give you pause about how to adapt or refine your goals, priorities and approach for 2025 to be more customer-focused?

              We believe our report to be a useful tool for retailers to better understand consumer sentiment and behavior. To download a copy, please visit our research page, What matters to today’s consumer: 2025.

              What’s next for retailers: 3 steps to guide 2025 and beyond

              While every retailer’s journey to the future will be different, we’ve identified three core principles to serve as the foundation of success, guiding businesses as they unlock growth, adapt operations and embrace purpose.

              Growth starts at the channel level. As companies consider their future strategies, they must identify where they can drive the greatest influence and impact. One promising opportunity highlighted by our research is the rise of retail media networks—leveraging existing digital and physical infrastructure elements to deliver personalized digital experiences to high-intent customers and forge new connections with brand partners. The value of retail media networks is significant: According to our analysis, Kroger delivered $1.3 billion in operating profit in 2023 from its alternative profit businesses, including Kroger Precision Marketing.

              Consumers are now willing to pay 9% of the order value for 2-hour and 10-minute delivery. 65% of consumers consider a 2-hour delivery format a key attribute when they shop, indicating that retailers should consider integrating this into their business models. Is your supply chain up to the challenge? For grocery and mass merch segments, where quick delivery and product availability are paramount, adapting operations to include localized inventory systems will be critical. These enhancements can drive efficiency and ensure customer satisfaction in a highly competitive landscape. The non-linear, dynamic, and multi-directional nature of today’s retail landscape requires a next-gen supply chain. Retailers need to create a holistic strategy that simultaneously takes cost out while also meeting the needs of the customer. 

              Sustainability and purpose-driven products may be last on our list, but it is certainly not an afterthought for modern shoppers. In fact, our research revealed that consumers want retailers to do more in this area, such as offering clear and compelling information about sustainable choices, providing easy-to-understand information about product sourcing, traceability and nutrition, and creating programs that tackle everyday issues like food waste. As retailers plan for the coming year, they can’t ignore the call to lead with purpose on issues that matter.

              Turning science fiction into shopping reality with Capgemini in 2025

              As retailers face waves of disruption on all fronts, leaders have a fundamental choice: stay the course or embrace the opportunity for change. In today’s dynamic landscape, those who seize the possibilities of transformation will not only navigate the challenges ahead but also redefine the future of the industry, driving innovation, resilience, and long-term success.

              Need help turning your NRF inspiration into action? Our team can help. Set up a consultation with our experts to learn more about how Capgemini can help your organization get the future you want. 

              Meet our experts

              Tim Bridges

              Global Head of Consumer Products & Retail
              Tim Bridges leads Capgemini’s Global Sectors and the Consumer Products, Retail, Distribution (CPRD) global sector practice, a portfolio that includes major global retail, fashion, restaurant, consumer products, transportation, and distribution brands such as McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Meijer, Office Depot, Domino’s, and Unilever.

              Lindsey Mazza

              Global Retail Lead, Capgemini
              Lindsey is Capgemini’s Global Retail Lead. She is a retail thought leader and subject matter expert who specializes in shopper-centric, unified-channel commerce and innovation. With nearly 20 years’ experience in retail transformation, Lindsey has served some of the world’s largest retailers in analytics-enabled integrated planning and execution, from consumer demand to receipt.

              Owen McCabe

              Vice President, Digital Commerce – Global Consumer Goods & Retail, Capgemini
              Owen is the Global leader for Digital Commerce at Capgemini. He has led several major digital commercial transformations to enable our Consumer Goods clients to win through data and tech in the new retail landscape emerging through 2030. His previous experience includes 9 years as the global digital commerce practice leader at WPP/Kantar and more than a decade in senior brand marketing and sales roles at P&G and Nestle.

              Mayank Sharma

              Vice President
              Mayank is a Supply Chain Leader with expertise in driving supply chain transformations through use of digital solutions across planning, procurement, logistics, fulfilment, and sustainability. He has worked across Consulting, Operations and Technology giving him a well-rounded approach to identifying business transformation requirements and re-inventing supply chain operating models through performance-led technology transformations. At Capgemini, he is responsible for leading & growing Capgemini’s Supply Chain Practice for Consumer Goods, Retail and Distribution. Mayank brings unique experience of leading transformations as a consultant at Big 4 and at Amazon.com of leveraging digital solutions within e-commerce supply chain to drive end-to-end supply chain improvement.

              Kees Jacobs

              Consumer Products & Retail Global Insights & Data Lead, Capgemini
              Kees is Capgemini’s overall Global Consumer Products and Retail sector thought leader. He has more than 25 years’ experience in this industry, with a track record in a range of strategic digital and data-related B2C and B2B initiatives at leading retailers and manufacturers. Kees is also responsible for Capgemini’s strategic relationship with The Consumer Goods Forum and a co-author of many thought leadership reports, including Reducing Consumer Food Waste in the Digital Era.

              Vince Crimaldi

              Vice President
              Vince Crimaldi is a leader in Capgemini’s Consumer Products, Retail, and Services (CPR&S) market unit leadership team, responsible for strategy development and industry-specific solutions for many of Capgemini’s largest Consumer Products, Retail, Distribution, Restaurant, Grocery, and Pharmacy clients. With more than 25 years of experience in designing and delivering transformational technology-based solutions, Vince has accomplished this in a global context, forming teams spanning the U.S, Europe, Asia, Australia, LATAM, and the Middle East, while working in various global markets within Europe and Asia.

              Jennifer Conklin

              Vice President, Capgemini
              Jennifer has 20 years of experience in retail, helping direct-to-consumer brands and retailers use technology to deliver better experiences and outcomes for their customers. She returned to Capgemini in October 2022 after a brief stint as the Chief Customer Officer at a Chicago-based technology start-up, UPshow.  In her previous role at Capgemini, Jennifer led the commerce portfolio in Consumer Products, Retail, and Distribution, having joined through the company’s acquisition of LYONSCG.

              Sharmila Senthilraja

              Industry Platform Leader for Consumer Products and Retail, Capgemini India
              Sharmila Senthilraja spearheads innovation, global strategies, and market growth at Capgemini, leveraging 25+ years of experience across business and technology. She has held leadership roles at SAP, IBM, and Future Group, excelling in P&L management, digital practices, and analytics. With a rich background in grocery retail operations, Sharmila holds an MBA and an Executive Certification in Business Analytics from IIM Bangalore.

                Expert perspectives

                2025 energy and utilities trends: five key themes shaping the transition

                James Forrest
                Jan 27, 2025

                As we enter 2025, the global energy sector faces a volatile and fast-moving landscape. Pressures from rising electricity demands, geopolitical shifts, and digital advancements converge to redefine the way we produce, manage, and consume energy.

                Five critical themes are poised to impact us this year, offering both challenges and opportunities for governments, businesses, and consumers alike.

                The global surge in electricity demand continues, driven by the rapid electrification of transport, industrial transformation, and the exponential growth of digital infrastructure, including AI and data centers. These trends outline the challenge of meeting escalating consumption while advancing decarbonization goals.

                To address this, utilities and grid operators are embracing modernization and demand-response strategies. By leveraging technologies such as real-time monitoring and dynamic pricing, they aim to balance supply and demand efficiently. Additionally, investments in decentralized generation and storage technologies are gaining traction, empowering local communities with energy independence and resilience. These solutions highlight the growing dynamic between innovation, sovereignty and sustainability as we strive to meet the dual demands of growth and environmental stewardship.

                Nuclear energy will continue to see a global revival, with governments and industry leaders recognizing its potential to provide reliable, low-carbon power. Small modular reactors and advanced Generation IV reactors stand at the forefront of this resurgence, offering more flexible alternatives to traditional large-scale plants.

                However, the nuclear renaissance is not without its challenges. Regulatory hurdles, financial risks, delivery challenges and public scepticism remain significant barriers to progress. Innovative financing models, streamlined licensing processes, and advancements in safety technology are critical to overcoming these obstacles.

                Globally, nations are reassessing nuclear investments as part of broader energy sovereignty and decarbonization strategies. From Europe to Asia, the shift towards nuclear underscores its role in securing energy independence while meeting climate commitments. The coming year will be pivotal in determining whether the industry can overcome its hurdles and establish itself as a cornerstone of the energy transition.


                Generation IV nuclear reactors offer significant advancements over Generation III reactors. They are advanced systems designed to enhance thermal efficiency, fuel utilization, passive safety, and waste minimization while enabling closed fuel cycles and high-temperature process heat applications.

                Geopolitical and economic factors continue to influence the trajectory of the energy sector. In the wake of recent elections in the US and other major economies, energy policies are being recalibrated to align with national priorities. The emphasis on energy sovereignty has intensified, with countries prioritizing domestic energy security to shield themselves from geopolitical uncertainties.

                China’s dominance in low-cost energy solutions, including solar panels and battery technologies, is reshaping global trade dynamics. While this leadership has enabled rapid deployment of clean energy technologies, it has also fueled inflationary pressures and heightened competition. Balancing national interests with the need for global collaboration will be critical in accelerating the energy transition. Striking this balance will require robust international frameworks that encourage innovation and cooperation while respecting geopolitical realities.

                The energy transition hinges on the modernization of grids, which serve as the backbone of a sustainable energy system. Emerging technologies are transforming traditional grids into more resilient, flexible, and efficient networks capable of integrating diverse energy sources.
                Microgrids and distributed energy resources are playing an increasingly prominent role, enabling localized energy solutions that reduce dependency on centralized infrastructure.
                 
                Meanwhile, advances in energy storage technologies, such as new battery chemistries, solid-state batteries and long-duration storage (100hours), are enhancing grid stability and supporting the deployment of renewables and electric vehicles.

                These innovations emphasize the critical importance of infrastructure investments in supporting the energy transition. Governments and private investors should collaborate further to accelerate the deployment of next-generation grid technologies, ensuring they are equipped to handle the complexities of a decarbonized energy landscape.

                The digital transformation of the energy sector is entering a new phase, with AI driving profound changes across the value chain. From optimizing grid operations, forecasting consumption, to predictive maintenance and enhanced customer service, AI is unlocking efficiencies and enabling smarter energy management.

                The market for AI in energy systems is projected to reach USD 14 billion by 2029, reflecting the technology’s growing importance. As AI makes it possible to analyze, correlate, and generate a lot of data, it can improve complex situations modelling. Beyond operational benefits, AI is playing a crucial role in integrating renewable energy into the grid, enabling real-time adjustments to fluctuations in supply and demand.

                AI and generative AIs potential extends beyond grid operations to accelerate in Research and Development for designing and building next-generation of batteries, bio-engineered fuels for example.

                Conclusion: navigating a complex transition and peaking emissions?

                The interconnected nature of these trends highlights the complexity of the global energy transition.

                Rising electricity demands, the nuclear revival, geopolitical pressures, grid modernization, and digital innovation all intersect to shape the sector’s future.


                To succeed, stakeholders should embrace collaboration within an innovation ecosystem, and adaptive policies. Governments, businesses, and consumers alike have a role to play in navigating these challenges and seizing the opportunities that 2025 presents. By aligning technological advancements with sustainability goals, the energy sector can accelerate its journey toward a more resilient and equitable future.


                2025 promises to be transformative, setting the stage for long-term progress in building a sustainable energy ecosystem. The path forward requires bold action and a shared commitment to fostering the innovations needed to power a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable world.  The most powerful example of this could be that global emissions of greenhouse gases might peak.  The link between economic development and emissions is steadily weakening.  China has been making significant progress and if the demand for fossil fuels in China continues on its current trajectory it’s possible that global emissions could peak in 2025 and that would be a very significant development.

                Author

                James Forrest

                Group Industry Leader for Energy Transition and Utilities at Capgemini
                I lead in helping global clients with major business transformations involving smart grid, IoT, the reform of gas and electricity markets, major software and infrastructure changes, and the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to drive significant business performance improvement.

                  Unlocking hyper-personalization at scale: The power of a seamless content supply chain 

                  Rob Pillar
                  Mar 03, 2025

                  In today’s eco-digital era, data has taken center stage. Organizations are increasingly focused on collecting, managing, analyzing, and utilizing data sustainably to deliver personalized experiences.

                  Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) are essential in nearly every industry, enabling organizations to create detailed customer profiles, predict behavior and provide valuable insights for businesses aiming to enhance customer engagement and experience.

                  While new capabilities introduce new possibilities – realizing them can expose unexpected limitations. In this case, turning these customer insights into compelling interactive experiences that resonate with individuals starts with producing and managing huge amounts of content.  

                  The virtuous cycle of personalization  

                  Personalization is no longer optional for digital marketers – it’s an essential component of any marketing strategy. With the rise of diverse digital channels and touchpoints, customers expect (often subconsciously) content tailored to their behaviors, interests, and unique needs.

                  This is where CDPs deliver their value. With these supercharged databases organizations are able to craft hyper-targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with specific customer segments. And the more your customers interact with the content, the more data is generated for creating better targeted campaigns.

                  This creates a virtuous cycle of data, strategy, content and consumption.

                  Content-data paradigm 

                  CDPs are adept at collecting and analyzing customer data. By transforming these insights into engaging content, businesses increase their marketing effectiveness.  However,  scaling the production of content to meet marketing demands amplifies this challenge. To deliver a truly exceptional customer experience, we need a content production and  delivery pipeline that’s fast, flexible, and able to keep up with ever-changing customer preferences. The key is to bridge the gap between data-driven insights and engaging content.

                  While modern CDPs are especially effective capturing data to build segments and user profiles, the impact of these insights is only realized through equally compelling and timely customer content

                  Essentially, delivering targeted campaigns means creating personalized content for diverse sets of audiences. This is where traditional content creation falls short, sparking the need for a faster, more adaptable content production pipeline to meet the with dynamic, real-time demands for high-quality, customized content.

                  Translating the data insights into comprehensive and customized content which resonates with your target customers is the need of the hour.

                  The content gap: building a robust content supply solution stack 

                  With demand set to quintuple over the next two years, most organizations are finding it challenging to meet these escalating requirements. The fast-paced digital landscape continues to narrow the window of (user) relevance, compressing cycles and timelines for departments already struggling to keep up with demand volume Inevitably kicking off a downward spiral of futility which one can only escape with new strategy optimized with technology.

                  As Adobe’s Chief Strategy Officer, Scott Belsky, reflects in a recent paper published by Capgemini Research Institute, “Marketing professionals need to start to experiment and think expansively about what Generative AI can do for them. The future of the digital world is going to be more personalized than ever before. Marketing has not been personalized down to the individual consumer yet, at least not at scale in any profound way. And that is the future.”

                  As Scott astutely observed, complex problems call for innovative solutions. Adobe’s GenStudio is a solution that streamlines the entire content lifecycle, from initial planning and workflow management to final delivery and analytics. Powered by Firefly generative AI, it enables you to meet increasing demands, reduce costs, accelerate time to market, and drive significant ROI.

                  Business impact of a strong content supply chain

                  The true power lies in the integration of these tools. It provides organizations with the key to create, manage and distribute content while gathering insights with the much-needed velocity to attain hyper-personalization at scale. Coupled with our strategic expertise, this connected platform helps them deliver value to your customers effectively, and efficiently. 

                  Installing a solid scalable content delivery system can help with: 

                  1. Efficiency Gains- Reduction in content production timeline with automated routine content adaptation tasks can reduce the time and effort required for each step in the production cycle. Efficient and structured asset management will help establish standardized workflows. 
                  2. Lesser bottlenecks and agile workflow- By implementing a streamlined content workflow that facilitates real-time collaboration, we can mitigate bottlenecks such as redundant editing and version control. Parallel collaboration tools streamline the approval process, accelerating content production and minimizing single points of failure inherent in traditional workflows.
                  3. Improved scalability- Connected tool ecosystems allow for efficient and improved resource utilization.  Dynamic content scaling across media, channels, and formats makes personalizing content at a large scale possible in a short duration of time. The automated image and text creation tools of Firefly allow you to create content almost magically, in the blink of an eye. Scott Belsky (Adobe) uses ‘automagically’ to describe Firefly imaging models. 
                  4. Consistency and quality- Using a unified ecosystem to go about the content production cycle facilitates us to maintain a uniform brand image. Consistent high-quality visuals along with customized personalized experiences for simultaneous customer segments attract customers and inspire loyalty.  
                  5. Increased engagement and ROI- Increased responsiveness with personalized content and an easy go-to-market production cycle will significantly boost your credibility among your consumers. By understanding and catering to your customers’ needs, you can foster loyalty and encourage repeat business. With comprehensive and real-time data, measuring the performance of marketing strategies also becomes convenient and easy.  

                  The path forward 

                  To scale personalized content creation, a strategic approach is essential. This involves leveraging advanced tools and technologies to streamline the content production process, while also optimizing workflows and training teams to effectively utilize these tools.

                  A seamless and efficient content supply chain is critical to drive personalized customer experiences. This involves leveraging advanced tools and technologies to streamline the content production process, while also optimizing workflows and training teams to effectively utilize these tools.

                  At Capgemini, working together with Adobe, we reimagine customer experience by combining strategy, creative design, data and technology, so that our clients can transform their businesses to drive sustainable growth, operational excellence and the ability to adapt to change.

                  Ready to unlock the power of personalized content? Join us at Adobe Summit to learn how our streamlined approach can help you transform your content supply chain and drive business growth.

                  Author

                  Rob Pillar

                  Global Adobe Partner Executive
                  Rob is a seasoned business and technology leader focused on digitally transforming enterprises to provide innovative digital experiences at scale. Recognized for building high-performing teams that create and deliver innovative solutions, Rob’s industry breadth combined with his digital vision and passion have produced transformative client outcomes featuring revenue growth in all sectors.

                    The CTO Playbook for Innovation Strategy in Engineering – 4: Engineering doctrine

                    Capgemini
                    Capgemini
                    Jan 10, 2025

                    In the final blog of this series, I want to look at how the CTO can overcome the inertia that often exists between strategic direction and operational action. Establishing a thematic focus and setting clear priorities are irrelevant steps to take unless they can drive executable work that makes a tangible difference.  

                    An engineering doctrine is essential for this shift.

                    The Need for an Engineering Doctrine 

                    As CTOs, we face a unique set of challenges: the rapid pace of technological change, the convergence of digital and physical worlds, and unpredictable external forces. These complexities require more than just strategic plans; they demand actionable principles that can guide day-to-day operations and long-term projects. This is where an engineering doctrine comes into play. 

                    An engineering doctrine is vital for several reasons. Firstly, it provides a clear set of principles that guide the execution of strategic priorities. This ensures that all engineering activities align with the company’s broader objectives, fostering consistency and coherence across various projects. This alignment is essential for maintaining a competitive edge in a rapidly changing market. 

                    Secondly, an engineering doctrine helps bridge the gap between high-level strategy and day-to-day operations. By translating strategic goals into specific actions, it enables teams to focus on what truly matters, driving efficiency and productivity. This operational clarity is particularly important in large organisations where the complexity of projects can often lead to fragmentation and inefficiency​. 

                    Moreover, the doctrine promotes agility and adaptability. In an era where technological advancements occur at breakneck speed, having a flexible framework allows the organisation to pivot quickly in response to new challenges and opportunities. This agility is a critical component of modern engineering practices, ensuring that the company can stay ahead of the competition and continuously innovate​. 

                    And it enhances communication and collaboration. An engineering doctrine establishes a common language and set of expectations across the organisation. This shared understanding fosters better collaboration among teams, reducing misunderstandings and aligning efforts towards common goals.  

                    Our Engineering Doctrine 

                    At Capgemini Engineering, our own engineering doctrine encapsulates the lessons learned from our extensive experience in running engineering innovation projects. This doctrine aims to be time-responsive and context-sensitive, ensuring it remains relevant in an ever-changing technological landscape. 

                    Our engineering doctrine addresses several key areas: 

                    1. Artificial intelligence is transformational – guiding the comprehensive adoption of AI across the organisation, focusing on transformational applications rather than isolated use cases. 
                    1. Treat sustainability as a systems issue – prioritise according to reliable data; integrate sustainability into every aspect of engineering practices to ensure long-term viability and environmental responsibility. 
                    1. Agility through model-based engineering – exploiting collaborative data models and mature tools to accelerate delivery and acceptance across disciplines, enhancing responsiveness and adaptability in project execution. 
                    1. Prioritise the role of the human in engineering – incentivising creativity and problem solving whilst ensuring that human-centered design and social acceptability are at the forefront of product development and engineering processes. 
                    1. Engage with key ecosystems – contribute to the standards and tools that enable network effects 

                    Implementing the Engineering Doctrine 

                    To effectively implement an engineering doctrine, CTOs must ensure that it is deeply integrated into existing organisational culture and processes. This involves: 

                    • Communication and Training – clearly communicating the doctrine to all stakeholders and providing training to ensure everyone understands and can apply the principles in their daily work. 
                    • Continuous Improvement – establishing mechanisms for continuous feedback and improvement, ensuring the doctrine evolves with technological advancements and organisational needs. 
                    • Alignment with Strategic Goals – ensuring that the doctrine is aligned with the company’s strategic goals and themes, such as sustainability, digital transformation, and human-centered design. 
                    • Metrics and Monitoring – setting up metrics and monitoring systems to track the effectiveness of the doctrine in driving desired outcomes and making adjustments as needed. 

                    A strategic tool for tactical excellence 

                    An engineering doctrine is indispensable for a CTO. It transforms strategic priorities into actionable plans, enhances operational efficiency, promotes agility, improves communication, and embeds a culture of continuous improvement. By leveraging such a framework, CTOs can navigate the complexities of the technological landscape and drive their organisations towards sustained success and innovation.At Capgemini Engineering, we continue to refine our engineering doctrine to meet the evolving challenges of the technological landscape, providing a clear path for our clients to achieve their strategic goals. As CTOs, embracing such a doctrine can help navigate the complexities of our roles and lead our organisations towards a successful and sustainable future.

                    Authors

                    Keith Williams

                    Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, Capgemini Engineering
                    Keith Williams has 34 years’ experience in the engineering & technology industry. As Chief Technology Officer, Keith drives Research & Innovation, Strategic Investment and Technical Authority across all industrial and technical domains. He played a pivotal role in the development of the Capgemini WindSightIQTM innovative solution that brought real-time wind visualization to the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.

                    David Jackson

                    CTO Product and Systems Engineering, Capgemini Engineering

                    Ramon Antelo

                    CTO Manufacturing and Industrial Operations, Capgemini Engineering

                      Research & Innovation at Capgemini Engineering

                      Our research and innovation programs are business accelerators that help clients with high-intensity R&D to reveal the value of incremental