Brenntag, Knowde partner on AI platform for product management

ESSEN, Germany—Product data management challenges can be significant in the chemical product industry, and artificial intelligence is providing assistance.

For that reason, Brenntag GmbH, a global chemical distributor, and Knowde, a "pioneering" AI digital platform for chemical and polymer companies, have established a partnership.

"Comprehensive and harmonized product information globally will create the infrastructure for advanced customer centric service offerings," said Brenntag in announcing the April 8 collaboration. "This collaboration marks a significant step forward."

Christian Kohlpaintner, CEO of Brenntag S.E., said the advancements in AI over the past several years have made "massive shifts in end-to-end data creation" possible.

"We are excited to be partnering with Knowde, a leader in the application of AI to chemical distribution data, to utilize their approach for our product data management—knowing that this will be a pioneering step in the chemical distribution industry."

Initially, "unstructured" product information will be harmonized and housed in a product information management solution.

Knowde will be charged with standardizing the product information "to enhance the experience for Brenntag customers and supply partners."

Customers will realize an immediate streamlining of the product onboarding and sales processes, Brenntag said.

Sustainability tracking also is expected to improve significantly, according to the companies.

"As the global market leader, Brenntag's scale and complexity in the chemical distribution industry are second to none," said Ali Amin-Javaheri, CEO of Knowde. "Knowde's software solutions will enable them to better leverage their data to fully capitalize on their comprehensive portfolio and unique global footprint.

"Companies like Brenntag that embrace digitalization will have a significant competitive advantage."

Ewout van Jarwaarde, CEO of Brenntag Essentials and a Brenntag Management Board member, said AI is fundamental to his company's processes.

"Working alongside Knowde, we aim to modernize our product information, bringing greater knowledge and value to both our supply partners and customers, while taking another step towards driving sustainability in our industry," van Jarwaarde said.

Brenntag already employs AI across various areas, including sales, where it empowers the sales team to make informed decisions for sustained growth.

Brenntag has more than 17,700 employees worldwide and operates a network of about 600 sites in 72 countries. In 2023, Brenntag generated sales of $18 billion.