Unilever on Tuesday said it partnered with Accenture to scale the use of AI-enabled digital twins across its global manufacturing network.

Digital twins are virtual models of factory equipment and production lines. They use live data from physical systems on the shop floor to monitor and predict how machines and processes perform.

The next-generation technology would help factories improve quality, boost efficiency and respond more quickly to consumer demand. The multi-year programme marked a further step in Unilever’s journey to apply pioneering technology across its value chain as the company sets out to shape the future of the consumer goods industry, it said.

According to the official communique, by integrating digital twins with AI-enabled insights and agentic capabilities, Unilever would be equipping manufacturing teams with advanced tools to identify issues sooner, simulate scenarios faster, and make smarter decisions across the production cycle.

Building on digital twins already in use, Unilever plans to expand adoption over the next 18 months by building more than 40 new digital twins, creating a scalable blueprint for global rollout.

Adam Raeburn-James, Global VP for Digital Business Operations, Unilever, said. “Through our partnership with Accenture to accelerate digital twins, we are turning innovation into measurable impact to create desirable brands for our 3.7 billion consumers worldwide.”

Accenture is supporting Unilever in deploying industrial AI capabilities that use advanced analytics and AI agents to predict maintenance needs, improve performance, and help teams act faster. As the system learns and employees gain confidence in its accuracy, it can progressively take on certain adjustments automatically, with human oversight.

Digital twins are already delivering tangible benefits across multiple Unilever sites: globally and in India.