China’s Yili Group is a global force in the dairy industry, ranking among the Global Dairy Top 5 and has sustained the top position in Asia for twelve consecutive years. Yili operates 15 R&D and innovation centers and 81 production bases worldwide with products sold in over 60 countries and regions. Today, through digital intelligence technologies, the company focuses on reimagining how dairy products are produced, marketed, and delivered.
To redefine what it means to be a modern consumer goods company, Yili positions itself as a bold industry pioneer. Its diverse portfolio spans milk, yogurt, plant-based beverages, and ice cream, reaching consumers across Asia, Europe, America, and Oceania through an extensive industrial network. Driven by its customer-centric commitment, Yili is now exploring innovative applications of AI to optimize processes and enhance customer experience.
Redefining the Dairy Industry
Guided by its corporate creed, “Yili Means the Best Quality”, the company has long been a leader in digitalization and intelligence innovation. Recent advances in AI provide new opportunities to improve operational efficiency and strengthen its leadership in the dairy industry. In the strategic cooperation between Yili and Lenovo, the initial focus was on hardware and data infrastructure. The partnership has since evolved into one centered on AI-driven transformation.
Together, Yili and Lenovo AI Services introduced AI solutions across three key domains: voice of the customer (VOC), supply chain control tower, and digital customer experience. Lenovo supported Yili in delivering proof-of-concepts in each area, laying the foundation for future AI-powered collaboration.
“Lenovo has proven expertise in helping companies unlock real value from AI,” said Linda Yao, Vice President of Hybrid Cloud & AI Solutions at Lenovo. “We worked closely with Yili to deliver tailored AI solutions that empower employees and generate tangible ROI. By aligning technology with business goals, we help organizations turn AI potential into productivity, efficiency and growth.”
Three Pillars of Innovation
1. AI-Powered Voice of the Customer: Turning Feedback into Action
Yili partnered with Lenovo to transform its VOC capabilities. Leveraging the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) and natural language processing (NLP), Yili’s AI VOC system helps Yili efficiently process millions of pieces of daily user feedback from customer service channels, social media, and e-commerce platforms.
Currently, Yili’s AI VOC system has been piloted in its selected business divisions – covering approximately 70% of its core business. Through a customized five-level tagging system and over 200 subcategories, Yili has established a unified real-time view of VOC data to help analyze and identify trends and drive improvements in customer experience, transitioning from “passive response” to “predictive customer engagement.”
2. AI-Powered Manufacturing Solution: Smarter Supply Chain Control Tower Driving Sustainability
Lenovo, in collaboration with Yili, designed a Supply Chain Control Tower by applying benchmark practices in supply chain operations management. The control tower enhances cross-functional coordination and management efficiency, enabling real-time monitoring of two critical business scenarios: raw material inventory management and promotional product operations.
For raw material inventory management, the platform integrates inventory and production data, giving teams a unified view that reduces the risk of shortages or overstock. For promotions, it maps the entire journey from procurement to sales, enabling more agile marketing and logistics coordination.
“Lenovo is helping Yili to accelerate innovation, build a more intelligent supply chain, fulfill our shared commitment to sustainable development and green energy, and explore future possibilities,” says Tiger Shang, General Manager of the Data Technology Center at Yili Group.
3. E-Commerce Expansion: Enhancing Digital Customer Engagement
Mini programs embedded in social media platforms are a core component of Yili’s go-to-market strategy. With development and maintenance support from Lenovo, Yili built more than 20 mini programs across digital channels on a centralized development platform.
By working with Lenovo to streamline the online shopping experience, the company can respond to customer needs faster and more effectively.
Enabling Long-Term Success
Together, Lenovo and Yili are leveraging powerful tools to transform operations and drive long-term success. With AI-driven solutions spanning supply chain, customer engagement, and digital platforms, Yili is well-prepared to meet evolving consumer expectations and reshape the future landscape of the dairy industry.
Tiger Shang says: “Lenovo has extensive experience in AI and manufacturing, and is actively exploring and building various AI capabilities. Over the past few years, we have collaborated with Lenovo to develop multiple applications and continuously iterate on them. These AI capabilities have not only significantly improved employee efficiency but also helped us better serve our customers.”
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