Industrial glass processing is undergoing radical change: increasing the level of automation is an important step for European flat glass manufacturers and processors in order to survive international competition and fulfil long-term climate targets. The young Austrian company Lumeso provides a key technological building block for this and has already built up a double-digit customer portfolio in just a few months.
Lumeso’s AI-based solution automates manual processes in internal sales that are still carried out manually in many places. In particular, the exchange of order data is radically simplified and productivity in the back office is significantly increased. As the software takes care of monotonous tasks such as keying in orders within seconds, employees have more time for value-adding tasks - in an attractive working environment that actively utilises digital expertise and modern technologies.
In the flat glass industry, thousands of orders are manually copied from emails, checked and transferred to the ERP system every day - a time-consuming, error-prone process and exhausting hard work for employees. Traditional EDI systems are frequently limited in practice, either by the substantial cost of integration or by partners’ resistance to process changes.
Our solution massively speeds up the process and can even fully automate it in the medium term - without our customers' business partners having to adapt in any way. We are thus revolutionising the order flow in the B2B sector - and with an ease of implementation that is second to none.”
Martin Sighart
This is why Lumeso is taking a different approach with its AI solution, which automatically analyses unstructured input such as emails with free text, attachments or drawings in the blink of an eye, extracts relevant data and transfers it directly to the ERP system after human approval. This means that even complex orders from unstructured emails are processed immediately.
Keeping production in Europe with AI efficiency
"With our AI solution, we want to support the flat glass industry in remaining competitive in the long term and keeping its production in Europe. Companies in Asia often produce at more favourable costs, bought by lower wages, less regulation or lower energy costs. Without technological efficiency, Europe is therefore threatened with a relocation of orders to other regions," explains Katzlinger-Söllradl. “Geopolitical tensions and the pandemic have shown how vulnerable global supply chains are, so it is important to keep a strong, efficient local production in Europe, supported by smart technologies, to create independence and stability.”
Satisfied employees instead of a shortage of skilled labour
Lumeso
Many companies in the glass industry are already struggling to find trainees or qualified specialists, which is why solutions are needed to relieve the burden on existing employees and make them more resilient to demographic change.
This is also where Katzlinger-Söllradl wants to start with his software: "Repetitive tasks such as order entry are labour-intensive and frankly quite boring. Young employees are just not willing to do them anymore. AI can take over this busywork in a controlled manner, freeing up time for more value-adding activities such as additional sales support or active involvement in positive business development. Our AI solution enhances a company’s appeal as a modern employer while creating freeing up resources for e.g. sales support and business development."
Positive signals and an ambitious outlook
The first customers have been ‘live’ with Lumeso for several months now and, according to CEO Katzlinger-Söllradl, the response remains strong, which is why the startup is already planning to expand the team, further develop its AI components and roll them out across Europe. The vision: a scalable, intelligent infrastructure that cushions the shortage of skilled labour, speeds up processes - and makes Europe's glass industry fit for the future.
