How DKSH Makes AI Real for People, Processes, and Profit

Imagine a world where your sales team could instantly access regulatory guidance, customer insights, and technical specifications all at their fingertips. Where complex decisions no longer require endless hours of manual research, and productivity isn’t just a buzzword, but a measurable driver of growth. That’s the reality DKSH is shaping today.

On the latest episode of The Digital Chemical Playbook, Florian Brunet sits down with David Enright, Senior Director for Digital Transformation and AI at DKSH, for a conversation that peels back the curtain on how one of the world’s leading specialty chemical distributors is embracing AI at scale.

 

“AI is not here to replace people. It’s here to grow the pie. To reduce low-value work so humans can focus on high-value, strategic opportunities,” says David.

 

Catch the full episode on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, or click here to watch the full episode on YouTube.

A Roadmap of Transformation

David’s journey is itself a roadmap of transformation, from studying computer science and psychology in the early 2000s to shaping AI strategy across global tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, and now leading innovation within a 160-year-old Swiss company.

He explains how DKSH is approaching AI not as a trend, but as a strategic, multi-level approach. At the top of the triangle are expert teams tackling complex, high-impact use cases. The middle layer consists of power users - technical experts scaling AI capabilities across the organization. And at the base, the general workforce, leveraging AI for everyday productivity gains.

 

“By unlocking those three levels, you can tackle strategic AI initiatives that have real P&L impact, scale business transformation, and grow complexity without adding headcount,” David shares.

From machine learning for forecasting, to deep learning and neural networks, and now generative AI tools like ChatGPT, DKSH is pioneering applications that enhance productivity, speed up onboarding, and empower customer-facing teams. For sales reps, this means faster information retrieval, improved knowledge access, and smarter decision-making on the ground.

 

But David also emphasizes a critical point: AI success starts with data. Without clean, structured, and semantically meaningful enterprise data, even the most advanced AI tools will fail to deliver. DKSH is investing heavily to ensure that their data foundation is solid, enabling AI to truly drive value.

 

“In Singapore and across Asia, we love our chicken rice,” he explains. “The chicken is the exciting part, but the rice is the essential foundation. Data is like the rice. You still need to get that foundation right before you can enjoy the insights.”

The conversation also tackles the human side of AI adoption. Instead of threatening jobs, AI is seen as a co-pilot, helping employees focus on high-value tasks while automating repetitive work. This approach strengthens human-to-human relationships and ensures technology drives growth rather than disruption.

 

“AI can help offload routine tasks and free up humans to focus on strategic conversations with clients. That’s how we grow the pie,” says David.

For DKSH, this isn’t just theory, it’s active implementation. Across its diverse business units, from chemicals to life sciences, DKSH is working at the forefront of AI and digital transformation, bringing tools that are practical, scalable, and transformative for the workforce.

If this episode sparked new ideas, offered insights, or gave you something to think about, we invite you to stay connected. Please like, subscribe, and share The Digital Chemical Playbook, where we bring you real-world insights that drive innovation across R&D, product development, and formulation.

 

If you’re seeking innovative ingredients or technical support, contact us via our contact form. Our team is ready to help move your projects forward. 

 

Catch the full episode on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, or click here to watch the full episode on YouTube.