Podcast | If Your Technology Isn't Creating Business Value, You're Solving the Wrong Problem – with Marcio from dsm-firmenich
In this episode of The Digital Chemical Playbook, Florian Brunet speaks with Marcio Brochado Correia, Chief Digital & Information Officer at dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health, about why the success of digital transformation is rarely determined by the technology itself. Instead, it depends on whether organisations can connect digital initiatives to measurable business outcomes, empower people to adopt new ways of working, and build the right data foundation for AI.
While many organisations continue investing in AI, automation and new digital platforms, Marcio argues that technology has never been the hardest part. The real challenge is designing digital capabilities that people actually trust, adopt and use to create measurable business value.
For leaders across the chemical, life sciences and formulation industries, this conversation offers practical insights into why some digital initiatives scale successfully while others struggle to move beyond pilot programmes.
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Catch the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music or watch on YouTube.
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Digital Transformation Starts with Business, Not Technology
Many digital programmes begin by evaluating the latest technologies. Marcio believes organisations should reverse that thinking.
"Technology since the beginning was always a way to impact business."
Rather than asking What can AI do?, organisations should first ask Which business problem are we solving? Only then can technology become a strategic accelerator rather than another disconnected initiative.
Why Simplicity Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage
As AI capabilities expand, many organisations risk creating increasingly complex digital ecosystems. Marcio believes the opposite approach creates greater long-term value.
"Less is more."
Successful transformation is rarely about deploying more tools. It is about simplifying decision-making, removing unnecessary complexity and enabling teams to focus on work that creates measurable business impact.
The Best Digital Solutions Are Built With the Business
Digital teams understand technology.
Business teams understand operational reality.
The organisations moving fastest are bringing both together.
Marcio explains that building successful digital products requires understanding every user in the value chain—not just their technical requirements, but how they make decisions every day.
"Think like if you are a sales rep, think like if you are a supply chain planner, think like if you are an R&D scientist."
Only then can organisations design solutions that are adopted at scale rather than simply deployed.
AI Is Only as Powerful as the Foundation Behind It
As AI becomes part of everyday business operations, data quality and governance have become strategic priorities. Without trusted information, even the most sophisticated AI models cannot generate trusted outcomes.
As Marcio puts it: "AI will be as successful as the quality of the data you have."
For highly regulated industries such as chemicals, animal nutrition and life sciences, this means AI readiness depends as much on governance and organisational discipline as it does on technology.
Why This Matters Now
Across specialty chemicals and advanced manufacturing, digital transformation is entering a new phase.
Competitive advantage will no longer come from simply adopting AI faster.
It will come from building organisations where technology, people and business strategy evolve together.
For companies looking to scale innovation, improve operational excellence and unlock greater value from digital investments, this episode offers a timely perspective from someone leading transformation at global scale.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music or watch on YouTube.
Ready to rethink how digital can accelerate your business? Explore more insights on DKSH Discover, or get in touch if you'd like to discuss new ideas, collaborations, or business opportunities.
