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How Agryco Embraces AI: Lessons from the Frontline

by Nabila Moumen on
#DigitalTransformation

In a recent interview, Cyril, Head of International Marketing at Agryco, shared insights into how this agricultural e-commerce platform is successfully implementing AI across their business operations. With over 100,000 product pages and serving farmers across multiple European countries, Agryco's journey offers valuable lessons for companies looking to leverage AI effectively.

Start with Business Problems, Not AI Solutions

One of the most striking aspects of Agryco's approach is their focus on business objectives rather than technology. "I don't think about AI, I think about project and objective to reach," explains Cyril. This mindset has led to multiple successful implementations, from content generation to video production.

When faced with the challenge of improving product descriptions across their vast catalog, the team didn't immediately jump to AI. Instead, they first identified their goals:

  • Increase page quality
  • Improve content effectiveness
  • Reduce time and cost per page

Only after establishing these clear objectives did they evaluate AI as a potential solution.

The Three-Point Check for AI Projects

Agryco uses three critical criteria to evaluate any AI project:

  1. Efficiency: Is it significantly faster than current methods?
  2. Scalability: Can it handle increasing volumes without proportional increase in resources?
  3. Cost-effectiveness: Does it reduce operational costs?

Their product description project exemplifies these criteria in action:

  • Time reduced from 15 minutes to 8 seconds per page
  • Cost dropped from €3-4 to less than €0.08 per page
  • Quality remained consistent across all pages

Transparency Builds Trust

Perhaps most surprisingly, Agryco takes an unusually open approach about their AI usage. While many companies hide their AI implementations, Agryco proudly announces them. "We are one of the first brands that speaks loudly and honestly about the fact that we embrace AI, we use AI, and we are not ashamed to do it," says Cyril.

This transparency has led to unexpected benefits:

  • New partnership opportunities with established players in the field
  • Positive market reception
  • Increased credibility with customers

Customer Focus Remains Priority

When asked about authenticity concerns, Cyril offers a refreshing perspective: "They don't care how you deliver. They just want the product and the price." This customer-centric view helps the team stay focused on what matters - delivering value to farmers.

The results speak for themselves:

  • 50,000 monthly viewers for their AI-generated content
  • Successful AI-generated video campaigns
  • Daily news updates reaching 15,000 viewers

Internal Adoption: Lead by Example

Agryco's approach to internal AI adoption offers valuable lessons:

  1. Start Small: Begin with simple projects that demonstrate clear value
  2. Show, Don't Tell: Demonstrate practical applications that save time
  3. Share Knowledge: Train others and provide tools for them to experiment
  4. Build Gradually: Focus on consistent small improvements rather than big bang changes

Key Takeaways for Leaders

For executives looking to implement AI in their organizations, Agryco's experience suggests:

  1. Focus on business objectives first, AI second
  2. Use clear criteria to evaluate AI projects
  3. Be transparent about AI usage
  4. Prioritize customer value over technology
  5. Build internal capability through practical examples

Looking Ahead

As Cyril notes, the challenge now is maintaining and improving these implementations as they scale. "How can I be sure that in two months, three months, one year, it will still work as it should?" This forward-thinking approach highlights the importance of viewing AI implementation as a journey rather than a destination.

The key lesson? Don't wait for the perfect moment to start. As Cyril puts it, "It's like an entrepreneur waiting for the perfect day to launch - that day will never come. Instead, start doing things and improve day by day."

For companies looking to embrace AI, Agryco's experience shows that success comes not from grand AI strategies, but from focusing on business problems, testing solutions quickly, and scaling what works - all while maintaining transparency and focusing on customer value.

Listen to the full conversation with Cyril Combes on the ExecOnAI podcast to learn more about Agryco's innovative approach to AI transformation.

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