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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a central topic on the business agenda. What is Riopele’s perspective on this transformation?
At Riopele, Artificial Intelligence goes far beyond a passing technological trend — it is an advanced management tool serving the business. We see AI as a strategic accelerator that helps us become more efficient, reduce response times, anticipate trends with accuracy, and continuously structure knowledge.
But AI only creates value when built on a solid foundation: clear processes, integrated systems, accessible data, and a strong digital culture. At Riopele, we have built this foundation methodically. That’s why we now have the maturity to integrate AI in ways that generate real impact.
What was done to create that solid foundation? Which enablers were critical?
The first step was digital transformation. Over recent years, we have reorganized our systems, automated processes, structured data, and developed dashboards and platforms to support decision-making.
We also focused heavily on integrating different departments — production, energy, maintenance, R&D, design, planning, logistics, sales, finance, and human resources. This created a digital backbone where information flows with context and fluidity.
Most importantly, we prepared the organization to work in a collaborative and intelligent way. Processes stopped being linear and isolated, becoming interdependent and driven by data and knowledge.
How is Riopele’s vision for AI structured?
We have a clear approach, applying AI at three levels: strategic, tactical, and operational.
At the strategic level, we combine internal data with market signals, consumer trends, raw material flows, and geoeconomic insights to guide decisions on positioning, investment, and product portfolio.
At the tactical level, we design and simulate scenarios, anticipate bottlenecks, adjust production capacity, forecast shortages, and optimize flows using contextual intelligence.
At the operational level, we want to go even further. We want AI to directly support those on the ground – people managing machines, production lines, maintenance tasks, or logistics operations.
How is AI applied in production? What impact is expected on industrial operations?
AI will become a real-time copilot for production. We are implementing algorithms that adjust parameters based on raw material or environmental variations, anticipate quality deviations and suggest corrections before errors occur, recommend more efficient production sequences, and optimize order allocation across units based on capacity and deadlines.
In addition, using voice interfaces, augmented reality, and contextual visualization, information reaches the right people — operators and technicians — naturally and in real time.
The impact? Faster decisions, fewer errors, higher quality, fewer stoppages, and, above all, greater confidence in every decision made on the shop floor.
AI also affects human capital management. What is Riopele’s perspective in that regard?
We believe AI will elevate the experience, motivation, and development of our people.
By freeing employees from repetitive tasks, AI allows them to focus on what truly adds value — problem-solving, creativity, continuous improvement, customer interaction, and innovation.
Moreover, AI enables personalized learning and career paths, reinforces fairness in performance evaluations, and suggests development actions aligned with individual ambitions and company needs. Technology will be a growth enabler, strengthening our internal culture, attracting talent, and reducing friction.
And what about internal knowledge and generational continuity?
This is a fundamental pillar for us. AI will be the engine of intergenerational knowledge management. We hold decades of accumulated know-how — in decisions, processes, and the experience of those who’ve been with us for 30 or 40 years — and we want to turn that into accessible, reusable intelligence.
AI will learn from our history, recognize patterns, record effective decisions, and help new generations learn faster and better. This intelligent knowledge management will be one of our greatest long-term advantages in a sector where experience and operational excellence are irreplaceable.
Fashion lives on trends. What role will AI play in that domain?
An absolutely central one — for both Riopele and the entire fashion value chain.
Our competitiveness depends on the ability to predict and respond to market trends quickly and accurately.
AI allows us to analyze weak signals in real time, identify emerging microtrends, correlate consumer behavior data, social media content, collections, and sampling requests, quickly adjust fabric, color, and material portfolios, support product design based on real data and predictive simulations, and reduce the time between idea and response.
In this industry, speed with intelligence is the key to success — and AI is the engine driving that agility.
And in terms of sustainability and ESG compliance?
AI will be essential in turning ESG from a reporting requirement into a true decision-making tool.
We are developing solutions to automate the collection, validation, and communication of environmental, social, and governance data. We want every operational decision — from the selection of a yarn to the choice of a transport provider — to be accompanied by an impact metric.
Additionally, with AI we can simulate future decisions, measure potential impact, and choose the best path for both the business and the planet.
What message would you leave for other companies just starting their journey?
AI is not a destination — it’s the reflection of each organization’s maturity and vision.
The most common mistake is to invest impulsively, without a proper foundation. Companies that "buy technology" without preparation end up with costly and ineffective processes. AI requires purpose, structure, leadership, and vision.
At Riopele, we don’t chase innovation — we anticipate it, plan it, and prepare the ground to scale with confidence.
We want technology to be a natural extension of our business model — serving excellence, sustainability, and value creation for our customers, people, and society.
We’re not chasing disruption — we aim to shape it with purpose, intelligence, and responsibility.
