Kimberly-Clark has been on a multiyear journey to strengthen its supply chain operations, and its latest technology-focused efforts are beginning to pay dividends in efficiency.
During the first half of the year, the consumer packaged goods manufacturer finished the global installation of an end-to-end procurement software, deployed an artificial intelligence agent to boost productivity across its manufacturing network, and launched an “IT Digital University" to future-proof its supply chain.
These initiatives build on a five-year, $3 billion productivity enhancement program launched in 2024. The company is already halfway through the transformation, which aims to simplify the company’s value stream, optimize its network and scale automation.
“We continue to build a robust pipeline of digital and AI-enabled initiatives,” CEO Michael Hsu said during Kimberly-Clark’s Q2 2026 earnings call earlier this month. “Together, these efforts support our commitment to delivering the best products at the lowest cost to consumers around the world.”
Here’s a look at the three technology-focused initiatives Kimberly-Clark has launched this year and the efficiency gains they have driven.
1. A single global procurement software platform
Kimberly-Clark completed the global deployment of a unified end-to-end procurement software platform from supply chain technology provider Coupa during the first half of 2026.
Ninety percent of Kimberly-Clark’s suppliers are on the platform, per an earnings presentation, with the system supporting the growth of automation and connected digital capabilities across the company’s supply chain, including optimizing working capital and maintaining compliance.
“Having launched Coupa across our enterprise, we're leveraging a single global AI-powered solution that makes procurement smarter, faster and more connected, while providing enhanced visibility into global spend,” Hsu said.
2. AI-powered manufacturing agents
Kimberly-Clark also has begun using AI manufacturing agents that allow employees across the supply chain to leverage historical data and institutional knowledge to make faster decisions while ensuring consistent execution across the global network.
The company began with a pilot of a single agent this year and is now “rapidly scaling” across its network after results showed a 40% to 50% productivity improvement in “knowledge search tasks,” Hsu said. These tasks include everyday activities such as finding documented best practices and pulling information to inform decision-making, a company spokesperson told Supply Chain Dive in an email.
3. IT Digital University
As it leans more heavily into AI and automation technology, Kimberly-Clark is also focused on equipping workers in its supply chain with the skills needed to take full advantage of new and emerging tools. This, in turn, is meant to support Kimberly-Clark’s ambitions of scaling automation and data-driven decision making.
In the first half of 2026, the company launched what it calls an “IT Digital University,” an academy-based learning program that covers 17 skill areas, including AI and data visualization, according to Hsu.
Employees who take part in the program complete skill assessments before and after training to measure baseline knowledge and progress. According to a company spokesperson, workers who have completed the program have achieved an average of 60% skill growth.
