{"id":860001,"date":"2025-07-04T07:12:42","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T12:12:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/04\/air-france-klm-to-increase-intelligence-of-bots-that-have-saved-200000-hours\/"},"modified":"2025-07-04T07:12:42","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T12:12:42","slug":"air-france-klm-to-increase-intelligence-of-bots-that-have-saved-200000-hours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/04\/air-france-klm-to-increase-intelligence-of-bots-that-have-saved-200000-hours\/","title":{"rendered":"Air France-KLM to increase intelligence of bots that have saved 200,000 hours"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"content-header\">\n<h2>Airline group will now use agentic AI technology to make existing bots \u2018more intelligent\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"content-center\">\n<ul>\n<li><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i><\/li>\n<li><i data-icon=\"2\"><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"contributors-block\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Karl-Flinders-profile-pic-2022-140x180px.jpg\" alt=\"Karl Flinders\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/contributor\/Karl-Flinders\">Karl Flinders,<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\tPublished: <span>03 Jul 2025 16:16<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"content-body\">\n<p>Air France-KLM will build on the success of its business automation strategy by making its current repetitive process automation (RPA) bots more independent.<\/p>\n<p>Using agentic artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the airline will enable the bots, which are currently rules-based, to make decisions <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchcio\/tip\/RPA-bots-Unattended-vs-attended-vs-hybrid?_gl=1*1cqptfz*_ga*MTEwNzM2MTI5My4xNzQyODE4ODQ3*_ga_TQKE4GS5P9*czE3NTE1NDU3MTIkbzE4MyRnMSR0MTc1MTU0NTg5OSRqOCRsMCRoMA..\">without human support<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It currently has about 170 RPA bots across the group, which saved 200,000 hours of manual work last year, completing repetitive tasks that were previously done by humans.<\/p>\n<p>It will now move these bots to the cloud to make use of agentic AI technology, such as that offered by its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchitoperations\/news\/366623399\/UiPath-AI-agents-blend-with-RPA-amid-industry-hype-doubts?_gl=1*108aqkz*_ga*MTEwNzM2MTI5My4xNzQyODE4ODQ3*_ga_TQKE4GS5P9*czE3NTE1NDU3MTIkbzE4MyRnMSR0MTc1MTU0NTcxMyRqNTkkbDAkaDA.\">automation software supplier UiPath<\/a>, said Babar Khan, who heads up the automation centre of excellence for the KLM side of the business.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchcio\/definition\/RPA\">RPA<\/a> automates specific, rule-based tasks. It is designed to handle structured data and predefined workflows. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchenterpriseai\/definition\/agentic-AI\">Agentic AI<\/a> uses large language models (LLMs) and external tools. Unlike RPA bots, AI agents can perform tasks that involve unstructured data and that require flexibility and decision-making.<\/p>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Free up humans\">\n<h2><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Free up humans<\/h2>\n<p>Khan said the current bots are told exactly what to do, with a human \u201calways in the loop\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are situations that the bot cannot handle. Then it sends an email to an employee to request them to have a look,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith agentic AI, we will be able to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchenterpriseai\/tip\/Compare-AI-agents-vs-RPA-Key-differences-and-overlap\">create bots which will be able to autonomously make decisions<\/a>, but also do automatic healing. When there\u2019s a mistake, or they see something that isn\u2019t right, they\u2019re able to correct it themselves. You\u2019re able to go to a completely different level of automation,\u201d added Khan.<\/p>\n<p>He expects, through agentic AI, to increase time savings and be able to apply RPA to more complex tasks.<\/p>\n<p>Khan said the company will start piloting this at the beginning of 2026, when the migration of bots to the cloud is complete.<\/p>\n<p>The company began working with RPA in its finance department in 2016. \u201cIt was initially mainly seen as a solution for financial processes, but it quickly became clear that the potential of RPA went far beyond just finance,\u201d Khan told Computer Weekly.<\/p>\n<p>It was a team of about four people then, with 10 RPA bots. They then created some bots in HR, and later introduced bots to other business areas. In 2018, the work officially became part of the development domain, and the automation centre of excellence was introduced.<\/p>\n<p>Khan said: \u201cWe took over with a clear vision, and that was to turn it into a commodity service. We made it available across the organisation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There are now 12 people in the team.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Homer\u2019s success\">\n<h2><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Homer\u2019s success<\/h2>\n<p>One of the success stories in the HR department is Homer, a bot that can quickly create statements for employees, such as providing documents to support mortgage applications. \u201cTo create an employee statement, a lot of information needs to be checked,\u201d said Khan.<\/p>\n<p>He said Homer alone saves 31 admin hours each month, and there are many other bots in the HR department, saving it more than 2,400 hours a year.<\/p>\n<p>There is also a bot in the company\u2019s cargo handling department, which checks shipments. Known as Casper, it saves in excess of 1,000 hours a year.<\/p>\n<p>Another bot processes flight handovers, when the flight analyst passes on a flight to the handling department for preparation. This saves 13,000 hours over 12 months.<\/p>\n<p>These figures may win over the number crunchers in the business, but Khan said there is still a challenge in ensuring the services are adopted by business units. \u201cWe do a lot of awareness and go out there and sell RPA,\u201d said Khan. \u201cWhen we talk about RPA, robots and future employees, the businesses or people involved in that process sometimes think, \u2018Is my job going to be replaced?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To overcome this, Khan said the team explains everything properly and takes them along in the process.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"DigDeeperSplash\">\n<h4>\n\t\t\t<i data-icon=\"m\"><\/i>Read more on IT for transport and travel industry<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366626182\/Infrastructure-and-governance-are-key-for-GenAI-adoption\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/data-algorithm-machine-learning-artificial-intelligence-AI-GenAI-Mehdi-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/data-algorithm-machine-learning-artificial-intelligence-AI-GenAI-Mehdi-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/data-algorithm-machine-learning-artificial-intelligence-AI-GenAI-Mehdi-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Infrastructure and governance are key for GenAI adoption<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Aaron-Tan-Computer-Weekly-2025-140x180px.jpg\" alt=\"AaronTan\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Aaron\u00a0Tan<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchenterpriseai\/news\/366623893\/Automation-Anywhere-adds-reasoning-to-agentic-AI-platform\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/chatbot_g1150454068_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/chatbot_g1150454068_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/chatbot_g1150454068.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Automation Anywhere adds reasoning to agentic AI platform<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/ajao_esther.jpg\" alt=\"EstherShittu\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Esther\u00a0Shittu<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchenterpriseai\/tip\/Compare-AI-agents-vs-RPA-Key-differences-and-overlap\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/chatbot_g1196309272_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/chatbot_g1196309272_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/chatbot_g1196309272.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Compare AI agents vs. RPA: Key differences and overlap<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/kompella_kashyap.jpg\" alt=\"Kashyap Kompella\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Kashyap \u00a0Kompella<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchenterpriseai\/definition\/autonomous-AI-agents\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/digdeeper\/4.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/digdeeper\/4_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/digdeeper\/4.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>What are autonomous AI agents and which vendors offer them?<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/gillis_alex.jpg\" alt=\"AlexanderGillis\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Alexander\u00a0Gillis<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366627136\/Air-France-KLM-to-increase-intelligence-of-bots-that-saved-200000-hours\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Clora Geddes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Airline group will now use agentic AI technology to make existing bots \u2018more intelligent\u2019 By Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA Published: 03 Jul 2025 16:16 Air France-KLM will build on the success of its business automation strategy by making its current repetitive process automation (RPA) bots more independent. Using agentic artificial intelligence<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":860002,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[145057,25663,46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-860001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-france-klm","category-increase","category-technology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=860001"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860001\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/860002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=860001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=860001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=860001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}