AI Visualisation
Howdens a FTSE 100 Company creates bespoke kitchen designs across its 800 depots, using 2000 highly skilled, scarce resources in the form of designers, what we did was look at a way of giving each designer a superpower, to increase or improve both the quality and the quantity of designs they are able to using these emerging technologies.
The challenge was twofold: to automate the intricate kitchen design process, ensuring specificity and precision in design
amendments, and to subsequently produce a detailed bill of materials, fitting guide, and groundbreaking visualisation for clients.
What We Did
PPT Group, partnered with Howdens to craft a solution tailored to their vision:
• AI-Powered Design Automation: We developed a solution that takes key inputs to automate the kitchen design
process, ensuring the design is both adaptable and specific to individual client needs.
• Detailed Documentation Generation: Beyond the design, our system was built to produce a comprehensive bill of
materials and fitting guide, providing clarity and precision for implementation.
• Visualisation: To give clients an understanding of the proposed designs, we integrated cutting-edge visualisation
tools, enabling clients to virtually experience their new kitchen space before actual implementation
Results to Date
Our collaboration with Howdens has achieved the following milestones:
• Automation of the intricate kitchen design process, ensuring faster turnarounds and enhanced client satisfaction.
• Detailed and precise documentation, streamlining the implementation process and reducing potential errors.
• Setting industry benchmarks with advanced visualisation tools, allowing clients to immerse themselves in the
proposed designs.
AI Execution: Hackathon
Recognizing the need for a cutting-edge approach, PPT Group engaged with leading AI technology vendors,
identifying frontrunners capable of elevating Howdens’ customer experience. Through our process, we not
only show cased the potential of AI and Large Language Models in Enterprise but also set the stage for a
deeper, in-house innovation.
What We Did
PPT Group brainstormed and facilitated the structure for the AI Hackathon in conjunction with Microsoft who lent their
expertise and support on the Azure OpenAI services.
Reaching out to the Howdens in-house Development Teams, four teams were created, they learned and applied AI
techniques to develop practical solutions, focusing on enhancing efficiency and addressing Howdens’ specific
operational needs.
Results to Date
• Four teams created tangible working solutions and showed the real-world benefits of AI integration.
• Out of the four teams that participated, two produced standout solutions that we are implementing. These solutions
not only met the criteria set but also demonstrated real-world applicability and business value.
Conclusion
The Howdens Hackathon achieved its objectives, aligning with key strategic drivers. Teams onboarded new skill sets,
and the business case is set to deliver results to the relevant business units. The event also demonstrated the
practicality of using Azure services to develop bespoke LLM solutions with real-world relevance.