CASE STUDY
An in-depth description of a firm’s approach to an IT management issue (intended for MBA and executive education)
Working Paper: Case Study
The Cemex Journey to AI at Scale
Learn what practices can help managers scale AI and successfully sustain large numbers of interdependent, production AI models over time.
Abstract
Headquartered near Monterrey, Mexico, in 2023 Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V. (Cemex) was a $15.6 billion global construction materials that employed 43,000 people and managed a global supply chain with distribution networks in more than fifty countries. In 2014, Fernando González became CEO and introduced a strategic imperative to deliver superior customer service, resulting in Cemex Go, the first end-to-end digital platform in the construction materials industry. As Cemex established its digital capabilities, the company increasingly built and relied on AI to fuel automated, intelligent business processes. By 2023, the company had incorporated into Cemex Go a collection of interrelated artificial intelligence (AI) models that fueled core components of the order-to-fulfillment process. This working paper describes Cemex’s journey to managing AI at Scale, defined as the organizational ability to sustain large numbers of interdependent, production AI models over time. The working paper features the key activities that facilitated the company’s AI at Scale progress.
Access More Research!
Any registered, logged-in user of the website can read many MIT CISR Working Papers in the webpage from 90 days after publication, plus download a PDF of the publication. Employees of MIT CISR members organizations get access to additional content.
This case study was prepared by Ida A. Someh, Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems, University of Queensland; Barbara H. Wixom, Principal Research Scientist, the MIT Center for Information Systems Research (CISR); Cynthia M. Beath, Professor Emerita, University of Texas; and Robert W. Gregory, Associate Professor of Business Technology, University of Miami Herbert Business School. The case was written for the purpose of class discussion rather than to illustrate effective or ineffective handling of managerial situations. The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the executives at Cemex for their participation in this case study.
© 2024 MIT Center for Information Systems Research. All rights reserved to the authors.
Related Publications
About the Researchers
Ida A. Someh, Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems, UQ Business School at The University of Queensland, Australia and Academic Research Fellow, MIT CISR
Barbara H. Wixom, Principal Research Scientist, MIT Center for Information Systems Research (CISR)
Cynthia M. Beath, Professor Emerita, University of Texas and Academic Research Fellow, MIT CISR
Robert W. Gregory, Associate Professor of Business Technology, University of Miami Herbert Business School and Academic Research Fellow, MIT CISR
MIT CENTER FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH (CISR)
Founded in 1974 and grounded in MIT's tradition of combining academic knowledge and practical purpose, MIT CISR helps executives meet the challenge of leading increasingly digital and data-driven organizations. We work directly with digital leaders, executives, and boards to develop our insights. Our consortium forms a global community that comprises more than seventy-five organizations.
AlixPartners
Avanade
Cognizant
Collibra
IFS
Pegasystems Inc.
The Ogilvy Group
Alcon Vision
Amcor
ANZ Banking Group (Australia)
AustralianSuper
Banco Bradesco S.A. (Brazil)
Banco do Brasil S.A.
Bank of Queensland (Australia)
Barclays (UK)
BlueScope Steel (Australia)
BNP Paribas (France)
Bupa
CarMax
Caterpillar, Inc.
Cemex (Mexico)
Cencora
CIBC (Canada)
Cochlear Limited (Australia)
Commonwealth Superannuation Corp. (Australia)
Cuscal Limited (Australia)
CVS Health
Dawn Foods
DBS Bank Ltd. (Singapore)
Doosan Corporation (Korea)
Fidelity Investments
Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B., de C.V.
Fortum (Finland)
Genentech
Gilbane Building Co.
Johnson & Johnson (J&J)
Kaiser Permanente
King & Wood Mallesons (Australia)
Mercer
Nasdaq, Inc.
NN Insurance Eurasia NV
Nomura Holdings, Inc. (Japan)
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. Systems Consulting Division (Japan)
Novo Nordisk A/S (Denmark)
OCP Group
Pacific Life Insurance Company
Posten Bring AS (Norway)
Principal Life Insurance Company
QBE
Ramsay Health Care (Australia)
Reserve Bank of Australia
RTX
Scentre Group Limited (Australia)
Schneider Electric Industries SAS (France)
Stockland (Australia)
Tabcorp Holdings (Australia)
Telstra Limited (Australia)
Terumo Corporation (Japan)
Tetra Pak (Sweden)
Truist Financial Corporation
UniSuper Management Pty Ltd (Australia)
Uniting (Australia)
USAA
Webster Bank, N.A.
Westpac Banking Corporation (Australia)
WestRock Company
Xenco Medical
Zoetis Services LLC
MIT CISR Associate Members
MIT CISR wishes to thank all of our associate members for their support and contributions.