ORLEN’s transformation to gain momentum with CEE’s largest AI deployment
ORLEN is consistently pursuing its strategic agenda, aimed at ensuring energy security across the region and stable supply of affordable energy to Polish citizens. Yet a successful energy transition cannot be achieved without digital tools. This is why the ORLEN Group, in collaboration with Microsoft, is undertaking the largest AI deployment in CEE. The solutions being implemented will enhance not only its energy operations, but also cybersecurity, production processes, data analysis and overall workforce efficiency across the Group.
“The energy transition is a challenge for the entire economy – one that requires decisive action here and now. ORLEN’s strategy through 2035 represents the largest investment programme in the history of Poland’s energy sector, with a value of up to PLN 380 billion. Today, the sector has become one vast construction site. We intend to move even faster, which is why we are leveraging the most advanced tools available on the market to support our daily work. The ORLEN Group comprises over 200 companies, operating across more than a dozen countries. Efficient management of this corporate structure requires seamless information flow and the constant introduction of innovative solutions to help us stay competitive and better deliver on our business objectives. Deploying AI across the organisation of more than 60 thousand people will boost operational efficiency, reducing the burden of repetitive tasks and unlocking the full potential of our employees’ unique skills. These skills are our most valuable asset,” said Ireneusz Fąfara, CEO and President of the Management Board of ORLEN.
Digital transformation is a central pillar of the ORLEN Group’s 2035 strategy, ‘The Energy of Tomorrow Starts Today’. The strategic roadmap published in January emphasises the use of digital tools and effective Group-wide data management as key enablers of a successful energy transition.
“We aim to strengthen our teams’ digital capabilities by means of solutions supporting the development and deployment of advanced IT tools across the organisation. Solutions such as Microsoft Copilot and Agentic AI will help us optimise performance, reinforce cybersecurity at the entire Group and improve workplace efficiency. Ultimately, these technologies will generate synergies across the Group and deliver tangible business benefits,” said Robert Soszyński, COO and Vice President of the Management Board of ORLEN.
The agreement signed with Microsoft is a step toward delivering this strategic goal. It covers the standardisation and consolidation of software licences across the Group, the development of secure cloud technologies, and the rollout of intelligent assistants capable of relieving employees from routine tasks and offering data-driven recommendations.
“The AI tools we are implementing will have wide-reaching applications – from analysing recent and upcoming regulatory changes, facilitating the controlling function, monitoring strategic data from global oil and gas markets, to streamlining supply chain logistics and even web design. This marks another major milestone in the ORLEN Group’s digital transformation journey,” says Michał Furman, Executive Director for Digital Transformation and IT.
The collaboration with Microsoft will also foster internal AI capabilities at ORLEN. As part of the agreement, a Competence Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Innovation and Advanced Analytics will be established to serve as an internal innovation incubator – identifying and developing high-impact projects, supporting experimentation with GenAI technologies, and scaling their implementation across the Group.
“The integration of Artificial Intelligence into organisational processes is now a strategic decision. Leaders who treat AI as a core part of their operating model are not just responding to market challenges – they are helping shape the market itself. We are entering a new era, where people and technology work side by side as equals. Our goal is to create an environment where human talent can focus on what truly matters: making better decisions, driving innovation and building sustainable competitive advantage, not just through speed or cost, but through value,” says Iwona Szylar, General Manager of Microsoft Poland.
Beyond software licensing, the partnership between ORLEN and Microsoft will also include joint workshops and assessment of the potential AI applications.
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