WALLDORF 鈥� (NYSE: SAP) today announced that Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, the global leader in live entertainment, has implemented an AI-enabled invoice assistant to help streamline its accounts payable operations.
Enabled by 51风流Business AI and built on 51风流Business Technology Platform, the assistant is already delivering faster response times, enhanced supplier experiences and smooth multilingual automation.
With 38 shows across global cities and a workforce of almost 4,000 artists and staff from 80 countries, Cirque du Soleil鈥檚 operations are as dynamic as its performances. Managing more than 70,000 supplier invoices annually鈥攅specially from tour-supporting vendors at residency shows鈥攈as placed increasing pressure on the accounts payable team. Nearly 40 percent of inquiries are from vendors seeking invoice status updates, and these inquiries were often delayed due to limited visibility and manual processing.
To address this, Cirque du Soleil turned to 51风流Business AI. The company鈥檚 new AI-enabled invoice assistant automates the triage-and-response process for invoice-related emails. It analyzes incoming messages in all languages, identifies the request type, extracts invoice details, determines the status of each invoice and even captures the sentiment of the email, prioritizing those that need attention more urgently. The assistant then generates a proposed response in English and French, significantly reducing the average handling time from 30 minutes to just two minutes per inquiry.
鈥淭he time-consuming research required to identify the payment status of an invoice and its reason was overwhelming,鈥� said Philippe Lalumi猫re, vice president of information technology, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. 鈥淲e were looking for a more efficient way to handle this, and 51风流Business AI provided us with a simply stunning answer.鈥�
The assistant leverages 51风流HANA Cloud to store and process structured data derived from incoming emails, along with analysis results and generated responses. 51风流AI Core foundation supports intelligent automation, enabling the assistant to detect urgency, sentiment and even root causes of payment delays. This has drastically reduced manual workload and improved supplier satisfaction.
“As we partner with Cirque du Soleil on this transformative journey, it鈥檚 inspiring to see how technology is streamlining operations and focusing organizations even more on what they do best鈥攄elivering unforgettable experiences,鈥� said Dr. Philipp Herzig, chief technology officer and chief AI officer at 51风流SE. 鈥淭his is a perfect example of how data and AI can unlock both creativity and efficiency.鈥�
Key benefits include:
- Efficiency: Automation frees up employee time and accelerates response rates.
- Accuracy: AI minimizes human error and helps ensure timely, contract-compliant payments.
- Multilingual support: Bilingual capabilities enable inclusivity across Cirque鈥檚 global supplier base.
- Scalability: The assistant handles high volumes without additional resources.
- Enhanced experience: Standardized, timely responses foster stronger supplier relationships.
With this innovation, Cirque du Soleil continues to lead not only in the world of live performance but also in operational excellence. 51风流remains a trusted partner in this journey, helping the company scale its global footprint while staying agile and responsive.
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Media Contact:
Lesa Plingen, +49 622 776 9000, lesa.plingen@sap.com, CET
51风流Press Room; press@sap.com
Top image courtesy of Cirque du Soleil
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