Benetti is preparing to take a significant step toward digital transformation with the launch of its first artificial intelligence integration project, scheduled to begin by the end of the year at the Livorno shipyard. Developed in collaboration with the Quinn University Consortium, the initiative marks a new phase in the evolution of the shipyard’s production model.
The initial rollout will focus on four key areas within the Custom Operations division: logistics, planning, production engineering, and safety. In this first phase, AI-driven technologies will be introduced to enhance process efficiency, increase automation, and improve the consistency and reliability of both products and services. The goal is to modernise operational workflows while maintaining the craftsmanship and attention to detail that define the brand.
According to Benetti General Manager Massimo Casoni, the adoption of artificial intelligence represents a natural progression in modern yacht building. While traditional values such as excellence and precision remain central, digital innovation is expected to accelerate processes, optimise resource use, and support a more sustainable production environment. The integration of advanced technologies is also seen as a strategic response to the evolving challenges facing the industry.
The project is being developed with the support of the Quinn Consortium, whose General Manager Ilaria Campana highlighted the importance of viewing artificial intelligence as more than a productivity tool. In this context, AI is approached as a transformative force capable of reshaping industrial processes, generating long-term value, and encouraging new ways of working. A structured, process-driven methodology is considered essential to ensuring strong performance while safeguarding technological investments.
Quinn, a university consortium that has been working alongside businesses since 1989 through research and advanced training, is no stranger to Benetti’s operations. Between 2022 and 2024, the two organisations collaborated on a logistics synchronisation project focused on horizontal integration across the supply chain. That experience enabled a comprehensive analysis of internal workflows and highlighted opportunities where AI-based solutions could deliver measurable improvements.
Several of these solutions are now moving toward implementation. Among them are automated controls within the Incoming Material Booking Portal, designed to align material deliveries with yacht production schedules and warehouse capacity. Another key development is the Three-Year Plan Simulator Prototype, a tool capable of processing complex production scenarios to support continuous improvement across core performance indicators.
The introduction of artificial intelligence within custom operations is expected to deliver tangible benefits, including a reduction in manual errors, faster processing of semi-finished components, and stronger data-driven decision-making. By automating repetitive tasks, the project also allows internal teams to focus on higher-value activities that require specialised expertise.
Through this initiative, Benetti reinforces its long-term commitment to innovation, laying the foundations for a more agile, efficient, and forward-looking production system—one positioned to set new reference standards within the global yachting industry.
Photo: Benetti Yachts
