At its Google Cloud Next ’25 event today in Las Vegas, Google turned the spotlight on how artificial intelligence is no longer just a buzzword—it’s reshaping industries in real time. Through a series of compelling customer stories, the company demonstrated how businesses across sectors are using AI to fuel innovation, streamline operations, and deliver better customer experiences.
From fast food to finance, AI is proving its value.
McDonald’s Serves Up Smarter Operations
McDonald’s is undergoing a digital transformation, tapping into Google Cloud’s edge computing and AI capabilities to enhance the daily operations of its restaurants. With the power of Gemini on Vertex AI, the company is deploying intelligent assistants that help shift leaders quickly identify issues, while restaurant managers receive real-time alerts for predictive maintenance. The result? A more stable, secure, and efficient experience for both employees and customers—impacting over two million team members worldwide.
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AI Streamlines Finances and Boosts Productivity
In the financial world, Intuit is leveraging Google Cloud Document AI to make tax season a little less painful. By improving data accuracy and autofill for complex forms like 1099s, TurboTax users can enjoy a smoother filing process. Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank has launched DB Lumina, an AI-powered research agent built on Gemini and Vertex AI, that rapidly summarizes market reports for traders and clients—all while maintaining strict data privacy standards.
Driving Speed and Efficiency Across Enterprises
Google’s AI tools are also helping businesses move faster and smarter. Nokia is using Vertex AI to speed up application development, and Wayfair is enhancing product data accuracy at scale. AES, a global energy company, has slashed audit costs by 99% and dramatically cut audit time. Honeywell is building a next-gen product lifecycle management system, combining Vertex AI, BigQuery, and Gemini in a framework that could accelerate engineering workflows by as much as 70%.
Elevating Customer Experiences with AI
Customer-facing innovation took center stage too. Reddit introduced Reddit Answers, an AI-powered product grounded in real user conversations, offering more relevant and nuanced responses. Mercado Libre, a major e-commerce player, has implemented Vertex AI Search to improve product discovery for its 100 million customers—already delivering millions in incremental revenue. Verizon is reimagining customer service, equipping reps with instant, AI-generated insights to solve issues more efficiently.
AI Goes Creative: From Storytelling to Search
Some of the most exciting use cases came from creative and consumer-focused brands. A modern reimagining of “The Wizard of Oz” for the Las Vegas Sphere used Google’s AI and video model Veo 2 to push the boundaries of storytelling. Wendy’s is piloting AI-powered drive-thru ordering, while Mercedes-Benz has introduced conversational search for its vehicles. The Home Depot’s “Magic Apron” AI assistant is bringing next-level support to in-store associates.
Even legacy brands are embracing AI for strategic advantage. Mattel is using Gemini to analyze millions of customer feedback points, gaining insights that inform the evolution of its iconic toys. Spotify and Unilever are harnessing BigQuery to manage data at scale and deliver more personalized experiences to users around the globe.
The Future Is Here—and It’s Powered by AI
The case studies presented at Google Next make one thing clear: AI is no longer experimental. It’s operational. Whether it’s speeding up development, improving customer interactions, or unlocking entirely new experiences, businesses are embracing AI as a strategic imperative. With infrastructure, models, and tools like Vertex AI and Gemini, Google Cloud is helping companies not just imagine the future—but build it.
What this means for ERP Insiders
Focus on AI use cases that deliver measurable business value. Before diving into implementation, identify clear, high-impact use cases where AI can solve real problems—whether that’s automating manual tasks, enhancing customer interactions, or optimizing backend operations. The success stories from companies like AES, McDonald’s, and Wayfair show that targeting specific pain points with tailored AI solutions can drive significant returns in cost savings, productivity, and speed.
Leverage a unified platform to scale AI securely and efficiently. Google Cloud’s ecosystem—spanning infrastructure, models like Gemini, and tools like Vertex AI—enables organizations to experiment, deploy, and scale AI within a secure, compliant environment. For businesses in highly regulated sectors, this unified approach reduces the complexity and risk of fragmented AI efforts, and ensures enterprise-grade reliability, data governance, and integration with existing systems.
Build industry-specific solutions for a competitive edge. Generic AI tools are a starting point, but the real advantage lies in customizing them for your specific industry and business needs. Whether it’s using AI for tax simplification (Intuit), intelligent product search (Mercado Libre), or in-vehicle search (Mercedes-Benz), tailoring solutions to customer behavior and operational contexts helps differentiate your brand and deepen user engagement.
