Honeywell Brings Generative AI to 95,000 Employees, Proving This Giant Is Just Getting Started

“For Honeywell, AI is a natural fit” says Vimal Kapur, Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell.

For more than 135 years, Honeywell has been a silent architect of modern life—shaping industries, powering innovations, and even playing a critical role in landing humans on the moon. But today, Honeywell isn’t just looking back at its storied history; it’s using that legacy as a launchpad for something even more ambitious: the future of AI. From its roots as a humble heating regulator company to becoming a global technology powerhouse, Honeywell is now unleashing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (Gen AI) to drive the next wave of industrial transformation.

With 16 generative AI use cases already in production, and making AI available to all 95,000 employees, the company is proving that this century-old giant isn’t just keeping up—it’s setting the pace. As Sheila Jordan aptly puts it, “There is not a function in the company that is not thinking about Gen AI.”

What makes Honeywell’s AI journey particularly fascinating is how deeply it is interwoven with its long-standing ethos of innovation and adaptability. Partnerships with tech titans like Microsoft, Cisco, and Snowflake are fueling its ambitions. But what’s more impressive is how Honeywell is taking AI beyond the buzzword—using it to transform real-world industrial challenges and everyday operations.

From deploying virtual assistants like “Red,” which taps into a 350,000-page archive to offer instant answers, to using AI-powered tools to reduce IT help desk tickets by 80%, Honeywell is leading by example. It’s not just about talking the AI talk—this century-old innovator is walking the AI walk, proving that history and cutting-edge technology can forge an exciting future together.

From Engineers to Every Employee

Generative AI is no longer confined to research labs—it’s becoming part of daily operations at Honeywell. Jordan, who spearheads the digital transformation, has already overseen the deployment of 16 generative AI use cases. What’s more impressive is that all 95,000 employees have access to these tools. “There is not a function in the company that is not thinking about Gen AI,” Jordan remarked, underscoring just how deeply embedded this technology has become.

The company has even taken employee engagement to a new level, encouraging workers to submit ideas for AI applications. The result? Hundreds of innovative proposals from across the organization, each contributing to the company’s tech-forward momentum.

One standout AI-driven initiative is Honeywell’s use of Microsoft 365 Copilot, which has already been deployed to 5,300 employees. Additionally, GitHub is being leveraged by over 4,500 software engineers to write a staggering 90,000 lines of code per week, with an impressive 65% utilization rate. Honeywell is also using Moveworks’ AI copilot, which has slashed inbound IT help desk tickets by 80%, a move that signals the company’s commitment to optimizing internal operations through AI.

Then there’s “Red,” a virtual assistant that has transformed the way employees access Honeywell’s vast archive of data. From 350,000 pages of product manuals to over 50,000 internal articles, “Red” has become a go-to resource, offering quick answers in more than 100 languages—all at the fingertips of any Honeywell employee with a laptop.

Cisco and Microsoft Leading the Way

Honeywell’s digital journey isn’t unfolding in isolation. The company has formed key alliances to supercharge its AI capabilities. A standout partnership is with Cisco, where both companies are collaborating to optimize building systems using AI. Integrating Honeywell Forge Sustainability+ with Cisco Spaces, this initiative aims to fine-tune heating and cooling based on zone occupancy. “Our collaboration with Cisco empowers building owners to gain control of their environment and significantly curb emissions,” said Greg Turner, Chief Technology Officer of Honeywell’s Building Automation segment. This is not just smart tech—it’s sustainable tech.

Microsoft is another major player in Honeywell’s AI playbook. With Azure as the backbone of many of its AI projects, Honeywell has accelerated its adoption of generative AI. The integration has been instrumental in bringing AI-driven solutions to life, from employee tools to customer offerings.

The AI-First Strategy: A Three-Pronged Approach to the Future

For Honeywell, the real strategic value of AI isn’t just in-house efficiency—it’s about integrating AI into its customer offerings. Kapur’s three-pronged AI strategy includes internal productivity, customer-facing AI solutions, and AI-driven engineering processes.

One of the most exciting developments in this space is the large language model Honeywell is developing to speed up specification writing. “Today, it takes a month to write a spec. We believe we can bring it down to minutes,” Kapur explained. This innovation could dramatically shorten engineering cycles, offering Honeywell’s customers faster, more efficient solutions.

But Honeywell’s AI advantage goes beyond cutting-edge tools—it’s rooted in a treasure trove of 100 years of engineering data. “We have the right data. We have 100 years of engineering data, which nobody else has,” Kapur remarked. This deep well of knowledge is an invaluable asset for training AI models specifically tailored to industrial applications.

The Power of Snowflake

Data is the backbone of any AI strategy, and Honeywell knows it. Under Jordan’s leadership, the company has overhauled its data infrastructure, reducing the number of software applications from 4,500 to just over 1,000. With Snowflake as its centralized platform, Honeywell now has a “single source of truth” for all critical data—whether it’s bookings, billings, HR, or engineering.

This streamlined approach has not only broken down data silos but also created a unified digital infrastructure that supports real-time insights and smarter decision-making. Honeywell can now analyze its data in real time, using insights to connect with customers and enhance operational efficiency across its global footprint.

AI, Smart Industrials, and Workforce Transformation

Honeywell is not just deploying AI; it’s transforming its workforce for the AI-driven future. The company is reinventing its talent pool, focusing on upskilling employees to prepare them for new roles in AI and smart industrial applications. A comprehensive platform is in place to manage employees’ journeys from onboarding to skills training, helping them adapt to the rapid technological evolution.

Angela Bhurji, Honeywell’s CIO, emphasized the importance of change management, especially when it comes to aligning talent with the company’s ambitious AI goals. Whether it’s AI-driven HR tools or analytics platforms for tracking employee performance, Honeywell is committed to leading-edge people management.

In conclusion, Honeywell is setting the stage for a future where AI and generative AI aren’t just buzzwords—they’re fundamental to its operations, product offerings, and customer solutions. By leveraging strategic partnerships, harnessing the power of its data, and transforming its workforce, Honeywell is positioning itself as a leader in the next wave of industrial innovation. As Vimal Kapur puts it, “The real strategic benefit of AI will come from integrating it into our offerings to customers.” And with the strides Honeywell is making, that future is closer than ever.