From Data to Decisions: Optimizing Supply Chain Management with Machine Learning-Infused Dashboards

Abstract

This paper examines how business users can leverage machine learning and data analytics through dashboards to optimize their decision making in demand-side supply chain management. We present a case study of an Austrian B2B hygiene product retailer that needed to provide its top management, sales representatives, and marketing managers with more relevant information to improve business intelligence and to enhance customer acquisition and retention. To generate this information, we utilized various data analysis and machine learning methods, including RFM analysis, market basket analysis, TURF analysis, and demand forecasting, using real-life transaction data. To provide business users with easy access to this information, we developed dashboards that integrate these methods providing an interactive and visual tool for data exploration and understanding. We conclude that dashboards can enable, business users to make better informed and effective decisions on the demand side of supply chains leading to improved sales performance and increased customer satisfaction.