Retail Technology Strategy & Pilot Evaluation

Created on June 23, 2025

Note: If you want to see a copy of the strategy decks

Skills:

• Strategic Planning & Evaluation: OKR definition, problem scoping, pilot structuring
• Technology Assessment: Emerging tech research, feasibility analysis, prioritization frameworks
• Execution Design: Deliverable mapping, metric-based evaluation, stakeholder communication
• Tools & Frameworks: PowerPoint (for strategic pitch), Google Sheets (for project schedule and budget), NotebookLM (for summarizing the crux of references used and prompt engineering)

Project Overview:

Designed a technology evaluation strategy to address a global retail leader’s issue of stockouts caused by inaccurate demand forecasting and fragmented inventory visibility. Over the course of the semester, analyzed its digital transformation efforts, identified operational bottlenecks, and developed OKRs to evaluate three emerging technologies. Ultimately, focused the final plan on piloting AI-enabled No-Touch Supply Chain Planning for one product category across two stores, aiming to assess its effectiveness in reducing stockouts, improving inventory responsiveness, and establishing a scalable framework for future automation.

Key Contributions:

• Problem Framing & Root Cause Analysis: Scoped the stockout challenge by linking customer dissatisfaction to demand volatility and lagging planning systems.
• Technology Shortlisting & Justification: Evaluated 30+ emerging technologies based on relevance, maturity, and business fit. Shortlisted three, then selected AI-enabled no-touch planning for in-depth evaluation.
• OKR & Pilot Design: Developed a 3-month pilot targeting a 10% stockout reduction, with success tracked through implementation rates, inventory audits, and comparison with baseline performance.
• Deliverables & Evaluation Framework: Produced a comprehensive pilot plan including a data integration roadmap, recommendation tracker, stockout rate comparison analysis, and final stakeholder presentation.
• Cost & Risk Planning: Proposed a $123,500 pilot budget and proactively addressed risks related to adoption, data access, and ROI, aligning project feasibility with the organization’s strategic and operational goals.

Results and Impact:

Built a business-aligned, pilot-ready evaluation plan to assess AI-enabled supply chain automation. Delivered a structured approach for testing emerging technology in a controlled environment, ensuring decisions are supported by data, KPIs, and operational readiness.

Learnings and Takeaways:

• Gained practical experience converting a complex operational issue into a measurable, tech-driven pilot plan
• Strengthened skills in OKR writing, stakeholder communication, and deliverable planning
• Learned to evaluate cost-benefit tradeoffs and mitigation strategies when proposing scalable innovation

Note:

In parallel, developed a comparative technology strategy for a regional grocery chain focused on improving fulfillment turnaround through real-time inventory systems, AI-driven demand planning, and nimble last-mile delivery models—framing how regional retail chains can address similar operational challenges through agile solutions.