University of Arkansas- Blockchain Conference 2020
Use case challenge: Prediction of On-time and In-full Purchase orders using predictive modeling and blockchain technology.
Problem Defined.
Decrease in Lead Time
Retailers can better predict when supplies are going to be deployed OR not be able to fulfill the ordered quantity. This can allow suppliers to take pro-active actions (redistribution, alternative sources + routes, etc).
Inventory Optimization
Find a solution for suppliers to find alternate sources of supply to meet demand or work with alternative logistics to better meet delivery time and decrease holding costs. This in turn allows retailers to better meet consumer demands in an accelerated fashion.
Transparency in the Supply Chain
Find ways to make the supply chain safer, smarter, and more profitable.
View our tech models below.
My role on this project.
Business Strategist
I worked to ensure that our product strategy aligned with what was being asked of our team. I ensured that we defined a scope, reviewed edge cases, and kept our business model hygenic + understandable.
Meeting with our key stakeholder to communicate project progress + gather feedback.
I facilitated meetings with our counterpart from IBM to gather knowledge from his subject matter expertise. I ensured that we archived those learnings and applied them to our project week by week.
Qualitative + Quantitative Research
During our user discovery phase, I conducted user interviews with employees of large supply chain companies to understand current pain points/challenges within their job role. I also sifted through large data sets on lead time, invenrtory costs, and current transportation routes. With all of this in mind, I presented insights to my team on how these data poitns can be applied to our product design.
Pitch and Presentation.
I created a presenrtation centered on what the user jounrey would be in Lehmen’s terms with a complex technology. This presentation’s goal was to be easily understood by anyone watching by telling the story of a banana in a supply chain that has an unexpected bump into unfamiliar weather- our tech optimizes an alternate route within this story, showing the value of our tech.
Main Tools Used.
Miro
Our team used Miro to conceptualize the logic of our solution and how information was flowing through the blockchain.
Figma
We designed the app interface connected with our solution within Figma. This application was interactive and our audience could use a QR code to go through a basic flow of how the app works.
SQL
Our team had cross-functional competency in use cases of SQL. This allowed us to draw up different queries with quantitative data that allowed us to understand where there was room for improvement with lead times and disruptions in the supply chain.
Our final pitch.
Our team believes that there is a need for digitization to solve inventory management problems that often disrupt what consumers see on the shelves. We live in a world where attention spans are short and customers stick to products that are convenient, predictable and of good quality. All of this being said, the power of blockchain will alleviate stress and time wasted from farm to retailer creating a lean value chain for all users involved.