The 108th Annual Convention and Exhibition of the NRF, New York (January 17, 2019)
Carrefour's retail giant chose SAS® Viya® to optimize its distribution chain, an action that is part of the company's global transformation plan to meet customer expectations through advanced technology solutions.
Carrefour wants to create a special universe that combines online shopping experience where loyal customers are guaranteed and offered the best quality products at any time and anywhere. The use of artificial intelligence to improve the distribution chain is a first for the retail segment in France.
Carrefour is facing today the challenges of multi-channel distribution. The company has opted for inventory optimization with SAS Viya, which allows data collection and processing in its stores, warehouses and online trading platforms. Analyzing these data leads to an improvement in forecasts of commodity requirements and orders placed on suppliers, helping to reduce wastage and surplus stocks.
After an 18-month test period, SAS Viya will be deployed throughout the Carrefour food chain to provide purchasing and replenishment teams with added agility in integrating work methods and improving forecasts for demand and commodity needs. SAS Viya is a robust, safe and adaptable solution that stores and processes large volumes of data allowing Carrefour experts to develop customized algorithms to meet specific needs.
"SAS Viya allows us to take an important step in optimizing the distribution chain. Artificial Intelligence will free our teams from certain tasks by allowing them time to develop differentiated forecasting strategies and respond in the best way to customers' needs, while reducing wastage, "said Franck Noel-Fontana, Director Department of Carrefour France Forecast.
SAS and its partner, Capgemini, will provide Carrefour with the technical and business expertise needed to implement this solution.
"There is much talk about artificial intelligence, but projects like Carrefour are helping to bring it into reality," said Oliver Schabenberger, SAS Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer. "We have witnessed an incredible advance in making algorithms that can perform, with excellent precision, actions that people would do."
