International Webinar on Business Analytics Driving Digitalization: The Road Ahead
School of Management Sciences, Varanasi organized (under IQAC initiative) an International Webinar titled “Business Analytics Driving Digitalization: The Road Ahead” on 30th June ’2020. Nearly Seven hundred fifty participants from Five (5) Countries and 22 States of India from more than two hundred (200) Schools, Colleges & Universities registered to this international webinar.
Earlier in the Prof. Sandeep Singh, HOD-Management, Commerce & Mass Communication at SMS Varanasi welcomed the Key-Note Speakers and the participants in the International Webinar on Business Analytics. Prof. Sandeep Singh set the tone of the webinar by putting forward relevant cases pertaining to Business Analytics. While discussing the importance of BA he emphasized that not a single sector is there which is not using it Business Analytics for their front as well as backend operations. Those who are not utilizing BA in their operations will soon be forced to comply with it.
The Key-Note Speakers for the webinar:
- U Dinesh Kumar, Professor & Chair Data Centre, and Analytics Lab, Chair - MBA (Business Analytics), Chair - Career Development Services, IIMB Chair of Excellence, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, India.
- Kapil Malhotra, Director & Head of Analytics, Asia, Middle East & North Africa, PepsiCo, India & Ex.General Manger-Digital, Accenture, India & Ex.AVP – Analytics, Genpact, India.
- Amit Kurhekar, Director, Data Science Solutions, Envestnet | Yodlee, Bengaluru, India & Ex.Senior Technology Manager Advanced Analytics, Proctor & Gamble, India.
- Umesh Rao. Hodeghatta, Chief Data Scientist NU- Sigma U2 Analytics Lab, USA & Faculty at Walden University & Kent State University, USA.
- Syed Rahim, Senior Director – Customer Success & Consulting, Middle East, and Africa (MEA), Manthan Analytics & Ex.Head Marketing – Stores, SPAR India (Max Hypermarket).
- Rohit Mangnani, Director, Uniplatform Tech Private Limited, Ex.Vice-President, E-Commerce, Walmart India, Ex.Business Head & VP–Hotels, Yatra & Director-Travelguru & Sr.Vice President & Business Head - Jeevansathi.com, Info Edge India Ltd (Naukri.com).
In Session-1, Dr. U Dinesh Kumar, who discussed the two basic approaches for analytics namely, Transformative (for AI Oriented Organizations) & Incremental (for Augmenting Human Capabilities). He discussed three different Case Studies of Akshay Patra, Ureka Forbes & Crop Diseases Problem of farmers in Karnataka.
In Session-2, Mr. Kapil Malhotra emphasized on the importance of optimization of resources by using business analytics. He reiterated Marketing role is to create awareness which in turn creates demand. While discussing his view point, he segregated the two kinds of drivers which influences business to happen. Factors or drivers which are there in the hand of the organization are going to be considered as internal drivers while factors which are not under control of the organization will considered as external drivers. He corelated business analytics to handle these drivers for the proper utilization of the resources. He further bifurcated business function into two parts i.e. Front End & Back End. He discussed the processes of Business analytics to handle Front End & Back End.
In Session–3, Mr. Amit Kurhekar gave four different steps to tackle real life problem, i.e. problem statement, data availability, evaluation metrics & trade-offs. He also gave different functions which can be looked upon as a career opportunity. He considered Mission-Vision Scientist, Business Analyst, Solution Architect, Data Engineer & Data & Cyber Security as upcoming opportunity in the area of Business Analytics.
He also emphasized on developing new skills which are need of the hour like time series method, Python/R, SQL, Cloud & MLOPS, Data Structures.
In Session–4, Dr. Umesh Rao. Hodeghatta started is deliberation with four inquisitive questions like Business Analytics or Data Analytics is an automation or programming or mathematics or algorithm ? and during his session he covered each one of them in detail. He cited examples from predictive performance modeling, predictive marketing modelling, data model, job catalogue and intelligence mapping. He discussed different case-studies related to AI in Chatbots, Healthcare, Gaming & HR Analytics.
In Session–5, Mr. Syed Rahim begin his deliberation with insights on age & future of analytics in retail. He gave a timeline for the entire development of Retail Analytics. He gave breakups of predictive analytics, investigative analytics, basic analytics, basic reporting & No Analytics in terms of percentage for Merchandising, Finance, Marketing, Customer Management, Supply Chain, Stores, Procurement, Multi-Channel Retail and Human resource Management. Moving further, in his deliberation he put forward his views on how analytics is redefining business strategies within the retail organizations. Business Analytics is facilitating in retail to know about the customer acquire/retain customer and finally engage them with hyper personalization.
In Session–6, Mr. Rohit Mangnani gave his deliberated on the use of analytics in our personal lives. We take decisions on the basis of product attributes like shape, size, colour, design & packaging. In the same way Business analytics does it work by product bundling on the basis of these attributes which in turn matches with the customer expectations.
The Q&A Session was conducted by Dr. Amitabh Pandey, Associate Professor & Coordinator - PGDM Course, SMS-Varanasi. Dr. Pandey discussed the relevant questions asked by the participants during the sessions. Sir conducted the session very precisely keeping the paucity of time in mind with our Eminent Key-Note Speakers and expressed our gratitude towards them on behalf of our esteemed institution, School of Management Sciences, Varanasi.
Brief Summary & Vote of Thanks was proposed by Mr. Kartikeya Singh, Assistant Professor & Coordinator – MBA Course, SMS - Varanasi. In a nutshell, Mr. Kartikeya Singh summarized the key aspects of Business Analytics discussed by our Eminent Resource Persons and expressed our sincere gratitude and regards on behalf our esteemed institution, SMS Varanasi and its Leadership.
The webinar was organized & coordinated by Mr. Veeresh Tripathi, Assistant Professor & Co-Coordinator - PGDM Course, SMS, Varanasi.
