AI and Analytics for Business

Updates

AI and Analytics for Business Announces Partnership with Lidl US

Collaboration Gives Students Opportunity to Use Data to Create Real-World Business Solutions for America’s Fastest Growing Retailer

AI and Analytics for Business announced today that it will partner with Lidl US, a national grocer recently ranked the fastest growing retailer in the United States. The partnership will allow Lidl to participate in this fall’s Analytics Accelerator, an experiential learning program where students solve real-world business problems using actual datasets and the latest techniques, including machine learning and AI.

Wharton and Penn students will work with Lidl to develop insight about customer behavior and preferences, ultimately building a recommendation system for localized product assortments and promotions.

“Global retail visionary leaders like Lidl are helping to facilitate and define real business challenges that push Wharton and Penn students to be analytic innovators,” said AIAB Executive Director Mary Purk.

“We are so excited to partner with Lidl on this project,” said AIAB Faculty Director Raghu Iyengar. “It will be an interesting union between their existing data strategy and the application of advanced data modeling by our students. With their innovative approach to analytics, these students will be able to offer Lidl a competitive edge.”

Lidl US will serve as AIAB’s first virtual Corporate Partner. As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted normal business practices, AIAB has re-envisioned how it engages with companies. AIAB has a proven history of building relationships with international companies; however, there has always been an in-person component from introductory meetings to welcoming them to campus for an Analytics Accelerator Summit or research symposium. Lidl will be the first company to sign a partnership agreement and execute its research project entirely remotely.

“I am so proud of how the AIAB team has quickly adapted to going virtual,” said Purk. “Thanks to their nimbleness in these turbulent times, we are still able to deliver Wharton-caliber programming and innovative research projects to our Corporate Partners.”

Lidl will be one of six companies to participate in AIAB’s virtual Analytics Accelerator which will culminate in a Summit on November 13. They will be joined by Comcast, Cubic Mission Solutions, Evite, NeuroFlow, and TE Connectivity. Student applications are currently open until September 21. Visit the student Analytics Accelerator page for more information.

Call for Student Accelerator Applications

Learn more about Lidl and its Analytics Accelerator project from Daniele Groccia, Vice President of Advanced Analytics.

About Lidl

Lidl operates more than 11,000 stores and is active in 32 countries, employing around 287,000 employees globally. Lidl offers customers the highest quality fresh produce, meat, bakery items, and a wide array of household products at the lowest possible prices. Lidl first established its U.S. headquarters in Arlington County, Virginia, in June 2015, and today sells its award-winning products in more than 100 stores across nine east coast states. For more information, visit www.Lidl.com.


About AI and Analytics for Business

AI and Analytics for Business is the preeminent academic research center focusing on the development and application of business analytics methods. Through research and experiential learning engagements, AIAB works with companies to transform business thinking, translate research findings, and teach students.