Integrating Analytics Through the Big Data Information Chain: A Case From Supply Chain Management

The benefits of good decision making by a distributor often have broad leverage across a supply chain, and data science provides a comprehensive framework for making this possible. We present a case study of an ongoing partnership between the authors and corporate managers at a distributor of heating, ventilating, and air‐conditioning products. We describe in detail the “vertical integration” of our analytical tools through a long chain of data scientific activities, backward to raw data, and forward to visually appealing output, in an organization with legacy information technology infrastructure. The models are applied to a large‐scale data set, and spreadsheet‐based decision support tools that include useful visualization capabilities for the firm are illustrated. We also offer this case as a blueprint for building a collaborative research relationship between academia and industry.