Take, for example, the challenge in inventory management for items a retailer might generally not stock in bulk, but currently considered essential personal protective equipment (PPE) for consumers. Previously, this PPE might have only been purchased at retail by those caring for an elderly parent or a sick child. 

In order to ramp up stock of such items it’s important for the retailer to really understand if a specific type of PPE is fit for purpose. This requires detailed information about that product in terms of product specs, certifications, etc. Having this data also helps retailers relay information to consumers helping them make the most informed decision about what they are purchasing. 

Leveraging Data to Identify Emergent Needs with Predictive Analytics/AI

Another potential area to apply data and technology is to use AI and predictive analytics to help us try to predict and measure the impact a pandemic might have, as it emerges. Analyzing the spike in sales of items like hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes in Europe would have offered  data to trigger retailers to procure and stock more of these – and other – high demand products, ahead of the curve. 

According to Datanami, “While the possibility of a global pandemic is real, people can take some solace in the fact that public health officials have at their disposal an array of powerful data collection and analytics techniques that previous generations lacked.” 

Predictive analytics, applied to the pandemic, could have foreseen the havoc COVID-19 would bring. Leveraging a wide array of data – like IoT devices, field reports, flight manifests, social media and news sites – health organizations rushed to trace where the infection may have been spread and build predictive models around where the virus will take hold next. 

With access to a similar level of data regarding what was being purchased in the first global hot spots, retailers could have had shelves stocked for the inevitable rush by consumers to stock up on the items that are in such high demand as the virus continues to spread in the U.S.

The ideal supply chain uses a just in-time model. While JIT succeeds in managing costs, it doesn’t work well in special cases, like the current coronavirus emergency. Applying data on the emergent pandemic would have triggered points along the supply to increase production and distribution which in turn would have helped retailers to more quickly increase inventory and manage sell through to consumers of such an unprecedented amount of hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, etc. 

With regard to a range of other consumer goods, while it may have been difficult to anticipate the actual hoarding of toilet paper, it would have been quite evident that a need would exist to increase retail availability of all the basics that people stock up on during emergencies – including paper products – as well as non-perishable food items. With consumers using their smart devices to fill all of their retail needs, there is also a strong case to be made for the importance of IoT. 

Sharing Data

Much of the current chaos being experienced by retailers could have been mitigated by sharing data from the outset. A lot of solutions exist to manage staffing needs. However, there is not a good way of sharing or managing this information on a universal level. Solutions exist that could help potentially provide for shortage of stock managers and delivery workers that would help retailers more effectively manage the crisis.

Interestingly, the EnterWorks PIM/MDM platform actually began with the original role of serving classified government intelligence agencies. In 1998, EnterWorks launched as a Virtual Data Base platform known as “Pangaea.” The platform applied the “Pangaea” hypothesis of the globe – the idea of a singular supercontinent – to a central and singular view of global and unstructured data.  

At that time, the mission was to bring together physical and digital intelligence assets and information from a variety of national level command, control, communications and intelligence sources.

The “Pangaea Effect” could also benefit retailers in much the same way during a global pandemic by allowing those entities serving the consumer to access essential public health data and respond with greater stock of necessary goods.