The Analytics & Data

Science Playbook
Supply Chain

How to increase transparency, adjust for granularity,

and speed up the iteration process at every level.
 Having the ability to take an uninterrupted
thread from POS data to the supplier base
and on through the distribution network
is what we are trying to address.

Yannis Skoufalos
P&G’s Global Product Supply Officer

120
 Short on time?
Read this: TABLE OF CONTENTS

Supply chain leaders need to increase transparency The Supply Chain Landscape 04

and granularity while accelerating processes and

iteration across multiple levels. The Widening Gap 07

Closing The Gap 11

The shifting economy will require workforces to learn
new skills, such as data science, to keep pace with Three Blueprints for Supply Chain Analytics and Data Science 14
constantly shifting forecasting models and markets.
How Customers Use Alteryx to Solve Supply Chain Obstacles 22

Analytic Process Automation (APA) integrates with

and ties together supply chain infrastructures while
shortening the learning curve for workforce upskilling,
enabling technologies such as Automation, RPA,
AI/ML, and Blockchain.

Included blueprints show you how to use APA to prepare

your supply chain for a new economy and workforce.

3
 The Supply Chain
Landscape

4
 If we asked about Sixty percent of supply chain leaders are building three or
more forecast scenarios for the upcoming year, according

your forecasting to a McKinsey report, and even that isn’t enough to prepare

60%
those in logistics and planning for the future of supply chains.

model for next year, The pandemic broke supply chains for good. Models that

you might respond once relied on historical data are no longer reliable. Unforeseen
changes are affecting commodity prices. Errors in forecasting

with, “Which one?” models are rising.

To counteract the ripple effect the last year had, many logistics of supply chain leaders
and planning leaders are digitizing their workforce. You’re are building three ore more
probably doing the same and facing the same challenges — forecast scenarios for 2021.
scrambling to increase transparency, granularity, and the
McKinsey, A fresh approach to logistics
speed at which you’re able to gain insight from your data. forecasting in 2021

5 T H E S U P P LY C H A I N L A N D S C A P E
 Your goal is clear: Create a supply chain that’s robust and flexible enough
to support your current endeavors and take on the next big surprise.

To do that, you’ll not only need to increase your agility and resistance
by developing a strategy with risk considerations built in from the
beginning, you’ll also need to prepare your supply chain for an entirely
new workforce.

30-60%
Logistics companies that transform their pricing could
increase revenue by 2 to 4 percent, translating to as
much as a 30 to 60 percent increase in operating profit.

McKinsey, Getting the price right in logistics

6 T H E S U P P LY C H A I N L A N D S C A P E
 The Widening
Gap

7
 As supply chains
change, so do the Increased transparency into all the

skills required to functions and processes throughout their

organization and third-party partners.

manage them.
Granular insight to find all the data and
Leaders will need move beyond limited lines of sight.

teams that can Accelerated processes to increase

iterations, shrinking analysis from month-
help them provide: long processes to hours and minutes.

8 THE WIDENING GAP

 At first, digitization might seem like it’s the answer to
these solutions, but it’s only part of the picture. The same
way buying a car doesn’t automatically teach someone
how to drive, digitization and new software don’t
automatically turn people on your team into an analyst
or data scientist.
Future supply chains will require current professionals to
be deeply analytical for the first time in their careers.
Many analysts and professionals in the supply chain
have some experience with descriptive analytics and
spreadsheets. But the step up from there is steep.
Yet, 74% of supply chain leaders are looking at advanced
analytics as the top skill to add in the coming years, and
79% of organizations are developing training programs to
help their employees learn and adopt advanced analytics.
9 THE WIDENING GAP
While that last stat sounds good, it comes with a caveat
— adoption often comes with steep learning curves.
Data science and AI carry two of the largest skill gaps
74%
for those transitioning from one role to another.
What’s more, most analytics solution aren’t one-size-
fits-all answers. End-to-end platforms require either
expertise in common coding languages or knowledge
of a proprietary coding language. The average length
of mastery for statistical programming is 72 days,
of supply chain leaders
and, for data management, it’s 84.
are looking at advanced
analytics as the top skill to
Even when that’s accounted for, there’s still the naturally add in the coming years
disparate nature of supply chains. Third-party partners,
suppliers, and customers located across the globe
use different record-keeping systems, data collection
methods, data storage systems, and analytical software
— if they even have them in the first place.
 When resiliency
is the top priority,
a disconnected system
is one disruption away
from crumbling.
As you can see, digitization and automation are still part of
the answer to the problem, but it also requires an integration
strategy that can connect all the loose pieces of an analytics
infrastructure — without forgetting the people who use it.
After all, what good is a technological solution if it doesn’t
empower the people who use it?

10 THE WIDENING GAP

 Closing The
Gap

11
 In supply chains, where decisions One technology that makes this possible is Analytic Process
Automation (APA). Unlike robotic process automation (RPA),

sometimes need to be made in which automates repetitive tasks, and process mining, which
grabs information from event logs, APA connects disparate data

seconds, organizations don’t sources and systems, plus automates the analytical process.

have 10-12 weeks to wait for

someone to learn how to code.

12 CLOSING THE GAP

 It can move data between various applications and services,
such as SCMs, ERPs, Snowflake, Azure, Salesforce, etc., and
trigger processes from one system into another through
RPA and APIs.

It can also use preset strategies and advanced analytics

to trigger routines and keep operations flowing smoothly.
It incorporates AI to mine text and make sense of
unstructured data, and machine learning to suggest the
best predictive and prescriptive models to use for forecasting.

It does all of this through no-code, low-code interactions,

helping professionals reskill and upskill.

The result is a completely integrated supply chain that

empowers the people who will operate the future supply
chain to be agile and respond to uncertainty with confidence.

13 CLOSING THE GAP

 Three Blueprints
For Supply Chain
Analytics & Data Science

14
At the end of the day, people drive value and
make decisions. But people are empowered by
the amount of data they have, how much of it Descriptive Data Science

they can access, and the resources they have to

Reporting &
Files Docs Data Lake Dashboarding Predictive Hub Enterprise Apps & APIs
gain insight from it.

Data Exchange Data Warehouse

The graphic on this page shows you how the
Investigation Text Analysis Server Stakeholders

Alteryx APA Platform™ fits into your tech stack

APIs Associations &
and works with solutions you may already have Data Platforms Alteryx Partners Correlations Clustering Promote Bi Applications

or plan to add.
Business-ready
Applications Batch File Ingestion Trends Prescriptive Tool Docs, Emails...

The blueprints on the following pages highlight

how to connect a large and complex supply Bots Data Prep Spatial Analytics Feature Engineering Bots

chain analytics infrastructure. They show how

the Alteryx APA Platform enables supply chain
Logic Data Cleaning Python

leaders to drive value and focus on outcomes by

integrating teams, departments, and third-party
Blockchain Alteryx Connect
partners into an automated ecosystem.

Data Source Route Product Power Customer SKU Rationalization Echelon Dynamic Demand
Governance Analysis Ranking 360 and Clustering Analysis Forecasting

15 THREE BLUEPRINTS
Blueprint #1: Granularity
A LT E R Y X A P A P L A T F O R M

In some instances, Coca-Cola

Automate Inputs from Automate Data Prep, Enable Descriptive & Enable Predictive & Automate Low-Code, Automate Outputs Automate Outcomes needed to analyze close to
Multiple Data Sources Blending & Profiling Spatial Analytics Prescriptive Analytics No-Code Data Science (Reporting) (Decision Support)
4.5 million rows of granular
TECHNOLOGY OR DATASOURCE data. They used the Alteryx

ON-PREM & CLOUD DASHBOARDS ON-PREM & CLOUD

APA Platform to bring in
DATA STORAGE DATA STORAGE
ON-PREM & CLOUD ON-PREM & CLOUD VISUALIZATIONS disparate data from hundreds
BOTS DATA STORAGE BOTS
SPREADSHEETS of partners and created 1.9
billion individual reports plus
Ingest data across Wrangle, clean and User can then use Use code-free machine Predict selling Output data to visual Output data to API back
multiple organization curate the data into data internal and external learning to identify opportunities and software of choice into system or RPA of more than 600 personalized
across the globe as lake to conveniently offer data to analyze trends and look for present data directly to to show dynamic choice for decision-
well as suppliers and data services to business applicable patterns. sellers in the field to take dashboard of demand, making and further
inventory-optimized reports.
partners. users. business outcomes immediate action. or mobile device. automation.
and gain valuable
breakthroughs.

Operational Automation Strategic Automation Cross-LOB Transformation

This blueprint represents a generic use case scenario for reporting automation

16 THREE BLUEPRINTS
 Coca-Cola

1.9 billion individual reports;

600 personalized inventory
optimized reports
READ STORY

17 THREE BLUEPRINTS
Blueprint #2: Transparency
A LT E R Y X A P A P L A T F O R M

With a hand in multiple

Automate Inputs from Automate Data Prep, Enable Descriptive & Enable Predictive & Automate Low-Code, Automate Outputs Automate Outcomes industries across the globe,
Multiple Data Sources Blending & Profiling Spatial Analytics Prescriptive Analytics No-Code Data Science (Reporting) (Decision Support)
Ingersoll Rand struggled to
TECHNOLOGY OR DATASOURCE answer questions and provide

ON-PREM & CLOUD DASHBOARDS ON-PREM & CLOUD

transparency about its supply
DATA STORAGE DATA STORAGE
ON-PREM & CLOUD ON-PREM & CLOUD VISUALIZATIONS chain. The Alteryx APA Platform
BOTS DATA STORAGE BOTS
SPREADSHEETS helped them provide company-
wide insight and reporting, plus
Wrangle data across the Prep and blend ERP Analyze historical Predict future state Create predictive models Output data to visual Output data to API back
globe. Connect disparate and external data for and external data by understanding using Alteryx building software of choice into system or RPA of teach employees how to use
sources with APIs from analytics to enable to understand what what if and what will blocks, or use starter to show dynamic choice for decision-
our partner community, curated datasets for happened. happen. Look at trends, kits and prebuilt macros dashboard of demand. making and further
data science, which increased
Enrich data with external analytics. understand patterns, offered by our partner automation. company-wide efficiency.
datasets from the cluster like events, rank community.
Alteryx data exchange. key indicators and their
effects on your analysis.

Operational Automation Strategic Automation Cross-LOB Transformation

This blueprint represents a generic use case scenario for reporting automation

18 THREE BLUEPRINTS
 Ingersoll Rand

Increasing transparency
and reporting company-wide

READ STORY

19 THREE BLUEPRINTS
Blueprint #3: Automation
A LT E R Y X A P A P L A T F O R M

Amway used the Alteryx

Automate Inputs from Automate Data Prep, Enable Descriptive & Enable Predictive & Automate Low-Code, Automate Outputs Automate Outcomes APA Platform to automate
Multiple Data Sources Blending & Profiling Spatial Analytics Prescriptive Analytics No-Code Data Science (Reporting) (Decision Support)
key processes and eliminate
TECHNOLOGY OR DATASOURCE hundreds of hours of repetitive

ON-PREM & CLOUD DASHBOARDS ON-PREM & CLOUD

work and the need for a
DATA STORAGE DATA STORAGE
ON-PREM & CLOUD ON-PREM & CLOUD VISUALIZATIONS database that cost millions
BOTS DATA STORAGE BOTS
SPREADSHEETS of dollars to build. They were
able to incorporate data from
API to external data Prep and blend ERP Analyze historical Analyze historical Create predictive Output data to visual Output data to API back
located on various ERP and external data for and external data and external data models using blueprints software of choice into system or RPA of multiple sources, including
and SCM systems. analytics to enable to understand what to understand what and prebuilt macros. to show dynamic choice for decision-
curated datasets for happened, what ifs, and happened, what if and Hyperautomate using dashboard of demand. making and further
spreadsheets, SQL servers,
analytics. what will happen using what will happen. Look auto ML to understand automation. Oracle, SharePoint, E-Bay,
macros. at trends, understand possible outcomes
patterns, cluster and augment decision and Amazon, and then publish
Analyze spatial elements like events, rank key making.
using spatial analytic indicators and their directly to Tableau.
capabilities in Alteryx. effects on your analysis.

Operational Automation Strategic Automation Cross-LOB Transformation

This blueprint represents a generic use case scenario for reporting automation

20 THREE BLUEPRINTS
 Amway

Automating repetitive work

to realize time and cost savings
READ STORY

21 THREE BLUEPRINTS
 How Customers
Use Alteryx to
Solve Supply
Chain Obstacles

22
 Because the Leaders in logistics and planning need an analytics strategy and platform
that allows them to proactively develop forecasts for multiple scenarios
Integrations Include

future of and provide the agility to pivot the moment something changes. They
also need it to shorten the learning curve for their teams and reskill and

supply chains upskill them to handle the upcoming changes to supply chains.

is uncertain. The Alteryx APA Platform automates repetitive tasks, integrates

with dozens of third-party analytics softwares, programs, and tools
such as Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, Google Analytics, Tableau, ABBYY,
Snowflake, Azure, UIPath, PWC, and more. It can also trigger actions
based on pre-determined criteria. Simply put, it gives you the ability
to get closer to the data, ensure everyone else can see it, and speed
up highly critical processes — all without having to completely overhaul
your current infrastructure and have your team spend countless hours
learning how to use it.

23 CUSTOMER USE CASES


More than 7,000 customers around
the globe, including some of the largest
organizations in the world that tackle
supply chain problems at scale, use
the Alteryx APA Platform to increase
transparency and granularity, plus
automate workflow processes.
24 CUSTOMER USE CASES
“The first time I used Alteryx was about three years ago,
before anyone in my office had started using it. I was
trying to make sense of our bottling data. The massive
datasets I was pulling in from our data repository kept
blowing up Access and Excel. I downloaded an Alteryx
trial, and within three hours I was able to create the
database I needed, despite being completely new to the
tool. The fact that I could process over 4.5 million rows of
data from separate data sets without writing a single line
of code was just incredible. From that moment on, I was
hooked.”
Jay Kaplan
Get the Full Story
 “We used Alteryx to automate the manual process of problem-solving root causes of over/ “The transportation logistics optimization
under ordering. The drag-and-drop functionality made it easy to figure out what we were process that used to take days to finish is now
doing, and because of the personalities on my team, we found learning Alteryx to be a running in a few seconds. The data coming into
rewarding adventure... Now, we can stratify all inventory in the building at the item level in the tool is a little over 103K records and the data
under three minutes to create a Pareto of drivers causing excess inventory. We’ve since used coming out is 105K. This tool was able to identify
this view not only to answer countless questions and save time, but also to illustrate to over 2000 POs buried in data cells in just a few
leaders the key drivers behind our inventory levels. It was a gamechanger.” seconds.”

Jamie Beason
Get the Full Story Get the Full Story

25 CUSTOMER USE CASES

See how Alteryx integrates
with your current partners
and solutions.

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