Executive Stream 3: Technology, Big Data, and Digital Transformation for the New Age of Predictive Analytics

IBF's Virtual LEADERSHIP FORUM

If you don’t transition your company to be analytics driven, you could be left behind. We now compete not so much on price or quality, but on our ability to interpret data. And given that predictive analytics and AI have reached a tipping point, we must look at organizational design for Demand Planning differently. Big Data and predictive analytics are exploding with a growing number of variables and complex relationships that can be analyzed and understood – and technology underpins every element of this evolution.

We will be discussing whether functionality updates are growing faster than our maturity levels, whether we should invest in new and “advanced” technology and expect our teams to play catch-up, and whether we should blame poor results on systems or the lack of best practices and qualified talent. And of course, we’ll dive into the role of advanced analytics during times of disruption

THE KNOWLEDGE YOU WILL GAIN INCLUDES:

How to start a technology search and avoid technology pitfalls, and tips and tricks for quick, easy access to data and decision making
How your organization can be at the vanguard of technological change
How technology helps keeps supply chains functioning during times of crisis, and helps maintains sufficient inventory
How to develop an analytics driven roadmap and sell it leadership
What a “best practice process” looks like and determining the right balance with technology tools
How to use predictive analytics technology to predict and respond to massive demand disruptions like Covid-19
How to provide analytics insight to all areas of the business
How to identify key demand drivers and incorporate them into your forecasts
Some not-so-obvious Big Data sources to create demand signal insights

Moderator:
Eric Wilson, CPF, Director of Thought Leadership, Institute of Business Forecasting & Planning

Panelists:
Joe Eschenbrenner, ACPF, Director of Demand & Supply Planning, Puma
Tim Hotze, SVP Global Network Planning and Global Intelligence, Target
Jon Ostrom, Director of Planning Applications and Supply Chain Analytics, Columbia
Andrew Schneider, ACPF, Sr. Transformation Manager of Corporate Quality, Medtronic

Eric Wilson, ACPF

Director of Thought Leadership

Institute of Business Forecasting & Planning

Eric Wilson is Director of Thought Leadership at the Institute of Business Forecasting & Planning, bringing over 20 years of experience in demand planning and predictive analytics. He previously led forecasting at Escalade Sports, Berry Plastics, and Tempur Sealy. Eric is an IBF Advanced Certified Professional Forecaster (ACPF) and recipient of IBF’s Excellence in Business Forecasting & Planning Award. He is a frequent speaker, published author, and contributor to The Journal of Business Forecasting.

Andrew D. Schneider, ACPF

Vice President, Global Supply Chain & Integrated Business Planning

Precor

Andrew D. Schneider, ACPF, is Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Integrated Business Planning for Peloton's Commercial Business Unit, where he leads global supply chain strategy, planning, procurement, and operating model transformation. Previously, he held supply chain leadership roles with Medtronic, Ball Corporation, Crocs, and other global organizations. Andrew specializes in integrated business planning, forecasting, AI-enabled planning, and decision science, helping organizations improve service, profitability, and executive decision-making. He is an ASCM Distinguished Fellow, recipient of the ASCM Award of Excellence, and a longtime member of the IBF Advisory Board.

Tim Hotze

Corporate Vice President Supply Chain - Planning -Digitization & AI

Trane Technologies

Tim Hotze is Corporate Vice President, Supply Chain – Planning, Digitization & AI at Trane Technologies. A recognized supply chain leader, he has held executive planning, network strategy, and operations roles across global organizations, including Target, Amazon, and Panalpina. His expertise spans S&OP, Integrated Business Planning (IBP), network optimization, capacity planning, and supply chain digitization. Tim serves on the IBF Advisory Board and holds a joint Master’s degree in Engineering and Supply Chain Management from TU Darmstadt.

Joseph Eschenbrenner, ACPF

VP Global Planning & Procurement

Verifone

Joe is the VP of Global Planning, Procurement, and Logistics at Verifone, and has 30+ years of experience in supply chain management across industries like automotive, medical, footwear, and payments. He specializes in demand planning, data connectivity, and supply chain optimization. Joe is an IBF Advanced Certified Professional Forecaster (ACPF), holds an MBA and Master’s in Finance from RPI, and a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and Statistics from UConn. Passionate about mentoring, Joe believes, "Every day we teach and every day we learn."

Jon Ostrom

Director of Enterprise Planning Technology

Columbia