Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics Manager at Leroy Merlin

Everton Baptista holds a degree in software engineering and a specialization in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning from MIT Professional Education. With nearly ten years of experience at Leroy Merlin, he works as a Digital Domain Leader. Currently, he is the Manager of Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence at Leroy Merlin. Under his belt, he also specializes in machine learning, artificial intelligence, mathematics, and statistics, and has a broad strategic perspective on data and artificial intelligence solutions.

Through the article, Baptista shares his insights on the evolving AI influences in every aspect of business operations and his perspectives from decades of experience in mastering the use of AI and its impact on data analytics.

How do you foresee the impact of emerging developments in Artificial Intelligence addressing the challenges business faces in meeting its requirements?

I see the advances in Artificial Intelligence as crucial for overcoming complex challenges within our company, especially in humanized personalization, intelligent decision-making and changing the way we obtain responses. The AI's ability to process and analyze large volumes of data in real-time that we have today allows us to identify patterns and predict trends that humans couldn't, thus optimizing our resources and improving our operational efficiency.

Additionally, AI is transforming our customer service capabilities through virtual assistants and customization, significantly enhancing the user experience. In the future, closing deals will become increasingly easier as it explores and obtains answers more effortlessly.

Can you share your experiences from successful data initiatives that have positively impacted decision-making and business outcomes?

We have launched several successful initiatives that significantly enhance our operations and customer experience. For example, our trigger level model has generated over $144 million in savings by optimizing qualifying purchases and improving the procurement of high-turnover products. The AI-driven models assist sellers in increasing daily shopping cart averages by intelligently suggesting complementary products. Furthermore, the personalization models sharpen the accuracy of our communications, enhancing engagement with our customers. The computer vision models provide real-time insights into store occupancy and queue lengths, enabling us to predict and continuously improve the shopping experience by adjusting resources dynamically.

“Make the data strategy clear to the company that ensures everyone in the company is moving in the same direction. Avoid implementing AI solutions solely as advanced technological tools; instead, ensure that their application is aligned with the company's strategic objectives.”

These technological initiatives collectively elevate the efficiency and effectiveness of our service delivery.

What are some of the challenges in your business that are not adequately addressed by current solutions?

One of the main challenges we currently face is the integration of different platforms and data silos, which hinder a unified view of information. Despite there being several data integration tools in the market, often the transactional systems that have been with the company for a long time do not have easy integration with databases. This misalignment leads to inefficiencies and considerable delays in extracting actionable insights, prompting the need for efficient and yet merely palliative technical solutions.

How do you see data and AI shaping the future of the industry?

Data and AI will continue to be the major catalysts of innovation in the technology sector. I believe we will see even greater adoption of automation and AI technologies with companies employing these tools to personalize services, optimize operations and innovate in their products.

We will increasingly adopt products with embedded artificial intelligence. In the long term, AI continues to play a crucial role in sustainability and ethical business practices, helping to create solutions that benefit both society and the business environment.

What advice would you offer to fellow professionals or aspiring professionals seeking to thrive in this rapidly evolving field?

I strongly advise focusing on building a data culture within the organization. It is crucial that everyone, from leadership to operational staff, understands the value of data and how it can be used to improve outcomes. Make the data strategy clear to the company that ensures everyone in the company is moving in the same direction. Avoid implementing AI solutions solely as advanced technological tools; instead, ensure that their application is aligned with the company's strategic objectives.