Tracks
The Analytics Ecosystem
Analytics projects have many moving pieces beyond the models themselves. In this track, we discuss infrastructure, data delivery, data governance, and the rest of the analytics tools and technology stack which support data projects. By using the right kinds of tools and technologies, we can help analytics projects be more reliable and successful. Within this track, industry leaders will explain how engineering, architecture, and data delivery through visualization or other applications complement the models that drive decisions. This track provides a robust survey of the analytics ecosystem.
DecisionOps: Utilizing collaborative tools and techniques that accelerate model development
Speaker: Carolyn Mooney, NextMV
The Dark Underbelly of AI in the Cloud
Speaker: Nick Ulmer, CANA LLC
Leading the Transition: Modernizing Coast Guard HR Analytics through Innovation and Buy-In
Speaker: Gregory Higgins, USCG HR Analytics
Tell Them Stories: The Art of Captivating an Audience with Data
Speaker: Desiree Abbott, CallMeDeeray
Analytics in Practice
Elements of applying analytics methods across a range of business use cases.
Transforming Data Analytics at Marriott: From Batch to Real-Time Insights & Actions
Speaker: Julia Morrison, Marriott International
N* Career Lessons from a Mid-Career Supply Chain OR Professional Turned Independent Consultant (N ~ 10)
Speaker: Ralph Asher, Data Driven Supply Chain LLC
Driving Growth Through Predictive Analytics: Optimising Product Cross-Sell and Upsell in Commercial Banking
Speaker: Preetika Madan
Accelerating Analytics with a Self-Serve Data Platform
Speaker: Anusha Dwivedula, Morningstar
Leveraging LLMs and Blockchain for Superior Trustworthy Analytics and Recommendations in Healthcare
Speaker: Khaled Salah, Khalifa University, UAE
Analytics Leadership
This track brings together visionary analytics leaders to share strategies for success. Leader will discuss the best practices in guiding teams and organizations through the evolving analytics landscape. The focus will be on aligning analytics initiatives with business goals, fostering ethical practices, and cultivating an innovative analytics culture. Attendees will learn how to leverage new tools, grow their team, and oversee successful execution for long-term success in a data-rich world.
Creating the Future D&A Operating Model
Speaker: Scott Harmon, Church & Dwight
Building, Mentoring and Leading Analytics Teams: Lessons from the Trenches
Speaker: Hina Arora, Arizona State University
Building Data and AI Literacies at Scale: Your Organizational Superpower
Speaker: Hamit Hamutcu, Initiative for Analytics and Data Science Standards, Elements
Exploring the Interplay of AI Assessment Tools: Metrics, Benchmarks, Testing, Red-Teaming, and Auditing
Speaker: Heather Frase, VerAItech
Tell Them stories: Going from Proof of Concepts to Value with Generative AI: Lessons Learned from Internal Dogfooding within AWS
Speaker: Tucker Shouse, Amazon Web Services
Analytics Process
Successful analytics projects hinge on a combination of diverse technical and interpersonal skills aligned with organizational goals. When you factor in the significant uncertainty at the outset of these projects, it becomes crystal clear why following a structured process is crucial. In this track, speakers will discuss how the formulation of the problem statement and the selected approach can profoundly influence both the workflow and the ultimate outcomes.
The Convergent and Divergent Nature of AI Workers
Speaker: Lisa Targonski, Elder Research
The Convergent and Divergent Nature of AI Workers
Speaker: Sandy Steiger, Total Quality Logistics
Made with Care: Positive Impact Through Analytics Product Management
Speaker: Melanie Collins, Chick-fil-A
Where Should the Analysts Live: Organizing Analytics within the Enterprise
Speaker: Louis Luangkesorn, Highmark Health
Deploying Custom Optimization to Connect the Manufacturing Supply Chain
Speaker: Caroline Daugherty, Pfizer
The Voice of the Universe: Why more data may not help you
Speaker: Thor Osborn, Sandia National Laboratories
Business Operations & Administration
In the age of digital technology, organizations have transformed their internal operations significantly, evolving from reliance on paper-based systems through using advanced computer systems for in-depth analysis, to furthering the analysis with machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other analytics methods. This session will feature industry leaders discussing how functions like Human Resources, Marketing, Accounting, and Finance are leveraging data-driven insights through analytical modeling and decision science to enhance their operations and decision-making processes. Join us to explore this exciting new age of organizational effectiveness!
Analytics Outsourcing and Internal Control
Speaker: Shannon Shang, Global Holdings LLC
Machine Learning Insights from 200K+ Technical Interviews: A Multi-Modal Analysis of Interview Success Factors
Speaker: Jay Feng, Founder & CEO
The Return of Management Science and The Evolution of People Analytics
Speaker: Leonidas Guadalupe, Children's Health
Building Effective Teams in a Distributed Working Environment
Speaker: Genetha Gray, Edward Jones
Critical Skills
Underestimated in the realm of successful project implementation is the development and application of critical soft skills. These skills, which encompass communication, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving, hold the potential to significantly influence a project’s capacity to generate meaningful organizational impact. Moreover, the cultivation of these soft skills is not only pivotal for the immediate success of projects but also plays a crucial role in the long-term career development of individuals. By enhancing these aspects, professionals are better equipped to navigate complex work environments, foster collaborative relationships, and drive innovation, thereby advancing their career trajectories and contributing to the overall growth and adaptability of an organization.
Your Brand, Your Story, Your Legacy: The Power of Personal Branding
Speaker: Kaylee Herrington, Kainos
AI’s Impact on the Future of Work, Life, and Human Interaction
Speaker: Suzannah Hicks, Hummingbird Healthcare
The Hard Truth About Soft Skills
Speaker: Cassandra McZeal, ExxonMobil Upstream Company
Winning The Room: Creating And Delivering An Effective Data-Driven Presentation
Speaker: Bill Franks, Kennesaw State University
Decision Analytics
Decision Analytics is at the forefront of transforming how organizations approach complex challenges and strategic planning. This track focuses on the advanced methodologies and frameworks that support effective decision-making, helping leaders optimize choices in uncertain environments. Gain insights into how analytics can refine decision processes, enhance strategic clarity, and drive impactful outcomes. Whether you’re looking to improve operational efficiency or navigate high-stakes scenarios, this track offers cutting-edge approaches to mastering the art of decision-making in business.
Are Dashboards Dead?
Speaker: Rajiv Phougat, KPMG US
Unleashing the Power of Storytelling: Creating Compelling Value Propositions for Analytics and AI Success
Speaker: Anne Robinson, Creative Destruction Lab
Going Beyond the Math: Lessons in Building and Sustaining Decision Support Tools
Speaker: Yash Puranik, Aimpoint Digital, LP
How AI-Powered Optimization is Revolutionizing Manufacturing
Speaker: Brett Stewart, C3 AI
Optimizing Freight Logistics with Decision Analytics: Advanced Routing and Scheduling at ABC Supply Co. Inc.
Speaker: Gourav Gupta, ABC Supply Co. Inc
Edelman Competition
Often referred to as “The Nobel Prize” of O.R. and advanced analytics, the Franz Edelman Award Competition attests to the contributions of operations research and analytics in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Since its inception, cumulative benefits from Edelman finalist projects have topped $419 billion. Edelman finalist teams have improved organizational efficiency, increased profits, brought better products to consumers, helped foster peace negotiations, and saved lives. The purpose of the Franz Edelman Competition is to recognize and reward outstanding examples of operations research, management science, and advanced analytics in practice in the world.
Flipkart
Flipkart is one of the leading e-commerce marketplaces in India, delivering millions of orders per day. Over the past few years, Flipkart has developed an advanced supply chain planning platform that has substantially increased the level of intelligence in demand estimation, inventory management for sellers, and network and capacity planning. Based on methods from operations research and data science, this platform has significantly improved operational planning for Flipkart and sellers and thereby enabled both Flipkart and sellers to grow rapidly while significantly reducing operational costs and improving customer experience.
SF Express
Since 2018, SF’s operations researchers have been tackling complicated and huge-scale network design problems (i.e., inter-city ground, inter-city air, and intra-city networks) by proposing state-of-the-art methods. The methodologies developed now guide SF's strategic and operational network planning decisions, such as planning Asia’s first cargo-focused air hub and daily optimization of vehicle routes. This has resulted in financial benefits of over $1 billion and reduced millions of tons of carbon dioxide equivalent since 2018.
WM
WM is the leading provider of environmental solutions. Post-pandemic, WM struggled with optimizing industrial waste collection routes due to unpredictable conditions and customer needs. Manually creating routes was sub-optimal, inefficient with too many factors to consider. To address these challenges, WM developed and implemented dynamic route optimization. By effectively combining advanced analytics, optimization, and technology led automation for the industrial line of business, WM realized unprecedented efficiency gains as well as operating margins and set the foundations for driving increased benefits in the coming years.
Lufthansa Group
In 2019, Lufthansa Group began working to improve how airlines handle disruptions like flight delays using advanced operations research techniques. In partnership with Google Research, they developed new methods to optimize the scheduling of aircraft, passengers and crew, ensuring smooth recovery when problems arise. This system is used by Lufthansa’s subsidiary, SWISS International Airlines, saving 12 million euros and reducing CO2 emissions by 14,000 tons. The system is being rolled out to other airlines in the Lufthansa Group, with plans to generate multimillion euros in savings and cut up to 50,000 tons of CO2 each year.
USA Cycling
PROJECT 4:05: Optimizing USA Cycling’s Women’s Team Pursuit Gold
In Olympic cycling, the difference between gold and missing the podium is measured in fractions of a second. For USA Cycling’s Women’s Team Pursuit squad, the 2023 World Championships in Glasgow highlighted a stark reality: a 6th-place finish with a time of 4:12.684 and missing the qualification round for the bronze medal final by 0.159 seconds. With the Paris 2024 Olympics approaching and the team falling to an 8th-place World Ranking, the challenge was clear: reduce nearly seven seconds off their performance in just one year, an improvement considered nearly impossible in elite sports. With limited funding compared to powerhouse nations like Great Britain and Germany, USA Cycling relied on Operations Research (OR), Machine Learning (ML), data analytics, race simulation, and targeted athlete development to bridge the gap. Armed with cutting-edge analytics and modeling, real-time performance tracking, and aerodynamic innovations, this initiative aimed at optimizing every aspect of the team’s race strategy. Through the power of data-driven decision-making, USA Cycling achieved what few thought was possible: a stunning eight-second reduction in time to capture Olympic gold, with a time of 4:04.32.
Amazon Stores
By 2021, Amazon was shipping billions of packages every year through its large network of warehouses across the U.S. However, as the company grew, it faced rising costs and challenges in delivering items quickly. To solve this, Amazon brought together a team of experts in supply chain and operations research that used network optimization, machine learning and simulation to create a new strategy called Regionalization. In 2023, this strategy helped reduce cost to serve by $0.45 per item in the U.S., and helped Amazon achieve its fastest delivery speeds ever globally, improving both efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Emerging Analytics
New analytical methods unlock new products, improvements, and capabilities. This track explores cutting-edge analytical methods, theoretical advancements, and applications that are shaping industries and daily life. Attendees can expect insights into the latest advancements, practical tips for implementation, and real-world case studies. Topics will feature emerging areas such as generative AI, knowledge graphs, causal inference, and other forward-looking methods.
Panel on Quantum Computing for the Analytics Industry
Speaker: David E. Bernal Neira, Davidson School of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University
Panel on Quantum Computing for the Analytics Industry
Speaker: Helmut Katzgraber, Amazon Web Services
Panel on Quantum Computing for the Analytics Industry
Speaker: Dr. Bill McGann, Quantum Computing Inc. (QCi)
The Death of Dashboards and the Birth of Natural Language Analytics
Speaker: Daniel Whitenack, Prediction Guard
Non-GenAI AI in GenAI: On the Importance of Embedded Traditional AI in an Agentic GenAI Augmented Workforce
Speaker: Sebastian Gould, Arrow Electronics
An Easy Button for Developing Analytical Applications
Speaker: Jeremy TerBush, TerBush Analytics
Building an AI Data Analyst
Speaker: Karthik Shashidhar, Babbage Insight
Game Theory & Strategy
Game theory is used to help produce the ideal decision given a set of constraints and the potential actions of other participants in the “game.” Some games have two parties with similar goals that are close to zero sum (such as sports) where some can involve more parties with the idea of multiple parties coming out ahead (business deals and international trade). This track has applications ranging from determining whether to enter a new market, creating an advertising strategy, or deciding whether to “Go for 2” in the fourth quarter of a football game. This track will go through different scenarios in which analytics enhances game theory and strategic decision-making.
Formula 1 Lap Speed Forecasting
Speaker: Vishal Kamalakannan, Netjets
Behavioral Economics in Game Theory and Strategic Analytics
Speaker: Steve Roemerman, Lone Star Analysis
An Analytics Framework for Understanding Motorsports: An introduction to analytics challenges in professional motorsports focused on American stock car racing, and how Data Science can help to advance the art of the possible in a fast paced pressure filled environment.
Speaker: Duncan Ellis, Ford Performance & Active Decision Support
Implementing Analytics
Practical applications of new concepts and technologies being implemented within a range of business use cases.
Optimizing Price Integrity: Walmart's Advanced Anomaly Detection System Using Quantile Regression, Neural Networks, and GenAI
Speaker: Yash Kalyani, Walmart
Optimizing Tire Management for Global Mining Operations
Speaker: Nipun Bhanot, Infor
Access Optimization for Specialty Pediatric Care Centers
Speaker: Joseph Wilck, Bucknell University
Media Measurements and Cross-Platform Media Planning Optimization
Speaker: Hanxi Bao, NBCUniversal Media LLC
INFORMS Prizes & Special Sessions
INFORMS grants several prestigious Institute-wide prizes and awards for meritorious achievement each year. This track will feature presentations for the Wagner Prize, INFORMS Prize, and UPS George D. Smith Prize winner. Innovative Applications in Analytics Award (IAAA) finalists will also present. Special sessions include presentations hosted by our Certified Analytics Professional (CAP®) Program, Women in OR/MS, INFORMS Career Studio, and the Early Career Professionals’ Network.
2024 Daniel H. Wagner Prize Reprise: JD.com Improves Fulfillment Efficiency with Data-driven Integrated Assortment Planning & Inventory Allocation
Psychological Safety for Inclusive Leadership (Hosted by Women in OR/MS)
Speaker: Chris Smithhisler, Tobias Leadership Center
Analytics in Action: Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) Overview
Speaker: INFORMS Certification Team & CAP Volunteers
2025 INFORMS Prize Winner
Speaker: Micron
Developing Analytics Translator Skills
Speaker: Zohar Strinka, CAP
UPS Smith Prize Reprise
Start to Finish Data Science & AI: Final Presentations from TAG Data Challenge 2025
Speaker: Beverly Wright
Growing Together: Two Decades of ECPN Shaping Analytics Leaders
Logistics
Practical applications of analytics within complex logistics use cases to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
Balancing Growth and Profitability with AI: The Power of Holistic Experimentation Platforms
Speaker: Kasi Rajeev Oduri, Fortune 50
Last-mile Delivery Optimization in Production - An Experiment-based Framework
Speaker: Holger Teichgraeber, Door Dash
Automating Safety Compliance in Dock and Loading Operations with Computer Vision
Speaker: Franz Stoll, Purdue University
Large Scale Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) solution for store delivery schedule and delivery route planning
Speaker: Satish Desai, Best Buy
Machine Learning & AI
Machine Learning and AI methods continue to yield practical business benefit, in use cases involving improved predictions of system or customer behavior, or combined with optimization methods to prescribe high-impact actions. Talks in this track showcase the decisions framed, analytics applied and results obtained.
Building Ethical AI/ML Decision Making Systems for Justice Reform
Speaker: Aparna Komarla, Redo.io
Building Trust in AI Agents Through Responsible AI
Speaker: Andrew Blake, Opening Bell Ventures
Image Processing and Matching Enhanced by Game Theory and Quantum Computing
Speaker: Tom Lash, Vibrant
Transforming Data to Dollars: Profitable Customer Relationships with Advanced Analytics, GenAI, and Machine Learning
Speaker: Jim Bander, Experian
Optimization
Optimization methods continue to yield practical business benefit in use cases that combine prescriptive analytics with user business acumen for high-impact actions to improve organization performance. This track showcases the decisions framed, analytics applied, and results obtained.
Optimizing Supply Chains with Digital Twins: A Path to Resilience, Agility, and Strategic Advantage
Speaker: Hanzhang Liu, Johnson & Johnson’s
Using Optimization to Predict Opportunity Costs and Discussion of Hospitality Revenue Management Use Cases
Speaker: Michele Meyers, Marriott
MAGIC: Multi-Agent GenAI Inspection Copilot
Speaker: Sitao Zhang, Johnson & Johnson
Constraint Learning in Practice: What is Machine Learning Doing Inside My Optimization Model, and How Can My Optimization Solver Deal with It?
Speaker: Thiago Serra, University of Iowa
Predictive Analytics with AI/ML
This track delves into predictive analytics, leveraging machine learning and AI techniques to transform decision-making across industries. As organizations increasingly rely on data to anticipate trends and forecast outcomes, this track highlights innovative application of predictive models. Presentations will focus on the development and deployment of advanced algorithms, showcasing how predictive analytics enables organizations to uncover patterns, drive actionable insights, and improve decision accuracy across various sectors. As organizations increasingly rely on data to anticipate trends and forecast outcomes, this track highlights innovative applications of predictive models.
Question based Retrieval Augmented Generation (QRAG) : Evaluating a New Approach to Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
Speaker: Sandeep Vellanki, Deloitte Services LLP
Question based Retrieval Augmented Generation (QRAG) : Evaluating a New Approach to Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
Speaker: Paula Payton, Deloitte Services LLP
See the Unseen: Advancing RF Analytics for Rapid Decision-Making
Speaker: Kevin Larrabee, DataShapes AI
Advancing the Test Science of LLM-enabled Systems: A Survey of Factors and Conditions that Matter Most
Speaker: Karen O’Brien, Modern Technology Solutions, Inc
Model Facts: Putting AI Ethics into Practice and Establishing Trust with End Users
Speaker: Jessica Zhu, University of Maryland
Supply Chain
Practical applications of new concepts and technologies being implemented within supply chain analytics programs to maximize efficiencies while minimizing business disruptions.
Revolutionizing Freight Allocation Management: Insights from Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning
Speaker: Nilanjan Mitra Thakur, Bluspark
Capacity Reimagined: A Hybrid Analytics Portfolio for Datacenter Supply Chain & Operational Growth
Speaker: Malarvizhi Sankaranarayanasamy, Hitachi America R&D
Large Language Models for Supply Chain Decisions
Speaker: David Simchi-Levi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Strategic Service Level Policies: Using Data and Segmentation to Enhance Inventory Optimization
Speaker: Daniela Aguilera, River Rock Advisors
Reinforcement Learning for Procurement Decisions: Integrating Stochastic Demand Modeling and Expert Feedback
Speaker: Alex Tschan, ALDI SÜD Germany
Supply Chain Analytics
Supply chain leaders discuss a rapidly transforming ecosystem shaped by a proliferation of data applications for management, logistics, and resiliency. The AI revolution is pushing rapid application of affiliated emerging concepts and technologies across supply chain and logistics. Decision support tools and machine learning technologies are disrupting business and driving new policies, products, services, and channels to increase revenue. During this track, industry leaders will share how they are delivering practical AI solutions to maximize efficiency and minimize business disruption.
Reducing Hospital Procurement Costs through Vendor Contract Optimization: A Decision-Support Framework for GPOs
Speaker: Willow Yang, Sam Houston State University
Economically Derived Demand: Using data to explain and forecast demand for your business
Speaker: Eric Starks, FTR Transportation Intelligence
Solving Floptimization Problems in Supply Chain Analytics
Speaker: Zahir Balaporia, Director, Data Management & Decision Sciences
Building Practical Analytics Models for Better Supply Chain Decisions
Speaker: Ehsan Khodabandeh, Decision Spot
Enhancing Resilience and Agility: Toyota’s Optimized Response to Post-Pandemic Supply Chain Challenges
Speaker: Priyanshu Mutreja, Toyota
Technology Showcases
Technology Showcases from participating exhibitors are 50-minute, theater-style sessions that provide educational information and case studies on relevant analytics concepts using their products and services.
