BIG delves deeper into digital transformation via experiential learning

Last semester, students in the Business Intelligence Group (BIG), the student consultancy group affiliated with Associate Professor Yoo-Seong Song's Applied Business Research class (IS 514), worked with Wismettac, a Japanese food distribution company. As a large global company with 47 offices in North America, Wismettac sought to study how data science and AI-based technologies could help the company's operations. 

Four teams of BIG student consultants worked on two projects for the company: 

  • Automating its HR onboarding process using GenAI-powered chatbots.
  • Developing better inventory management strategies via demand forecasting. 

According to Song, once Wismettac provided documentation in a variety of formats in Japanese, two teams investigated several options and created prototypes. Both teams developed prototypes that met Wismettac's business goals and technology requirements. Additionally, the other two teams accessed the company's historical sales data and recommended demand forecasting models for inventory management. 

IS 514 offers students the opportunity to translate their classroom knowledge into real-world situations. However, sometimes these situations require more than technical skills, Song noted.

BIG_Fall 2024
Business Intelligence Group (BIG) student consultants with Associate Professor Yoo-Seong Song


"In real-world situations, there are many unknowns and challenges that constantly arise throughout the process, and thus problem-solving and risk management skills play crucial roles in successful technology project management. I am very proud of our students for demonstrating professional maturity while dealing with uncertainty and sometimes frustration," he said.

MSIM student Dhairya Parikh led one of the teams as a senior consultant. His team of seven students developed a demand forecasting model to optimize Wismettac’s inventory management. 

"BIG has been an invaluable learning opportunity, combining academic knowledge with hands-on consulting experience. Working with real-world clients strengthened my technical, analytical, and consulting skills, preparing me for industry challenges," said Parikh. "Professor Yoo-Seong Song’s mentorship has been truly inspiring, pushing us to think critically and solve impactful problems."

Wismettac and BIG teams worked closely together from the beginning of the projects to the end. This led to solutions that satisfied the company, said Song. 

"BIG has been very impressive in the amount of creativity to think outside of the box with the latest technology (e.g., the metaverse) to solve current problems in healthcare. Problem-solving is a key skill set that the BIG students are not only learning with real-world projects but also working towards advanced problem-solving with subject matter experts across various industries," said Wataru Uehara, manager of digital IT at Wismettac.

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