CONSULTING
My Consulting Philosophy
I believe in fostering collaborative partnerships and delivering tailored solutions. By actively listening to clients, I gain deep insights into their unique challenges, enabling me to provide strategic guidance and actionable recommendations. I prioritize open communication, integrity, and continuous learning to ensure sustainable growth and success for both clients and myself.
Consulting - Case Example
Enhancing Fruit Supply and Price Forecasting in the Southeast Asia Fruit Market
Executive Summary
My team was engaged by a global food production and packaging company to address a significant challenge they faced in the Southeast Asia fruit market, specifically in Thailand. The client's business revolved around processing, packaging, and canning fresh fruits for distribution in major supermarket chains worldwide. However, due to legacy laws, all companies operating in Thailand lacked their own plantations, resulting in limited control over fruit production and pricing. As a result, the client approached us to develop algorithmic tools to accurately forecast fruit supply and prices in Thailand.
Objective
Forecast the supply and price of pineapple in Thailand
Client
One of the world's largest food producing and packaging companies
Problem Statements
Lack of Control over Fruit Supply and Pricing
Due to legacy laws in Thailand, the supply of fruit comes from a free market where fruit is purchased from local farmers. This lack of control over supply and pricing posed challenges for the client in ensuring a consistent and stable fruit supply.
Complexity of Global Procurement
The client's global procurement team sourced fruits from multiple countries. Thus, external factors such as currency fluctuations and global market dynamics impacted the viability of purchasing food from Thailand.
Price Volatility and Cyclical Production
When prices are high, farmers would rapidly increase pineapple production. This excess supply would cause prices to crash. Subsequently, farmers would shift to other fruits, resulting in a shortage of pineapples and subsequent price spikes, creating a vicious cycle.
Need for Digitization and Automation
Current methods used for sampling pineapples lacked digitization and automation, leading to inefficiencies and room for human error.
Approach
Development of Forecast Model
Leveraging historical data provided by the client, weather and fruit inventory data from the Thai government, we developed an advanced algorithmic tool to forecast pineapple supply by incorporating external factors, such as currency fluctuations and global procurement strategies, into the forecasting model.
Drone-Based Sampling and Image Recognition
We introduced a digitized and automated sampling process using drones equipped with imaging capabilities. The images captured by drones were analyzed using AI image recognition to count the number of pineapples in the fields accurately. This data was regularly integrated into the forecasting model.
Satellite Imaging and Geospatial Analysis
We collaborated with a satellite imaging firm to acquire and analyze satellite images of major fruit-growing areas in Thailand, estimating the land area used for pineapple cultivation. By combining this data with drone-based density information, we obtained a more robust prediction of pineapple supply in the country.
Results
By implementing our approach, we helped the client to overcome the challenges associated with forecasting fruit supply and prices in the Southeast Asia fruit market, specifically in Thailand.
The developed algorithmic tool provided more accurate and reliable predictions, enabling the client to optimize supply chain management and mitigate the impact of price volatility. The digitization and automation of the sampling process significantly improved the efficiency and accuracy of short-term forecasting. The client was empowered with reliable forecasts, enabling them to optimize supply chain operations, reduce price volatility, and make strategic procurement decisions.
Our approach not only addressed the specific challenges faced by the client in Thailand but also laid the foundation for improved forecasting practices in other markets within the region.
