SAS Gives Retailers Free Analytics to Overcome Disruptions

Retail Resilience in a Pandemic‑Pushed World

When COVID‑19 hit, supply chains froze, warehouses went sideways, and retailers struggled to keep shelves stocked. It was a recipe for chaos—customers waited, frustration rose, and profit margins took a hit.

Enter SAS’s “Retail & CPG Cloud Analytics Quickstart”

Think of it as a 90‑day power‑up kit that comes with no upfront fee. SAS bundles software, data services, and expert guidance to help you:

• Diagnose where demand is flickering out of sync with actual sales
• Fine‑tune inventory levels so you never over‑stock a frozen orange, nor under‑stock a must‑have fashion item
• Predict disruptions faster than a weather alert—so you’re ready to pivot before the next wave of lockdowns or shipping delays

Why It’s a Game‑Changer

The pandemic exposed the fragility of global supply chains. If you can ride the data wave, you’ll not only survive but thrive. SAS’s solution is a no‑cost‑barrier quickstart, meaning retailers can roll it out right now, ride the wave and keep the shelves stocked.

Where It Lives: Microsoft Azure

All of this magic is rolled out as a standard configuration on Microsoft Azure. That means you get the robust cloud infrastructure Azure is known for, plus the tweaked SAS tools tailored for retail and consumer goods.

Bottom line: SAS gives you a plug‑and‑play analytics toolkit that turns data chaos into golden insight, helping you balance supply and demand in a world where print‑on‑demand is no longer a future but a present reality.

Early success for Russian online grocer

The Grocery Game Changer: Utkonos and SAS Team Up

Why Out-of-Stock is a Big Deal

In a world where the pandemic made even grocery shopping feel like a scavenger hunt, shoppers need to know that their favorite stores actually have what they’re craving. Mikhail Tolokonnikov, Utkonos’ chief commercial mastermind, points out that when shelves are empty, customers get annoyed, report delivery hiccups, and sometimes switch to a rival brand—spoiler alert: that hurts the profit margins that are already running on a tightrope.

SAS to the Rescue

Utkonos turned to SAS’s brain‑y product‑substitution tech—think of it as a pantry GPS that instantly spots the best alternate items when the real ones are gone. The cherry on top? A quick‑start program lets the company plug in the solution and start reaping benefits faster than a new wave of supply‑chain tweaks.

What Users Love

• Flexibility – Swap products on the fly without a manual.
• Ease of use – No PhD required; just pick and choose.
• Smart combos – SAS knows the best alternatives.

Numbers That Shine

Get ready for the big numbers: Utkonos anticipates revenue to climb 0.8% and profit margins to see a noticeable bump (tiny margins are like espresso shots—highly valuable). And order fulfilment? Up by a striking 75%. That’s the percentage of carts that actually get the goods shoppers wanted.

The Ultimate Win

“We automated the process, and now we can squash out‑of‑stock problems with SAS’s clever solutions,” Tolokonnikov says. “It made a world of difference from the first wave of the pandemic through to the recovery period.”

Bundle of advanced analytics software

Rock Your Retail Forecast with SAS Cloud Analytics

Ever feel like you’re juggling flaming swords while trying to predict what your customers will buy? SAS Retail & CPG Cloud Analytics Quickstart has got your back. It’s not just about swapping out products smartly; it bundles a whole toolbox: SAS Viya, Visual Forecasting, Intelligent Planning Suite, Intelligent Decisioning, and Visual Data Mining. Every customer gets the full arsenal.

What It Offers, What You Can Pick

• Intelligent Product Substitution – let AI decide by showing you smarter product swaps.
• Data Connectors – pull in real‑time COVID‑19 mobility, immunity, and restriction data automatically.
• Forecasting & Planning Suite – tweak predictions on the fly to keep your shelves stocked perfectly.
• Decisioning Engine – turn insights into instant, actionable orders.
• Machine Learning Toolkit – dive deep into patterns that your human brain might miss.

You’re Not Locked In

After the 90‑day free puff‑around, pick the pieces you actually need to keep. If you’re already a SAS fan, you can safely test the Intelligent Planning Suite in the cloud without spiking up your existing licenses. New to SAS? This pre‑built demand‑planning clutch is the perfect launchpad, especially when market volatility feels like a roller coaster.

Why It Matters Now

Customer habits changed after COVID, and operations agility became the name of the game. “Businesses that use advanced analytics for their post‑pandemic comeback will stand out,” says Andrew Fowkes, Head of Retail Centre of Excellence. “The Microsoft Azure cloud lets you make smarts decisions that drive growth.”

Ready to Get Ahead?

With real‑time connectors and a knack for adjusting inventory fast, your forecast models will stay in sync with the latest consumer vibes. Think of it as having a crystal ball that actually works for sales.

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