SRIG 24-78: Investigating the role of AI database system in optimizing inventory management

What was the issue being addressed?

This project addresses the inefficiency of traditional inventory management systems in modern supply chain and e-commerce environments. These systems often use inflexible, rule-based architectures that have difficulty with real-time data processing, demand forecasting, and inventory optimization. They are also limited in handling unstructured data such as customer transcripts, supplier emails, and market reports, which restricts timely insights. Additionally, traditional systems require technical expertise to query data, making access difficult for non-technical users. To solve these issues, the project introduces an AI and NLP-based framework that enables natural language interaction, supports diverse data types, and delivers advanced predictive analytics to enhance operational efficiency and decision-making. 

Provide a brief, lay description of the work undertaken/initiative.

This project focused on creating a smarter inventory management system that helps businesses make better and faster decisions. Traditional systems often require technical skills and cannot easily handle different types of information such as emails or customer feedback. To address this, we built a new system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) so that users can simply type questions in plain language, for example asking "Which products are running low?" and receive accurate answers instantly. The system also predicts future product demand more accurately, helping businesses avoid running out of stock or over-ordering. Overall, the goal was to make inventory management more efficient, user-friendly, and cost-effective. 

What is the expected impact this project will have on the community?

The expected impact of this project on the community is to improve the efficiency and accessibility of inventory management processes, particularly for businesses involved in supply chain and e-commerce operations. By making advanced technologies like AI and natural language processing easier to use, the system enables a wider range of users, including those without technical backgrounds, to make faster and better decisions. This can help businesses reduce waste, lower operational costs, improve customer satisfaction through better product availability, and support more sustainable resource management. Over time, broader adoption of such technologies could lead to stronger, more resilient local economies and encourage innovation in how businesses of all sizes manage their operations.