The Forecast Whisperer: Secrets of Model Tuning Revealed

Illia Babounikau

Friday 14:55 in Dynamicum

Forecasting can often feel like trying to make sense of unclear patterns—difficult to interpret but rich with potential. This talk clarifies the process, focusing on actionable steps for tuning forecasting models in professional environments where accuracy and performance drive business outcomes.

  1. Defining Clear Business Objectives:

Importance of aligning machine learning efforts with tangible business goals. Scoping forecasting problems and selecting appropriate success metrics.

  1. Data Preparation Techniques:

Cleaning data with a focus on business relevance and systematically enriching it In addition, we show how to tune the model by tuning the data nad the corresponding feature engineering.

  1. Feature Selection and Hyperparameter Tuning:

Advanced feature selection strategies and their impact on model performance. Techniques for identifying impactful features. Best practices for hyperparameter tuning and optimization strategies.

  1. The Role of interpretability and Generative AI in Model Tuning:

Automating feature generation. Hyperparameter optimization techniques using generative AI. model tuning through model interpretation

  1. Real-World Applications and Case Studies:

How Blue Yonder improved retail forecast accuracy. Lessons learned from industry case studies.

  1. Common Pitfalls and Best Practices:

Typical mistakes made during model tuning.

Best practices for ensuring model reliability and relevance. The importance of domain knowledge in successful forecasting.

Conclusion: Whether you are a seasoned data scientist or just starting your forecasting journey, this session will provide you with actionable insights to fine-tune your forecasting models effectively. Expect practical techniques, real-world examples, and expert tips that you can apply immediately. Join us and learn how better forecasts lead to better business decisions.

Illia Babounikau

Dr. Illia Babounikau is an accomplished data scientist with extensive expertise in machine learning and forecasting. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Hamburg University and initially pursued an academic career, focusing on large-scale data analysis and machine learning applications. His contributions have been instrumental in international scientific collaborations, including the CMS experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider and the COMET project at J-PARC.

For the past five years, Dr. Babounikau has been a Data Scientist at Blue Yonder, specializing in developing and fine-tuning advanced forecasting models for retail planning and inventory management. He leads the design and implementation of tailored machine-learning solutions, addressing complex challenges within supply chains across diverse industries.

Dr. Babounikau is passionate about bridging the gap between data science and business strategy, ensuring machine learning models are aligned with business objectives to drive data-informed decision-making.