Case Study: AI-Powered Inventory Optimization at Nissan

Challenge:
During my tenure as a Product Manager at Nissan, I discovered through dialogues with Parts Managers and staff that dealerships faced challenges managing both excess and insufficient inventory. The situation resulted in higher expenses and reduced customer satisfaction because parts were frequently unavailable and delivery times were delayed.

Discovery:
Data analysis and stakeholder discussions revealed that the parts ordering process suffered from inefficiency due to regular mismatches between supply and demand. Dealers and warehouse staff, among other stakeholders, stressed the importance of developing a smart inventory management solution capable of adjusting to market fluctuations.

Solution Development:
My analysis of the parts ordering lifecycle included mapping every step and pinpointing the main stakeholders involved. The engineering and development teams worked with me to reach a consenus to integrate Nissan's Dealer Business System (DBS) with Cox Automotive's AI-powered vAuto system. The integration system used real-time and historical data as well as AI predictive analytics to maintain optimal inventory levels. Leadership gave their approval to our plan, which opened the path for development.

Execution:
I worked together with the UX/UI design team to build the first prototype for our integrated system. Our team performed user testing sessions involving existing clients as well as potential clients to obtain feedback. The input served as a lifeline for me and the engineering team, who used it to adjust features for better usability and customer fit, which led to successful implementation.

Impact:

• Our implementation achieved substantial user adoption as 15 new clients began using the DBS with the AI feature.

• Our services gained strong customer commitment as four existing clients decided to prolong their contracts with us.

Business Results:

• Increased annual revenue by $5 million through improved operational efficiencies.

• Successfully implemented predictive AI and integrated the AWS cloud platform, onboarding 50 user-dealerships.

Reflection:
The evidence from this case illustrates how working together between product management teams alongside engineering and design teams produces powerful solutions. We improved both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction through innovative solutions to customer challenges and achieved substantial business growth. Through this experience, I discovered that aligning project development with stakeholder needs and maintaining their continuous engagement produces successful product outcomes.