Supply Chain: One-Click Tracking Cuts Delays at Lowe's

Inventory tracking at Lowe's now requires a single click rather than hours of manual searching.

Nikita Kirane, a senior analyst in the supply chain domain, helped deploy the new system. The software allows employees to locate specific items across the company's entire store network instantly. Previously, staff members had to search through multiple Excel spreadsheets and contact various colleagues to find a product. That older method consumed significant staff time and slowed down operations.

The new tool also corrected a major issue with appliance deliveries. Customers often received estimated delivery dates for items that were already in stock. The system now identifies these discrepancies. It found more than 122,000 orders that could have been delivered eight days earlier on average. This change has drastically improved fulfillment times for the retailer.

Kirane earned her M.S. in Information Systems at Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business. She completed the one-and-a-half-year program in 2020. During her studies, she focused on database management, Python programming, data visualization, and machine learning algorithms. She also built communication skills through class projects. Kirane said she chose the program because it mixed business and technical courses and required an internship for practical experience.

Kirane interned with UPS in the fall of 2020. She conducted performance measurement and analytics during that role. After the internship ended, UPS offered her a full-time position as an advanced analytics supervisor. She described herself as fortunate to secure the internship during a period when many people struggled to find work. She later moved to Lowe's, where she now serves as a senior analyst.

The system Kirane and her team deployed is used by regional distribution managers, company executives, and other decision-makers in the supply chain. Kirane noted that the tech industry requires constant upskilling to stay relevant. She stated that there is always something new in the field, making continuous learning a current challenge for professionals.