Finalist papers showcase advanced analytics and optimization techniques in operations research, suggesting improved efficiency.
The judges for the 2024 Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in the Practice of Advanced Analytics and Operations Research selected the four finalist papers featured in this special issue of the INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics. The prestigious Wagner Prize—awarded for achievement in implemented operations research, management science, and advanced analytics—emphasizes the quality and originality of mathematical models along with the clarity of written and oral exposition. This year’s winning application describes a decision support system that integrates optimization techniques and machine learning algorithms to determine the product assortment at front distribution centers (from which delivery operations are managed) and daily inventory allocations from regional distribution centers to front distribution centers across JD.com’s network in China and thus, substantially enhance order fulfillment efficiency and reduce inventory and transfer costs. The remaining three papers describe iHeartMedia’s use of mathematical optimization, song metadata, predictive analytics around song performance, and radio listenership data to create music playlists; the development of a zoning system for Ninja Van to enhance last-mile delivery efficiency and boost customer satisfaction; and the use of signature transforms to predict freight transportation marketplace rates for Amazon trucking operations.
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Cochran et al. (2025) studied this question.
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