Bio:

Felix Weber is a PhD student at the Chair of Business Informatics and Integrated Information Systems with a research focus on Digitization, Artificial Intelligence, Price, Promotion, Assortment and Transformation Management. He was head of the SAP University Innovation Lab at the University of Duisburg-Essen and at the same time consultant for SAP systems in the domain of trade (retail) at Consenso Consulting GmbH. Thus, he combined current practice with scientific research in these areas.
Following the activities with SAP ERP he joined Panther Pricing, a startup for price optimization for retail, as a Head of Data Science and Platform. Currently he is Head of New ERP at Newwork and works on the Enterprise Software of the future.

Curriculum Vitae:

Since February 2017: Research Assistant/Ph.D. candidate at the Chair of Business Informatics and Integrated Information Systems at the University of Duisburg-Essen by Prof. Dr. Reinhard Schütte

December 2015 – January 2017: Research Aide at the Chair of Business Informatics and Integrated Information Systems at the University of Duisburg-Essen by Prof. Dr. Reinhard Schütte

January 2015 – January 2017: Studies of Business Informatics (M. Sc.) at the University of Duisburg-Essen

April 2014 – December 2015: Working student at the department of mobile solution management at SHS VIVEON AG in Düsseldorf

October 2011 – January 2015: Studies of Business Informatics (B. Sc.) at the University of Duisburg-Essen

Fields of Research:

• Preis-, Sortiments-, Promotion-Management 
• Transformationsmanagement
• Projektmanagement

Publications:

• Weber, F.; Schütte, R.: Simultanes Dynamic Pricing und Placement im Omni-Channel-Handel. In: Butzer-Strothmann, K. (Ed.): Integriertes Online-und Offline-Channel-Marketing. Springer Gabler, Wiesbaden 2022. doi:10.1007/978-3-658-38048-9_10CitationAbstractDetails

  

  Die Entscheidungen im Marketingmix und besonders jene über Preis und Platzierung waren im Handel stets von enormer Bedeutung, aber bisher wenig automatisiert oder datengetrieben. Dies liegt darin begründet, dass es bisher keine Notwendigkeit dafür gab und ein Mangel an informationstechnischen Möglichkeiten limitierend wirkte. Aufgrund der zunehmenden Online-Affinität der Kunden und der dort nun schon seit einigen Jahren zu beobachtenden Preisvariationen hat sich dort ein anderes Preisgeschehen etabliert. Die vorgestellte Fallstudie zeigt auf, wie bisher nicht verfügbare Daten erfasst und genutzt werden können, um mit der Verknüpfung der Variablen Preis und Platzierung neuartige Entscheidungen zu treffen. Dennoch bleiben die Komplexität und Menge an Entscheidungen im Single-Channel-Handel auf wenige Entscheidungen begrenzt. Sobald nun aber mehrere Kanäle im Omni-Channel …

• Schütte, R.; Weber, F.: Handelsunternehmen 4.0 - Digitalisierung durch Daten, Plattformen und Künstliche Intelligenz. In: Bruhn, M.; Hadwich, K. (Ed.): Künstliche Intelligenz im Dienstleistungsmanagement Band 1: Geschäftsmodelle – Serviceinnovationen – Implementierung. Springer Fachmedien, Wiesbaden 2021. doi:10.1007/978-3-658-34324-8_17Full textCitationDetails

  

• Weber, F.; Schütte, R.: Digitalisierung von Handelsunternehmen – diskutiert am Beispiel der Preispolitik. In: Wirtschaftsinformatik & Management volume , Vol 13 (2021) No 1, p. 144-153. doi:10.1365/s35764-020-00312-9Full textCitationDetails

  

• Weber, F.: Digital Technologies in Wholesaling and Retailing. In: Khosrow-Pour, M. (Ed.): Encyclopedia of Organizational Knowledge, Administration, and Technology. IGI Global, Pennsylvania, USA 2020, p. 90. doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-3473-1Full textCitationAbstractDetails

  

  The ever increasing intra- and inter-competition, increased costs and a lower differentiation margin have led to intense competitive pressures within the domains of wholesaling and retailing. At the same time the increasing digitization due to technological innovation will radical change the economical and procedural fundamentals. In addition, from an entrepreneurial point of view, it must also be considered that the complexity of decision-relevant framework conditions has increased. Digitalisation is therefore to be seen as an essential driver for optimising business processes and as the basis for a new understanding of products and services. However, it cannot be considered independently of other social trends. The chapter will elaborate the underlying drivers and technological trends empowering the transformation processes within the domain of wholesaling and reailing. Starting from these major drivers we will scrutinize the impact of technological advancements and the opportunities, risks and constraints which are connected with it.

• Schütte, R.; Weber, F.: Big-Data und Echtzeitverarbeitung in Handelsunternehmen – Betriebswirtschaftliche Einsatzfelder zur Optimierung von Aufgaben und Entscheidungen. In: Steven, M.; Klünder, T. (Ed.): Big Data Anwendung und Nutzungspotenziale in der Produktion. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2020. Full textCitationDetails

  

• Weber, F.: RPA in der IT-Abteilung - Automatisierung entlastet die IT. In: CIO (2019). Full textCitationDetails

  

• Weber, F.; Schütte, R.: Markdown Optimization—A Taxonomy and Realization of the Economic Decision Problem. In: Silhavy, R.; Silhavy, P.; Prokopova, Z. (Ed.): Intelligent Systems Applications in Software Engineering. CoMeSySo 2019 2019. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing. Springer, Cham, Berlin 2019, p. 449-460. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-30329-7_40Full textCitationDetails
• Weber, F.: Using Growing Neural Gas Networks for Clustering of Web Data as a Foundation for Marketing Automation in Brick-and-Mortar Retailing. In: Silhavy, R.; Silhavy, P.; Prokopova, Z. (Ed.): Intelligent Systems Applications in Software Engineering. CoMeSySo 2019 2019. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing. Springer, Cham 2019, p. 13-27. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-30329-7_2Full textCitationDetails

  

• Weber, F.: SAP Data Warehouse Cloud - Data Warehouse als Hybrid-Cloud-Service. In: Computerwoche (2019). Full textCitationDetails
• Weber, F.; Schütte, R.: State-of-the-art and adoption of artificial intelligence in retailing. In: Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, Vol 21 (2019) No 3, p. 264-279. doi:10.1108/DPRG-09-2018-0050Full textCitationDetails
• Weber, F.: Streaming Analytics—Real-Time Customer Satisfaction in Brick-and-Mortar Retailing. In: Silhavy, R. (Ed.): Cybernetics and Automation Control Theory Methods in Intelligent Algorithms. CSOC 2019. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing,. Springer, Berlin 2019. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-19813-8_6Full textCitationDetails
• Kari, M.; Weber, F.; Schütte, R.: Datengetriebene Entscheidungsfindung aus strategischer und operativer Perspektive im Handel. In: HMD, Vol 56 (2019) No 5, p. 914-931. doi:10.1365/s40702-019-00530-9Full textCitationAbstractDetails

  Mit der digitalisierungsbedingten Zunahme kontinuierlich erfasster Massendaten aus unterschiedlichsten Quellen entsteht die Hoffnung, einen besseren Zugang als je zuvor zur Realität zu erhalten. Angesichts des Big-Data-Phänomens stellt sich dabei für Handelsunternehmen die Frage, welche unternehmensweite Datenstrategie es zu verfolgen gilt. Dazu liefert der folgende Beitrag anhand eines Frameworks eine sachlogische Struktur für eine unternehmensweite Datenstrategie. Für jedes aufgezeigte Strategiefeld dieses Frameworks sind dabei Basisentscheidungen zu treffen, die die nötigen Voraussetzungen zur Nutzung von Daten für erfolgreiche Einzelprojekte als auch die erfolgreiche Eingliederung datengetriebener Aktivitäten in Standardprozesse schaffen. Neben der Datenstrategie wird auch der realisierbare betriebswirtschaftliche Beitrag für Einzelhändler anhand einer Fallstudie entfaltet. Dazu wird auf das Handelsmarketing und den Marketing-Mix als zentrales Konzept, und seit jeher eines der wichtigsten Tätigkeitsfelder im Einzelhandel, zur Aufstellung einer datengetriebenen Entscheidungsphänomenologie zurückgegriffen. Als Antwort auf die Frage, welche Datenstrategie angesichts von Big Data von einem Einzelhändler zu verfolgen ist, wurden verschiedene Teilbereiche identifiziert und Maßnahmen innerhalb dieser ausgearbeitet. Es wurde gezeigt, dass integrierte und kohärente Maßnahmen auf organisationaler und technologischer Ebene für die Sammlung, Speicherung, Verarbeitung, Verwendung, Steuerung und Transformation von Big Data im Unternehmen nötig sind. Mit Erfüllung der notwendigen Vorrausetzungen für Big Data im Rahmen der Datenstrategie ist es dabei möglich nicht nur die hier aufgezeigte Absatzseite der Unternehmung zu optimieren, sondern auch die tiefgreifende Integration der verschiedenen Prozessbereiche im Handelsunternehmen abzubilden.

• Weber, F.; Schütte, R.: Digital Technologies for Pricing Problems - A case study on increasing the level of digitization at a leading German retail company. In: Iiis (Ed.): Proceedings of The 10th International Multi-Conference on Complexity, Informatics and Cybernetics 2019 - Volume 2. Orlando, Florida, USA 2019, p. 189-196. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.18730.47042CitationDetails
• Weber, F.; Schütte, R.: A Domain-Oriented Analysis of the Impact of Machine Learning—The Case of Retailing. In: Big Data Cognitive Computing, Vol 2019 (2019) No 3. doi:10.3390/bdcc3010011Full textCitationAbstractDetails

  Information technologies in general and artifical intelligence (AI) in particular try to shift operational task away from a human actor. Machine learning (ML) is a discipline within AI that deals with learning improvement based on data. Subsequently, retailing and wholesaling, which are known for their high proportion of human work and at the same time low profit margins, can be regarded as a natural fit for the application of AI and ML tools. This article examines the current prevalence of the use of machine learning in the industry. The paper uses two disparate approaches to identify the scientific and practical state-of-the-art within the domain: a literature review on the major scientific databases and an empirical study of the 10 largest international retail companies and their adoption of ML technologies in the domain are combined with each other. This text does not present a prototype using machine learning techniques. Instead of a consideration and comparison of the particular algorythms and approaches, the underling problems and operational tasks that are elementary for the specific domain are identified. Based on a comprehensive literature review the main problem types that ML can serve, and the associated ML techniques, are evaluated. An empirical study of the 10 largest retail companies and their ML adoption shows that the practical market adoption is highly variable. The pioneers have extensively integrated applications into everyday business, while others only show a small set of early prototypes. However, some others show neither active use nor efforts to apply such a technology. Following this, a structured approach is taken to analyze the value-adding core processes of retail companies. The current scientific and practical application scenarios and possibilities are illustrated in detail. In summary, there are numerous possible applications in all areas. In particular, in areas where future forecasts and predictions are needed (like marketing or replenishment), the use of ML today is both scientifically and practically highly developed.

• Schütte, R.; Weber, F. (Ed.): Special Issue "Artificial Intelligence in Customer-Facing Industries" - A special issue of AI, MDPI, (ISSN: 2673-2688). CitationDetails

Talks:

• Weber, F.; Schütte, R.: Digital Technologies for Pricing Problems - A case study on increasing the level of digitization at a leading German retail company, The 10th International Multi-Conference on Complexity, Informatics and Cybernetics, 15.03.2019, Orlando, Florida, USA. Details
• Weber, F.: Streaming Analytics for Real-Time Customer Sentiment Determination and Reporting for Brick-and-Mortar Retailers, 2018 CMU Conference on Digital Marketing and Machine Learning, 09.12.2018, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Details
• Weber, F.: Einsatz von Big-Data-Technologie zur Optimierung des Preismanagements im Einzelhandel, TDWI Konferenz, 26.06.2018, München. Details

Courses:

• Enterprise Transformation

Tutored Theses:

• Influence of corporate culture on enterprise transformations - discussed at the example of digital transformation (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Transformation of music industry - Research on Blockchain's disruptive character (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Potential Benefits of Big Data Analytics inside the pharmaceuticals industry (Bachelor Thesis 0)
• Impact of digitization on existing value chains in the automotive industry (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Promotion Management in food retailing - key figures an measurement of the efficiency of a Promotion (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Impact of different architetures on the process quality of Omni-Channel processes in retail (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Impactd of Digitization of Sales - Illustrated on the Basis of the Phases of the Sales Process in the Consumer Goods Industry (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Infrastructure-as-a-Service - Challenges to the Organization of the IT-Management (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Potential Benefits of Big Data Analytics within the Aviation Industry (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Development of a Reference Model for a Business Transformation triggert by the Digitization (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Potentiales and Challenges of Big Data Analyses - outlined in the topic of Point of Sales Scanning Data (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• The Challenge of Implementing Omni-Channel-Processes with existing System Architectures (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Using Big Data solutions - technological and entrepreneurial prerequisites (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Prerequisites for an enterprise transformation triggered by a corporate merger - Consideration form an IT based perspective (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Potential Benefits of Big Dara Analytics inside the financial industry (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Critical discourse of the success criteria of an ERP-System Implementation (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Digitalization in the automotive industry - influence on existing business models (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Chances and challenges of the digitalization in Churn Management - Analysis of Big Data and Internet of Things (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Digitalization in the energy industry - influence on existing business models (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Opportunities and challenges of the digitalization in marketing - discussed at the example of textil retailers (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Chances and risks of mobile payment for the stationary retail in Germany (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Use of forecasting methods for forecasting the sales in pharmaceutical companies (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Effects of digitalization on mechatronic products – Analysis of the product development process (Master Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Opportunities and Challenges of Using an IT Service Cataloge - Focusing on the Integration in a Software Application (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Price Differentiation in Grocery Retailing - Investigation of the Characteristics and the IT implementation (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Challenges for IT provider management when using cloud services (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Opportunities and Challenges through the use of Chatbots (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Use of Big Data Technologies for Price Management - Discussed using at the example of Price Differentiation (Master Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Digitization of test management in the automotive industry - Evaluation of alternative technologies and their prototypical implementation (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Effects of Digitalisation on Trade Marketing - big data analyses within the marketing mix framework (Master Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Use of Big Data Technologies for Price Management - Discussed using at the example of Price Differentiation (Master Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Digitization of test management in the automotive industry - Evaluation of alternative technologies and their prototypical implementation (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Eine literaturbasierte Analyse zur Wirkung und Nutzen von IT-Systemen im Preismanagement (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Dynamic pricing in retail - Evaluation of theoretical approaches and their prototypical implementation (Master Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Preisdifferenzierung im Handel - Evaluation von praktischen und theoretischen Lösungsansätzen (Master Thesis Business Administration)
• Potentials and Challenges of Marketing Automation - A Domain-Oriented Analysis for Retail Companies (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Use of Mobile Learning in University Education - A Prototypical Implementation (Master Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Profile building of retail customers - based on data from different interaction channels (Master Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Application Scenarios of Augmented Reality in Stationary Retail - Prototypical Implementation of an App-Based Application (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Application scenarios of image recognition in stationary retail - Discussed and prototypically applied based on methods of machine learning (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• State-of-the-art analysis of the opportunities and challenges of cloud-based omnichannel systems (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• The performance of modern IT architectures for analyzing sales data (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems) AbstractDetails

  Der hier vorgeschlagene Titel soll lediglich eine inhaltliche Anregung darstellen. Die Spezifizierung erfolgt in Rücksprache mit dem jeweiligen Betreuer. Eine Ausarbeitung ist wahlweise in deutscher oder englischer Sprache möglich.

• Digitization of test management in the automotive industry - Evaluation of alternative technologies and their prototypical implementation (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Analysis of influencing factors in the price management of e-commerce - consideration of social media and user-generated content as prototypical implementation (Bachelor Thesis Computer Science)
• Aspect-based sentiment analysis of hotel reviews - implementation and evaluation of a German-language classification model (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)
• Preisdifferenzierung im Handel - Evaluation von praktischen und theoretischen Lösungsansätzen (Bachelor Thesis Business Administration)
• Optimization use cases for Machine Learning – discussed and implemented for an application in the tourism industry optimizing cost spending (Bachelor Thesis Business Information Systems)