About Me
Yves R. Sagaert is head of the research group of Predictive AI and Digital Shift at VIVES University of Applied Sciences in Belgium and director of Belgium’s Forecasting Society, BELFORS. He is a researcher at KU Leuven and an Adjunct Professor at the IÉSEG School of Management in Lille (France). He strives to integrate business forecasting with real-world decisions and constraints, bringing forecast models closer to their cost impact. His research focuses on incorporating market intelligence in demand forecasting through leading indicators and the effects on supply chain management, and especially on the presence of limited historical business data. His expertise lies in supply chain management, leading indicators, business forecasting, inventory, variable selection, and shrinkage methods.
Research interests
Demand Forecasting with Leading Indicators
It's better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret. Map out your future path - but do it in pencil.
My main research focus is on demand forecasting for supply chain management. Here, traditional models typically extraploate historical demand data to forecast future expected demand. However, external events can have a big impact. The business setting is getting more volatile and the impact of external events is increasing. I research how to extend the traditional approach with Leading Indicators. While there is a lot of external data available, the question arises how to select and include this information in a statistical forecasting model which isn’t a black box. This model should be comprehensive and transparent, so that business users can understand the contribution of each piece of information.
In the press
International Institue of Forecasters
The IIF is an organisation with forecasting researchers from all around the world who are operating in business or academia. The IIF releases the academic journal International Journal of Forecasting (IJF), as well as a more business-oriented journal Foresight: The International Journal of Applied Forecasting. I gave an interview as a forecasting member of the IJF, which can be found online.
KennisWest: Impact with Applied AI research
I gave an interview on how applied research can help SMEs and what the impact can be on the production floor. The article is available in NL or EN.
Experience
Bringing innovation closer
I focus on applied research on predictive analytics with machine learning \& AI (e.g. sales forecasting, student learning forecasting). I am leading my research group at VIVES and together we aim to bring innovative predictive AI closer to practice. Next to this comes project management of internal and external projects, obtaining grants, lecturing, supervising bachelor/master theses and mentoring PhD students.
Teaching the next generation of professionals
I collaborate on research with a focus on inventory management and supply chain management. Next to my research collaboration, I teach algorithmic thinking and artificial intelligence algorithms using Python.
Arcelor Mittal
Strategic Innovation Manager for Harbour & Railway
2017 - 2020
belgium.arcelormittal.com
I optimised logistic routing and inventory management and I had a focus on innovation via big data & analytics. I was leading several internal innovation projects and creating a strategic vision to deploy self-driving trains in the next decade.
I provide executive training, design and teach forecasting courses to professionals in retail and Business-to-Business. Back in these days, I started up the Big Data pillar within the company. My main focus was on research interactions with global supply chain managers and the start-up of new R&D team to valorise my PhD research.
Education
Ghent University
Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
2013 - 2017
Improving accuracy and robustness of global tactical sales forecasts in a B2B environment
I developed a framework to improve sales forecasts by including the most relevant external information, such as weather, promotions and market leading indicators in addition to the historical structure
Ghent University
Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
2011 - 2013
Enhancing sales forecasts through the use of adequate exogenous indicators: A case study
Howest University of Applied Sciences
Master of Science in Electrotechnics and Automation
2007 - 2011
Optimisation of Profibus network at Cargill Izegem
When I am not forecasting
I love gardening, cooking and woodworking.