American retail giant Lowe’s operates a chain of over 1700 stores, .com, and app in the US and is the second-largest hardware chain in the world, trailing behind Home Depot. 

With its Global Capability Centre in Bengaluru, Lowe’s India boasts a robust team of over 4,000 members who deliver exceptional service to 17 million plus customers. To make this possible, data plays an important role, particularly in the retail industry, where it is vital for decision-making processes such as search, product recommendations, inventory management, supply chain operations, and demand forecasting. 

And the data science team at Lowe’s India are at the forefront of this.  

The Data, Analytics, & Computational Intelligence (DACI) team at Lowe’s supports the company’s global business endeavours by delivering prompt, relevant, and profoundly actionable data, analytics, and cutting-edge analytic services and solutions.

“Some of the key areas of innovation by the DACI team include computer vision applications, homegrown machine learning platform and many operational and enterprise analytics insights,” said Amit Kapur, Vice President, Data & ML Platforms and Data Governance in an exclusive interaction with AIM. 

The DACI team is divided into ‘products’ and ‘platforms’ teams, spread across the US and India. The DACI platforms team is heavily led from India comprising over 300 members including all levels of data engineers, software engineers, data analysts, and data scientists.

For instance, the merchandising teams have harnessed data insights provided by the DACI team to elevate and optimise their sourcing strategies. Moreover, the Stores teams at Lowe’s are leveraging the computer vision platform developed by the data science team, bolstering customer service and boosting productivity. Additionally, the marketing teams have devised customer lifetime value models, enabling them to gain deeper insights into customers and target them more effectively. The finance team employs machine learning models to forecast tax codes, thereby enhancing accuracy and efficiency in tax-related operations.

Currently, DACI has over ten open positions for data scientists in Bangalore. These roles require a range of experience levels, from four to fifteen years.

Interview Process

The data science hiring process involves resume screening to assess qualifications, followed by a technical assessment to evaluate proficiency and problem-solving skills. A deep-tech interview focuses on algorithmic problem-solving, communication, and analytical thinking. 

The final round determines a candidate’s fit by assessing their ability to communicate clearly, solve problems efficiently, and demonstrate the business impact of their work. Aligning contributions with strategic goals provides an advantage, especially at senior levels.

Some common key result areas include technical proficiency, machine learning algorithms, data visualisation, statistical and mathematical aptitude, and relevant experience in the retail industry. 

“Given that Lowe’s is a home improvement retailer, candidates with expertise in data analysis and exploration, particularly in the retail sector, have a competitive edge,” added Kapur. 

Expectations

Meanwhile, the data science team at Lowe’s requires a range of skills including proficiency in machine learning algorithms, statistical analysis, problem-solving approaches, strong Python coding skills, and data visualisation. 

In terms of technology capabilities, the team utilises ML/AI, deep learning, clustering, time series forecasting, Python, SQL, linear regression, and statistical modeling. They employ various tools, applications, and frameworks such as Python, ETL (Extract, Transform, Load), Scikit-learn for machine learning algorithms, ML Flow, KubeFlow, Feast, and Explainable AI to support their work.

Additionally, Lowe’s values an innovation mindset, encouraging creative thinking and continuous improvement for the benefit of our customers and associates. 

Kapur points out that one of the common mistakes often make the mistake of overly emphasising theoretical knowledge during interviews instead of demonstrating the practical application of skills to real-world problems. Candidates should highlight past projects, explaining their approach, techniques used, and achieved results. 

“Especially at senior levels, it is important to quantify the business impact of their work. Candidates who can articulate how their work will contribute to the company’s strategic goals and can communicate their findings in a clear and concise manner will have a significant advantage during the interview process,” Kapur commented. 

Work Culture

Lowe’s takes pride in its unique work culture, where associates are driven by core values like customer focus, courage, action, results, and continuous learning. Trust, respect, empathy, and agility form the foundation of the organisation. 

“Our people policies and benefits are inclusive and are designed to ensure we have a diverse talent pool. Currently, our gender ratio is at 33% – much ahead of the industry” said Kapur. 

Special perks at Lowe’s include ESOP, insurance, workcations, wellness programs, parental support, and skill development training, among others. 

“If you’re driven, eager to learn, and can solve complex problems at scale, Lowe’s offers the perfect opportunity to shape the future of omnichannel retail,” concluded Kapur. 

Click here to check out their careers page. 

Read more: Data Science Hiring Process at Mastercard