AI demand‑forecasting tools attract retail interest in Brazil

A developer built an AI system called EventHorizon Demand that uses a LightGBM model trained on seasonal, price and promotion features. Validated on the M5 Walmart dataset, it delivered about a 30% improvement over a seasonal baseline across seven stores. When the system was offered to small Brazilian retailers, generic Instagram messages yielded few replies, but personalized outreach based on public Google Maps complaints generated a handful of interested contacts, though no contracts were signed yet.

At the same time, firms are deploying AI to anticipate consumption spikes during major events such as the World Cup, Olympics and large concerts. Fernando Murad, COO of StaryaAI, says the technology “transforms large volumes of data into decisions,” helping businesses cut waste, optimise inventory and plan logistics. International studies show such events can raise food and beverage spending by 32% and delivery use by 28%, with global beer demand increasing by over a billion pints, underscoring the commercial appeal of AI‑driven demand forecasting.