Zondre Watson

Operations Executive Applying AI to Multi-Unit Retail

I manage technology and analytics across $12M in revenue and 21+ retail locations. Six months ago, I started systematically integrating AI into operations. The results have changed how I think about efficiency.

What I've Built

Automated Inventory Intelligence (Zondrix) AI-assisted ordering system that reduced PO sizes by 75% while improving availability. The breakthrough: solving "hidden demand" where velocity calculations fail during stockouts. The system accounts for suppressed demand with seasonality adjustments revealing 94% variance in certain categories.

Multi-Source Data Workflows Systematic processes handling 445,000+ SKUs across platforms. ChatGPT consolidates raw data from Lightspeed POS and Cin7; Claude handles deeper analysis. This powers quarterly reporting and vendor optimization.

Published Thought Leadership XBIZ Magazine case studies on AI implementation with measurable ROI—practitioner perspectives, not theory.

Skills Demonstrated

Prompt Engineering (8.0/10) The skill isn't clever prompts—it's structuring problems so AI can help. Context about constraints, output formats for existing workflows, built-in validation. Front-loading context makes the difference.

Critical Evaluation (7.5/10) AI amplifies domain expertise. I catch mathematical errors and assumptions that would undermine credibility. Skeptical verification is non-negotiable for stakeholder outputs.

Practical Application (8.5/10) The multiplier isn't speed—it's iteration capacity. A 75-slide presentation drafted in hours instead of weeks, leaving time for strategic thinking.

Technical Understanding (7.0/10) Model selection matters: Perplexity for cited research, Claude for reasoning depth, ChatGPT for flexibility. Wrong tool = mediocre results.

Workflow Design (7.0/10) Moving from tool proficiency to integrated workflows. Value isn't single interactions—it's chaining capabilities into systems.

Development Focus

Building sophisticated multi-step automations and expanding into agentic workflows—orchestrating AI interactions programmatically.

Honest Assessment

Top quartile of AI practitioners, reaching in 6 months what typically takes 12-18. The differentiator: systematic application to real problems with measurable outcomes. Using my current role as a paid laboratory for AI capabilities.

Background

25+ years in retail operations. MBA in E-Business. GM of Technology & Analytics. XBIZ Retail Executive of the Year and Buyer of the Year nominee. Published in XBIZ Magazine.

Zondre Watson is a General Manager of Technology & Analytics with 25+ years in retail operations, now six months into a systematic AI transformation that's already reshaping how he runs 21+ locations.

He builds production systems, not experiments—an AI-assisted ordering tool that solved hidden demand problems traditional velocity calculations miss, multi-source data workflows handling hundreds of thousands of SKUs, and structured processes that compress 40-hour projects into single-digit hours. His approach combines rigorous verification with genuine builder instincts: he catches the errors that would undermine credibility while shipping tools that deliver measurable ROI.

With published case studies in XBIZ Magazine and active development of commercial applications, he's turning operational expertise into scalable AI infrastructure.