Armin Kakas

Revify Analytics

Revify helps mid-market businesses ($10MM - $2B) move from data overload to profitable action. Our RGM-as-a-Service combines accessible, advanced analytics with expert Pricing & Revenue Growth Management advisory, providing a clear roadmap to unlock hidden margin leaks and drive revenue growth without enterprise-level complexity or cost.

Co-Founder

Revology Analytics

Revology Analytics is at the intersection of Advanced Analytics and Revenue Growth Management and specializes in impact and execution. If profitable growth, EBITDA expansion, and higher valuations are your goals, our strategies can help you achieve them.

We help mid-market companies ($10 million to $1 billion in revenues) overcome hurdles and elevate their business with pragmatic solutions focused on three critical areas:

1. Pricing & Revenue Management

2. Sales & Marketing Enablement

3. Commercial Analytics Transformation

Founder | Managing Partner

Pricing Lever

Consulting Partner for boutique Pricing Strategy advisory firm focused on Industrial Manufacturing and Distribution.

Consulting Partner

EBITDA Catalyst

Consulting partner for a specialized Revenue Management consultancy for middle-market and private equity portfolio companies. My advisory work focuses on three primary areas:

1. Margin Analytics & Optimization: Building 90/10 custom solutions for mid-market firms, primarily Manufacturers and Distributors, who want to augment their decision-making capabilities.

2. Promotion Effectiveness & Optimization: From distributors to retailers, provides crucial expertise to maximize ROI in this critical lever of profitability.

3. Sales & Customer Growth Analytics: Building on all-around analytics chops & deep understanding on the human sales execution factor, enables growth with both insights and Sales teams training & playbook development.

Reliancy

Senior Advisor for leading Sales & Marketing Enablement AI/ML advisory firm.

Senior Advisor - Revenue Growth Analytics

American Tire Distributors

I co-founded, built and scaled ATD’s first ever corporate analytics startup, driving incremental profits, valuation and industry profile for parent company ATD. Reporting to subsidiary CEO, I steered the data monetization strategy and execution of customer-facing ML-enabled SaaS solutions, growing the business from 0 to over 2,500 retail locations and manufacturers as customers. Additionally, drove ATD’s analytics transformation by prioritizing and building internal enterprise analytics solutions that augmented organizational decision-making capabilities, shifting the business to a data-driven culture.

A few key accomplishments in this role include:
• Forged key strategic partnerships with 10 of the 15 largest Point-of-Sale (POS) providers in the automotive aftermarket industry. Opened new revenue streams and paved the way for monetization of syndicated, anonymized POS transactional data.
• Led 15-member commercialization team (data translators, business development and sales ops managers) and influenced 50-member technical team to build innovative SaaS solutions that solved key customer pain points in competitive market and pricing insights, inventory management and optimization and profit / sales mix optimization.
• Realized substantial revenue and EBITDA growth for parent company in 3 years after conceptualizing and launching advanced analytics products across supply chain, revenue management and sales. 
• Represented analytics startup at industry conferences and served as trusted advisor and AI-translator to both ATD senior executive team and key clients within tire industry.

Vice President, Advanced Analytics Commercialization: Chief Customer Officer of Analytics Incubator

I was brought on to transition the revenue management function into a data science-driven department. I shifted the department to a Lean framework and expanded pricing capabilities by creating the company’s first in-house machine learning-enabled pricing solution that improved cash flow and liquidity using R, Python and Google Cloud SQL. 

Key accomplishments in this role include:
• Through architecting and deploying clearance price optimization platform, unlocked $300M in liquidity and $15M in gross profits from unproductive inventory despite difficult market.
• Developed and deployed descriptive and diagnostic price and margin analytics dashboards companywide using Tableau.

Director, Advanced Analytics: Head of Pricing and Margin Analytics of $5B Enterprise

Wells Enterprises

Recruited to transform administratively focused pricing team into strategic revenue growth management (RGM) group with analytics and strategy foundation for top 5 manufacturer of frozen desserts. Built RGM function from ground up, delivering volume and profit growth and providing actionable performance insights that optimized decision making. Shapeshifted business strategy and culture by establishing four key capabilities: 1) pay-for-performance mindset for promotions; 2) value-based pricing for private label business; 3) advanced analytics driven pricing architecture; 4) dynamic scenario analyses and optimization.

• Achieved 5% and 3% EBITDA growth in FY16 and FY17 despite relatively flat industry. Employed strategic price increases, restructured rebate programs across all channels, implemented rigorous pricing council reviews, and optimized price pack architecture.
• Brought order to chaotic pricing structure process by selecting team of 8 to create and implement standardized pricing strategy and processes and right size price and product positioning based on perceived price-value maps.
• Drove 13% in total Gross Profit $ in FY16 (+11% in unit volume and +2% in GP$ per unit) for anchor brand via tiered pricing strategy and optimized promotion plans that maximized in-store display and advertising support.
• Orchestrated launch of Tableau server and promotional data warehouse migration in MS Azure. Enabled self-serve descriptive and diagnostic price and margin analytics companywide. 
• Harmonized shipment and sellout data to produce macro- and micro-level promotion effectiveness platform that raised ROI from 80% to 92% in 1.5 years.

Director, Revenue Growth Management: Head of RGM and Advanced Analytics of $2B Consumer Goods Co. 

Best Buy

Accelerated dynamic pricing capabilities as lead of data science team in pricing and merchandising strategy analytics. Masterminded strategy and blueprint for pricing strategy across 1K+ stores. Engineered algorithmic framework to implement dynamic pricing for physical and online stores. Led global team to develop innovative solutions that drove business growth.
•	Designed pricing science roadmap, authored descriptive/predictive analytics capabilities, and directly contributed to the evolution and adoption of human capital/resources.
•	Cut 70% of budget by insourcing strategic planning and implementation function enterprise wide. 
•	Produced 30+bps jump in gross margin after introducing adaptive pricing techniques / capabilities.
•	Won Leadership Award for personal impact based on transformational strategies within pricing function.

Head of Price Analytics & Modeling: Building and Implementing Dynamic Pricing for $50B Retailer

MillerCoors

Collaboratively led a talented, tenured team of analytics professionals responsible for all aspects of revenue management for 500+ distributors and approximately 4k Walmart/Sam’s Club stores.

♦ Drafted an organizational roadmap for retail chain revenue management capabilities. Realized category and margin growth with the use of advanced price analytics.
♦ Successfully delivered unique and specific insights through a combination of integrated data and machine learning methods. Improved the quality and sustainability of newly presented insights.

Manager, Pricing Analytics and Strategy: Head of RGM for $700M Walmart / Sam’s Club Business Unit

GE Capital

♦ June 2011 - June 2012: Sales Force Effectiveness (SFE) Leader
♦ June 2008 - June 2011: Experienced Commercial Leadership Program (ECLP) Participant/Graduate
- 3rd ECLP rotation: Marketing Analytics (GE Capital Retail Consumer Finance - now Synchrony Financial)
- 2nd ECLP rotation: Marketing Analytics & Strategy (Vendor Finance - now part of Wells Fargo)
- 1st ECLP rotation: Price Analytics & Strategy (Equipment Finance - now part of Wells Fargo)
- ECLP Internship: Corporate Finance

Commercial and Consumer Finance Analytics and Strategy (various)

Revenue Growth Analytics advisor to executives in charge of growing Net Revenue, Gross Profit, and Sales Productivity | Posts and articles about Revenue Management + Machine Learning insights, methods, and processes.

As the founder of Revology Analytics, I have the privilege of offering mid-market businesses unparalleled expertise in advanced Revenue Growth Analytics & Management, focusing on three core advisory areas: Pricing & Revenue Management, Sales & Marketing Enablement and Commercial Analytics Transformation efforts. 

Beyond my advisory work, I am the creator of the Revology Analytics Insider, a bi-weekly newsletter offering readers unique insights into the world of Revenue Growth Analytics. You can catch the latest issues on LinkedIn and our website, revologyanalytics.com/articles-insights.

To learn more, please visit revologyanalytics.com

Revology Analytics is a Revenue Growth Analytics consultancy for middle-market companies in the Manufacturing, Retail, and Distribution industries.

We are an impact- and execution-oriented advisory firm founded on Outcome-Based Analytics™, with focused specializations in AI/ML-enabled Margin Analytics & Optimization, Sales & Customer Growth Analytics and Promotion Effectiveness & Optimization.

Ranch House Coffee, LLC

•	Developed & maintained company website utilizing Shopify.
•	Developed business through strategic partnerships with social media influencers & sponsorship of key events that doubled our revenue within 12 months of getting involved.
•	Review KPIs with our founder to assess current business trends & needs to grow our business.
•	Negotiate contracts with suppliers.

Partner

Transtar Industries

• Formulated a comprehensive pricing strategy for the entire range of newly introduced general repair products procured from approximately 35 vendors. This strategy was devised to cater to diverse customer segments, including B2B clients, e-commerce patrons, and customers engaging with our four recently inaugurated brick-and-mortar establishments.

• Effectively navigated prominent online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, and Walmart to establish competitive pricing structures. This involved not only developing pricing models for the freshly launched general repair products but also optimizing the pricing of our existing portfolio to ensure synergy with the established business operations, commonly referred to as the "legacy" business.

Director of Pricing Strategy

Auto Plus Auto Parts

Responsible for leading all pricing functional groups, including but not limited to pricing strategy, price setting, margin reporting, costing control, competitive price gathering, deal desk, product database management, pricing software implementation, price optimization, vendor rebating, customer rebating, promotional pricing, price discounting, and more.

Assistant Vice President of Pricing

Director of Pricing

Navigated the region through the COVID19 pandemic producing positive 2020 results when compared to 2019. Although the pandemic caused increased expenses in relation to safety, cleaning, and payroll due to COVID time allotted to infected team members, positive results were achieved through extensive cost control measures and productivity reporting. Lack of inventory served as a major constraint but was partially overcome by developing new vendor relations with regional suppliers that allowed us access to more inventory. 

•	Payroll controls were focused on proper scheduling for the business needs. KPI’s developed to include a minimum staffing model required per location as well as a more appropriate payroll to sales/margin model to align closer to other automotive aftermarket competition.
•	General expense control regarding store use (excessive use) as well as miscellaneous expenditures that were unnecessary for the business and unprofitable in nature.
•	Increased productivity through extensive reporting showing sales/margin per hour for same positions across the region to increase internal competitiveness for top producer monthly recognition.

Regional Director of Operations

HD Supply Construction & Industrial - White Cap

HD Supply Construction & Industrial - White Cap distributes specialized hardware, tools, engineered materials and safety products to non-residential and residential contractors. Products include tilt-up brace systems, forming and shoring systems, concrete chemicals, hand and power tools, rebar, ladders, safety and fall arrest equipment, specialty screws and fasteners, sealants and adhesives, drainage pipe, geo-synthetics, erosion and sediment control equipment and other engineered materials used broadly across all types of non-residential and residential construction.

Senior Pricing Analyst | Commodities

Icahn Automotive Brands - Auto Plus is a major distributor of automotive aftermarket parts, supporting independently-owned stores and service centers with an extensive inventory of premium parts and tires, as well as automotive consulting expertise.

•	Control pricing for all corporate store locations (300+), 1k+ manufacturers, 3k+ categories, 100+ pricing levels, 400+ pricing matrix's, 150k+ customers operating in 43 states in North America
•	Mergers & acquisitions – current inventory assessment, change over strategies, system change over implementation
•	Margin reporting for various departments including senior leadership
•	Marketing/promotions – customer incentive programs, promotional material selection and approval, reporting, pricing
•	A/R support – new account setup process management, various reporting support & system enhancement recommendations
•	Forensic reporting & analysis for loss prevention & various OSHA reporting support
•	Major accounts, fleet & government channel support
•	Operational support – POS software enhancements, training, and general store operation improvements

Margin Management Manager

Uni-Select Inc.

Uni-Select Auto Plus serves one the most extensive networks of independent distributors of automotive parts and accessories in North America, serving over 3,200 wholesalers from its distribution centers. It also supplies tens of thousands of installers and collision repair shops as well as national and regional accounts and consumers from its corporate store division. With sales approaching $2 billion annually, Uni-Select is a leader in the Canadian market and North America’s 5th largest distributor of replacement parts.

Sr. Margin Analyst

Margin Specialist

•	Responsible for trade payable for 450 corporate store locations with over 500 vendors
•	Reconciled vendor statements
•	Maintained accounting ledgers by verifying and posting account transactions
•	Designed/updated and implemented electronic forms that expedited business processes for various departments & processes within the company
•	Developed year-end RC program that reduced the project from 120 hours to 2 hours through the use of automated tools.
•	Supported implementation of a new document retention program (Hyland OnBase) that scanned invoices and statements for long-term use, including a three-way match requirement for payment within SAP

Accounts Payable Specialist

Derrick Corporation

As a lab tech the primary role of this position was to run analysis on customer product materials on Derrick screening equipment to prove the efficiencies of using Derrick products over those of the competition. Tests were conducted in conjunction with sales and marketing representatives to ensure complete synergies between departments allowing everyone to tailor specific needs to the customer to make the sale. The international customer base in this position allowed exposure to many different cultural challenges while performing business demonstrations and negotiations. One major accomplishment was creating a series of standardized documents with advanced formulas and formatting to allow more accurate and efficient data processing, analysis and presentations.

Laboratory Technician

Experienced Assistant Vice President of Pricing and Revenue with a proven track record of delivering outstanding results. With 13+ years of experience comes a deep understanding of market dynamics, competitive analysis, and customer behavior. I am skilled in developing and implementing pricing strategies that maximize profitability while maintaining customer satisfaction. My expertise lies in leveraging data-driven insights to make informed pricing decisions, identifying untapped opportunities for revenue generation, and optimizing pricing models to drive market competitiveness. I excel at leading cross-functional teams, collaborating with sales, marketing, and finance departments to align pricing strategies with overall business goals. Traits possessed that can't be taught or quantified; intrinsically motivated, intellectually curious, and a high degree of integrity.

Current interested in  senior roles in pricing/revenue management, pricing strategy, consulting or startups. 

Recent achievements include:
• Supporting a project management office standup which included external consultants and an investor-led board.
• Established KPI’s to assess pricing & margin growth & effectiveness
• Forecasting required margin targets to meet the companies go forward objectives
• Budgeting margin objectives by business channel to achieve forecasted targets
• Data analysis of previously implemented price changes to illustrate recent changes, expected outcomes, and go forward projections based on these changes
• Developed process improvements to expedite price change reaction & implementation reducing time to change by nearly 50%

Personality traits include but are not limited to:
• Strong analytical skills
• Meticulous attention to detail (yet moves swiftly through projects)
• Innovative, yet realistic approach to problem-solving
• Agile, strategic yet scalable (always looking to grow)
• Strong work ethic/high degree of internal motivation and curiosity
• passionate about helping people achieve quantitative and qualitative results
• enjoys large projections with many moving pieces and competing deadlines

Software/Program Experience: SAP, PowerBi, Oracle, Microsoft Office (Word/Excel/Access/PowerPoint), DOMO, Numerator & various web scrape tools, Monday.com, Smart Sheets, Vistex, Salesforce, Shopify, Tableau, Google Analytics, SBC, Epicor Vista (Data Warehouse), AS400, Hyland OnBase

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Armin Kakas

Craig Osborne, MBA

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