This document summarizes a project using predictive analytics for Cars.com. It describes using k-means clustering and decision tree models on vehicle data to understand customer purchase behaviors and ratings. Key findings include higher ratings being associated with positive dealer service and buying processes. The document proposes updates to Cars.com like additional review questions and ratings to provide better insights for customers. It aims to help customers find dealers that match their needs and preferences.
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Predictive Analytics for Cars.com
1. +
Predictive Analytics for Cars.com
Directed by Professor Martin Bariff
Xiaofei Yang, Joyce
Yi Shi, Ivy
Yingqiu Zhu, Chris
2. Introduction
Data Preparation
+
Data Mining Methods
Better Cars.com
2
6. +
6
DATA
PREPARATION
KEY VARIABLES
a. Basic Information
b. Ratings
c. Indicators
7. +
7
DATA
PREPARATION
CLEANING
Shopping
Quality for Used
of
Repair
Overall
Rating
Ready-to-Use Data
8. + 8
DATA PREPARATION
BALANCING
Unbalanced Data Balanced Data
16.43% 30.21%
3.01% 5.54%
2.11% 3.88%
10.01% 18.40%
68.45% 41.96%
27
鐚
9. +
Data Mining Methods
Yingqiu Zhu, Chris
& Xiaofei Yang, Joyce
10. + 10
METHODS
K-Means
Cluster Analysis
Decision Tree
Predictive Analysis
Text Mining
11. + 11
CLUSTER ANALYSIS
K-MEANS
K-Means is the most popular
nonhierarchical clustering
method.
K-Means is based on geometric
notions of similarity
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CLUSTER ANALYSIS
K-MEANS
Model Summary Model Accuracy
13. R13
ANALYSI
S
Yes No
5 1
Importance 100%
K-Means
5 1
5 1
+ Yes No
Importance
11%
14. + 14
CLUSTER ANALYSIS
K-MEANS
Customers
who purchase used cars from a dealer
rating high for the dealer
recommending the dealer to others.
15. + 15
PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION OF DECISION TREE MODEL
A tree-building algorithm
Recursively splitting the data into smaller and smaller groups based on the
fields that provides the maximum information gain
Used C5.0 model in our research
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PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS
DECISION TREE
Decision Tree with Balanced Data
60% 40%
Evaluation Standard
Overall accuracy: > 80%
Favorability between training & testing samples: The results
with the testing sample compare favorably to the training
sample.
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PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS
DECISION TREE
Rating - Customer Service
18. + 18
PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION OF TEXT MINING MODEL
Extract key concepts from the text and create categories with
these concepts by using linguistic and frequency techniques
Explore more information and context included in the data
Better compare the results with and without text data and see
the difference
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PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS
DECISION TREE MODEL WITH TEXT DATA
Model with Only Numeric Data Model with Text & Numeric Data
24. What we get from our analysis 24
Less influential dealers Purchase behavior
information =>Higher overall rating
Overall Rating
Higher rating for
Text Mining
buying process &
customer service =>New Hint for
Consumer behavior
=>Higher Overall Rating
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Stimulus Influence Overall Rating
NEW HINT
Buying Process (experience)
-Sales people
-Service
-Facility (Eg: Internet)
-Familys feeling
Price sensitivity
Finance issue
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Motivation
STEP 1: Customers have more rights on review sheet
New Review Sheet
Personal
Information
Additional
Questions
Review
Additional
Rating
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Additional Questions
Are you satisfied with this purchase?
Yes No
Please tell us WHY (Mark all that apply)
Quality of in-store service
Quality of vehicle
Price
Financial Service (Insurance, cash deal, warranty cost, monthly payment)
Location of dealer
Sales People
In-store facility
In-store environment
Can/Cannot get vehicle in quickly enough
Service Department hours
Alternative transportation not available (rental car, shuttle, etc.)
Other______________
29. + 29
Motivation
STEP 2: More visual hint for customers
Dealer Rating Best Seller
Extended Warranty Label
Dealer:
Dealer:
30. + 30
Motivation
STEP 3: New Dealers Resume
Lounge with snacks and
Facilities: drink
Free Wi-Fi
Insurance
Deal/Gift
Services:
Extended Warranty
Maintenance
Free certification
More space for
Dealer Description
3 others viewing this vehicle right now
15 others bought vehicles from this
dealer in the last month
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Motivation
STEP 4: Monthly rating list
Monthly highest rating dealer
Sub-rating list
Monthly Star Dealer (label in the search page)
Monthly recommended dealer
Monthly best seller
The most favorable dealer
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Better Cars.Com
Combine Cars review sheet and Dealer review sheet
Continue to review dealer?
Yes No
Dealers Review sheet
Add schedule plug-in
Online voicemail
Add to Favorite
Relevant vehicles to consider
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Recommended base on your browsing history
33. +
Predictive Analytics for Cars.com Xiaofei Yang, Joyce
Directed by Professor Martin Bariff Yi Shi, Ivy
Yingqiu Zhu, Chris
Thank Questions???
You for Your Listening
Editor's Notes
Now we have general ideas about why people give dealers low or high rating? What do they really care about during purchase? Then how to help dealers improve that? Before talking about that. We should first stand in dealers' place, thinking about what do dealer want? More customers, high ROI and better SRP. Dealers are always try to topped the list. Rather than just provide them lot of tips in dealers section, how about do something to motivate them. No one want to lose in competition. Step 1: give customers more rights on review sheet, not just simple three rating. Customers could evaluate more things about dealer
In order to enable customers find more dealer information in most efficient way. Cars. Com could encourage dealer list more information on their resume. Like if they provide free WIFI or not. What kind of particular do they have, do they provide insurance service, extended warranty service, or maintenance service. Do they have any seasonal deal? Do they provide free certification service. Give dealer more space to descript themselves. Another way to encourage dealers is plug-in real time label in their page, tell customers how many people are viewing this vehicle right now and the dealers sales volume in the last month.
The last efficient things to motivate dealers is post some rating list on the home page month by month. like.this could give customers more hint to search as well as encourage dealers to be better.