Talk/demonstrate tangible benefits Present case studies from other companies or industries where data analytics significantly improved merchandising decisions. Highlight how it led to better product service, pricing strategies, and sales growth- real world stories Even internal win, organisation led to successful outcomes in areas like inventory management or customer insights. Offer to run workshops or training sessions to show how data analytics tools work and how they can make tasks easier, make familiar the team with these tools can reduce resistance. (Going in event or live days suppliers/company is really good example/reflect your own productivities)

Based on experience, when teams are reluctant to use a new tool, it's important to understand the reasons behind their resistance in order to take appropriate actions: - Are they resisting change because they don't feel competent enough to use the tools? - Are they skeptical because they trust their intuition more than the data? - Are they simply afraid of losing part of their work? - Are they just afraid of change in general? There are many possible reasons that explain teams' resistance, and identifying the real issue can save you a lot of time by adopting an empathetic approach and using targeted communication tailored to your audience.

When I introduced data analytics tools to teams in merchandising, building trust was essential. I found that showing real-time, easy-to-interpret data relevant to their daily decisions made analytics more relatable. For instance, I shared insights on trending products or seasonal demand shifts, which helped the team make faster, evidence-backed decisions and see immediate results. Additionally, involving team members in small pilot tests, where they could see firsthand the impact on sales, eased their skepticism and fostered enthusiasm for analytics-driven strategies.

To convince a skeptical team about the effectiveness of data analytics in merchandising, present success stories from similar companies, demonstrate potential ROI through optimized pricing and inventory management, and emphasize data-driven decision-making. Propose a pilot project for hands-on experience, offer training to address complexity concerns, and use visual tools to make data insights more relatable. Highlighting the competitive advantage of leveraging analytics can also create urgency, while engaging enthusiastic team members can foster broader acceptance.