2019
SAS x NC State Studio Collaboration
SAS.com
Background
Orchid is a gamified logistics platform within Deca Foods’ software suite that enables managers to simulate and implement system changes in real-time through a digital twin. When monsoon storms threaten rice farms in Telangana, India, Orchid empowers users to act proactively and protect profit using AI-driven insights.
Core problem
During my final semester at NC State, our class partnered with SAS to explore ways to visualize complex supply chain systems. Our prompt asked: How might we visualize, simulate, and enact a food distribution system to prevent yield loss and protect profit? We focused on Deca Foods, a fictional multinational company struggling with outdated, fragmented logistics data during crisis situations.
Research & Insights
We began by exploring existing supply chain structures and IoT sensor integrations, then selected rice as our focal crop—a climate-sensitive staple central to India’s food economy.
Key Findings:
• Rice production is highly impacted by climate change and monsoon variability.
• Most supply chain tools overwhelm users with technical data.
• Decision-makers need guided, adaptive interfaces that balance automation with human intuition.
This inspired our persona, Luigi, a logistics manager facing unreliable data during a monsoon disaster.
Approach
We mapped a “worst-case” scenario to visualize disruption, then identified Luigi’s key pain points.
Our process included:
Scenario timeline of disaster response
Task flow mapping decision-making stages
Wireframes of proactive vs. reactive workflows
User testing and critique with SAS mentors
We drew inspiration from video games, such as 4X games and social apps, to explore engaging, visual-first ways of communicating system complexity.
Outcome
Orchid uses a digital twin and AI system to simulate the effects of real-world events on food supply chains.
Desktop: Simulates large-scale data and AI-driven interventions. Luigi can zoom from a macro view of the supply chain down to micro-level details, training the AI to make smarter decisions.
Mobile: Acts as a quick-response tool where Luigi receives alerts and can swipe right or left to enact AI-suggested actions, inspired by TikTok’s gesture-based feedback.
Together, these tools make complex data intuitive, proactive, and even a bit playful—gamifying logistics management.
Impact
Orchid demonstrates how human-centered design can make data visualization more approachable and actionable. By combining machine learning, IoT data, and interactive storytelling, our team delivered a concept that bridges technical complexity with accessibility—aligning perfectly with SAS’s mission of making analytics more human.
Presentation at SAS Campus in Cary, NC
