When Substitution Models Go Wrong

The text discusses the challenges and intricacies of using substitution models in online retail, emphasizing the importance of accurate product recommendations to enhance customer experience and maintain profitability. As the global retail e-commerce industry grows, substitution models are crucial for ensuring customers can find alternative products when their preferred items are unavailable. However, these models can encounter issues such as model drift, anomalies, and lack of explainability, which can lead to errors and customer dissatisfaction. The text highlights the need for continuous monitoring, feedback loops, and retraining of machine learning models to maintain their accuracy and relevance over time. It also introduces Seldon as a solution for real-time machine learning deployment, offering businesses the tools to manage complexity and deliver efficient AI solutions. The importance of explainability in machine learning is underscored, as it helps data scientists understand model performance and address issues promptly, thereby ensuring a competitive edge in the retail market.