World Omni Financial Corp. is partnering with universities in Florida and utilizing Ph.D. candidates as part of its overal l focus on data integration and utilizing analytics, said Alfredo Cateriano, vice president of risk management, data, and analytics.
“We’re partnering with scientists, statisticians, econometricians, and operations research,” he told AFN. “But also, we are really using this to bring individuals with expertise in machine learning.”
Through the program, students will utilize World Omni’s data to explore the use of machine learning — a type of artificial intelligence that allow s technology to learn without being programmed — as well as data mining.
The company is currently working to bring data, analytics, and risk management into one team, and the first step in that endeavor is finding the right talent.
“We try to tap into Ph.D. students that are usually in school for about five years, ” Cateriano said. “You can bring them into this more complex, multi-year project. You can showcase your company to them, and then you can find out who are the right individuals that you would maybe like to pursue for full-time employment.”
The first two of seven students will start at World Omni on May 15. Cateriano will speak more about building a comprehensive data and analytics program at the upcoming Auto Finance Risk & Compliance Summit. His presentation, entitled “The Art & Science of Building a H igh-Performing Risk Department,” will take place May 16 at the Hilton Bayfront in San Diego. To learn more about Cateriano’s presentation and the event — or to register — click here.
