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pricer.py β Perishable Goods Dynamic Pricing Engine
AIMS KTT Hackathon Solution
Author: [Your Name]
CORE IDEA:
Price should fall as goods age β but not linearly.
Freshness drops like a sigmoid cliff near expiry.
We find the price that maximizes (profit per unit) Γ (expected demand).
"""
import math
import argparse
from dataclasses import dataclass
from typing import Optional
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
# 1. DATA MODEL
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
@dataclass
class Product:
"""Everything the engine needs to know about one SKU."""
sku: str
cost: float # What you paid per unit (UGX / KES / local currency)
shelf_life_days: int # Days until unsellable
p_ref: float # "Normal" full-price when perfectly fresh
Q0: float # Expected daily demand at reference price & full freshness
alpha: float = 1.5 # Price sensitivity: higher = customers more price-sensitive
margin_floor: float = 1.10 # Never sell below cost Γ this (e.g. 1.10 = 10% min margin)
k: float = 8.0 # Sigmoid sharpness: higher = sharper freshness cliff
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
# 2. FRESHNESS FUNCTION (The Heart of the Engine)
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
def freshness_factor(age_days: float, shelf_life: int, k: float = 8.0) -> float:
"""
Returns a value in (0, 1] representing how 'fresh' the product is.
FORMULA:
freshness = 1 / (1 + exp(k * (age - shelf_life/2) / shelf_life))
WHY SIGMOID, NOT LINEAR?
- Linear decay: tomato loses equal value every day. Unrealistic.
- Sigmoid: product stays near full value for the first half of shelf life,
then VALUE COLLAPSES near expiry β matching real buyer psychology.
- At age=0: freshness β 1.0 (perfectly fresh)
- At age=half-life: freshness = 0.5 (midpoint β important for interviews!)
- At age=shelf_life: freshness β 0.02 (near-expired, almost worthless)
INTERVIEW ANSWER for "What happens at half shelf life?":
"The price is roughly halfway between full price and minimum floor.
This is intentional β it's the inflection point where we start aggressive
discounting to clear stock before waste occurs."
"""
if age_days >= shelf_life:
return 0.001 # Expired: unsellable (near-zero, not zero, to avoid log errors)
ratio = (age_days - shelf_life / 2.0) / shelf_life
return 1.0 / (1.0 + math.exp(k * ratio))
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
# 3. DEMAND MODEL
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
def expected_demand(price: float, product: Product, freshness: float) -> float:
"""
Q(p) = Q0 Γ exp(-Ξ± Γ (p - p_ref) / p_ref) Γ freshness
HOW TO READ THIS:
- If p = p_ref (reference price): demand = Q0 Γ freshness
- If p > p_ref: demand falls exponentially (customers walk away)
- If p < p_ref: demand rises (bargain hunters come in)
- freshness scales everything: near-expired goods sell less regardless of price
This is a standard "constant elasticity" demand model β simple, defensible,
and widely used in revenue management literature.
"""
price_effect = math.exp(-product.alpha * (price - product.p_ref) / product.p_ref)
return product.Q0 * price_effect * freshness
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
# 4. PROFIT FUNCTION
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
def expected_profit(price: float, product: Product, freshness: float) -> float:
"""
Profit = (price - cost) Γ expected_demand(price)
We maximise this over a grid of candidate prices.
Simple grid search β fast, transparent, no black box.
"""
margin = price - product.cost
if margin <= 0:
return 0.0 # Never sell at a loss
return margin * expected_demand(price, product, freshness)
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
# 5. COMPETITOR ADJUSTMENT
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
def apply_competitor_pressure(
optimal_price: float,
competitor_prices: list[float],
beta: float = 0.20
) -> float:
"""
Nudge price down if we're significantly more expensive than competitors.
FORMULA:
if p* > min_competitor:
discount = Ξ² Γ (p* - min_competitor) / p*
p_final = p* Γ (1 - discount)
WHY NOT JUST MATCH LOWEST PRICE?
Because undercutting on price is a race to the bottom.
We only adjust partially (Ξ² = 0.20 = 20% of the gap).
This maintains margin while staying competitive.
"""
if not competitor_prices:
return optimal_price
min_comp = min(competitor_prices)
if optimal_price <= min_comp:
return optimal_price # Already competitive, no change needed
gap_ratio = (optimal_price - min_comp) / optimal_price
discount_fraction = beta * gap_ratio
adjusted = optimal_price * (1.0 - discount_fraction)
return adjusted
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
# 6. THE MAIN PRICING FUNCTION
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
def suggest_price(
product: Product,
age_days: float,
competitor_prices: Optional[list[float]] = None,
grid_steps: int = 200,
beta: float = 0.20
) -> dict:
"""
THE CORE ENGINE.
Given a product, its age, and competitor prices:
β Find the price that maximises expected profit
β Enforce minimum margin floor
β Adjust for competition
β Return price + explanation
STEPS:
1. Compute freshness
2. Build price grid from floor to ceiling
3. Score each price by expected profit
4. Pick winner
5. Competitor adjustment
6. Enforce margin floor (safety net)
7. Return result + reasoning
"""
competitor_prices = competitor_prices or []
# Step 1: How fresh is this product right now?
freshness = freshness_factor(age_days, product.shelf_life_days, product.k)
# Step 2: Build candidate price range
min_price = product.cost * product.margin_floor # Hard floor: must cover cost
max_price = product.p_ref * 1.5 # Ceiling: don't be absurd
if min_price >= max_price:
# Edge case: cost is too high relative to market β flag it
return {
"sku": product.sku,
"suggested_price": min_price,
"freshness": round(freshness, 3),
"expected_demand": 0.0,
"expected_profit": 0.0,
"note": "WARNING: Cost floor exceeds max price. Check cost data.",
"age_days": age_days,
}
# Step 3: Grid search β test 200 candidate prices
# KEY INSIGHT: as freshness drops, the "effective" demand ceiling drops,
# so the profit-maximising price shifts LEFT (lower).
# We also shrink max_price by freshness so we search a relevant range.
effective_max = min_price + (max_price - min_price) * max(freshness, 0.05)
step = (effective_max - min_price) / grid_steps
best_price = min_price
best_profit = 0.0
for i in range(grid_steps + 1):
candidate = min_price + i * step
profit = expected_profit(candidate, product, freshness)
if profit > best_profit:
best_profit = profit
best_price = candidate
# Step 4: Apply competitor pressure
adjusted_price = apply_competitor_pressure(best_price, competitor_prices, beta)
# Step 5: Enforce margin floor (safety net β can never go below this)
final_price = max(adjusted_price, product.cost * product.margin_floor)
# Step 6: Build explanation (critical for interviews + SMS output)
days_left = product.shelf_life_days - age_days
demand_at_price = expected_demand(final_price, product, freshness)
if freshness > 0.8:
freshness_label = "FRESH"
elif freshness > 0.5:
freshness_label = "GOOD"
elif freshness > 0.2:
freshness_label = "AGING"
else:
freshness_label = "CLEAR NOW"
return {
"sku": product.sku,
"suggested_price": round(final_price, 2),
"freshness": round(freshness, 3),
"freshness_label": freshness_label,
"days_left": round(days_left, 1),
"expected_demand_units": round(demand_at_price, 1),
"expected_daily_profit": round((final_price - product.cost) * demand_at_price, 2),
"margin_pct": round((final_price - product.cost) / product.cost * 100, 1),
"competitor_min": round(min(competitor_prices), 2) if competitor_prices else None,
"note": freshness_label,
}
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
# 7. SIMULATION ENGINE
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
def simulate_7_days(product: Product, competitor_prices: list[float], strategy: str = "engine") -> dict:
"""
Run a 7-day simulation for one product under a given strategy.
STRATEGIES:
"engine" β Our dynamic pricing engine
"cost_plus" β Naive: always sell at cost Γ 1.30
"cheapest" β Always match the cheapest competitor
"""
total_profit = 0.0
total_units_sold = 0.0
total_waste = 0.0
daily_log = []
opening_stock = product.Q0 * product.shelf_life_days * 0.8 # Realistic starting stock
stock = opening_stock
for day in range(product.shelf_life_days):
age = day # Age in days (0 = just stocked)
freshness = freshness_factor(age, product.shelf_life_days, product.k)
# Determine price by strategy
if strategy == "engine":
result = suggest_price(product, age, competitor_prices)
price = result["suggested_price"]
elif strategy == "cost_plus":
price = product.cost * 1.30 # Simple 30% markup, never changes
elif strategy == "cheapest":
comp_min = min(competitor_prices) if competitor_prices else product.p_ref
price = max(comp_min, product.cost * product.margin_floor)
# Demand realisation: add small randomness to simulate real market
demand = expected_demand(price, product, freshness)
# Slight noise: Β±10%
import random
random.seed(day * 7 + hash(strategy) % 100)
noise = random.uniform(0.90, 1.10)
actual_demand = demand * noise
# Units sold = min(demand, available stock)
units_sold = min(actual_demand, stock)
revenue = units_sold * price
cost_of_goods = units_sold * product.cost
profit = revenue - cost_of_goods
stock -= units_sold
# Track waste on last day
if day == product.shelf_life_days - 1:
waste = max(stock, 0)
total_waste += waste
stock = 0
total_profit += profit
total_units_sold += units_sold
daily_log.append({
"day": day + 1,
"price": round(price, 2),
"freshness": round(freshness, 3),
"units_sold": round(units_sold, 1),
"profit": round(profit, 2),
"stock_remaining": round(stock, 1),
})
# Final waste: any remaining stock
total_waste += max(stock, 0)
return {
"strategy": strategy,
"total_profit": round(total_profit, 2),
"total_units_sold": round(total_units_sold, 1),
"waste_units": round(total_waste, 1),
"waste_pct": round(total_waste / opening_stock * 100, 1),
"avg_daily_profit": round(total_profit / product.shelf_life_days, 2),
"daily_log": daily_log,
}
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
# 8. SMS FORMATTER (African Market Feature)
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
def format_sms(result: dict, currency: str = "UGX") -> str:
"""
Format pricing recommendation as an SMS under 160 characters.
DESIGN PRINCIPLE:
Vendors in low-bandwidth markets use feature phones.
160 chars = one SMS = one price recommendation.
No app needed. No smartphone needed. No internet needed.
"""
sku = result["sku"][:6].upper()
price = int(result["suggested_price"])
label = result.get("freshness_label", "OK")
days = result.get("days_left", "?")
margin = result.get("margin_pct", 0)
msg = (
f"PRICE:{sku} {currency}{price} [{label}] "
f"{days}d left. Margin:{margin}%. "
f"Reply HELP for options."
)
# Truncate to 160 if needed (shouldn't happen with this template)
return msg[:160]
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
# 9. REPORT GENERATOR
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
def print_comparison_report(product: Product, competitor_prices: list[float]):
"""Run all 3 strategies and print a clean comparison table."""
print("\n" + "="*60)
print(f" 7-DAY SIMULATION REPORT: {product.sku}")
print("="*60)
print(f" Cost/unit: {product.cost} | Shelf life: {product.shelf_life_days}d")
print(f" Ref price: {product.p_ref} | Competitors: {competitor_prices}")
print("-"*60)
strategies = ["engine", "cost_plus", "cheapest"]
results = {}
for strat in strategies:
r = simulate_7_days(product, competitor_prices, strat)
results[strat] = r
# Header
print(f"{'Strategy':<18} {'Profit':>10} {'Units':>8} {'Waste%':>8} {'Avg/Day':>10}")
print("-"*60)
for strat, r in results.items():
label = {
"engine": "Dynamic Engine",
"cost_plus": "Cost+30% (Naive)",
"cheapest": "Match Cheapest",
}[strat]
print(
f"{label:<18} "
f"{r['total_profit']:>10.2f} "
f"{r['total_units_sold']:>8.1f} "
f"{r['waste_pct']:>7.1f}% "
f"{r['avg_daily_profit']:>10.2f}"
)
# Lift calculation
engine_profit = results["engine"]["total_profit"]
baseline_profit = results["cost_plus"]["total_profit"]
if baseline_profit > 0:
lift = (engine_profit - baseline_profit) / baseline_profit * 100
print(f"\n β
Engine vs Naive: {lift:+.1f}% profit improvement")
print(f" β
Waste reduction: "
f"{results['cost_plus']['waste_pct'] - results['engine']['waste_pct']:.1f}% less waste")
print("="*60)
# Sample SMS output
print("\n π± SAMPLE SMS OUTPUT (Day 3):")
day3_result = suggest_price(product, 3.0, competitor_prices)
sms = format_sms(day3_result)
print(f" [{len(sms)} chars] {sms}")
print("="*60)
return results
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
# 10. CLI INTERFACE
# βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
def main():
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
description="Perishable Goods Dynamic Pricing Engine β AIMS KTT Hackathon"
)
parser.add_argument("--sku", default="TOMATO", help="Product SKU")
parser.add_argument("--cost", type=float, default=1000, help="Cost per unit (local currency)")
parser.add_argument("--shelf-life", type=int, default=7, help="Shelf life in days")
parser.add_argument("--ref-price", type=float, default=1800, help="Reference (full) price")
parser.add_argument("--q0", type=float, default=50, help="Base daily demand at ref price")
parser.add_argument("--alpha", type=float, default=1.5, help="Price sensitivity (demand model)")
parser.add_argument("--age", type=float, default=0, help="Current age in days (for single query)")
parser.add_argument("--competitors", type=float, nargs="*", default=[1600, 1700, 1900],
help="Competitor prices (space-separated)")
parser.add_argument("--simulate", action="store_true", help="Run 7-day simulation")
parser.add_argument("--currency", default="UGX", help="Currency label for SMS output")
args = parser.parse_args()
product = Product(
sku=args.sku,
cost=args.cost,
shelf_life_days=args.shelf_life,
p_ref=args.ref_price,
Q0=args.q0,
alpha=args.alpha,
)
if args.simulate:
print_comparison_report(product, args.competitors)
else:
result = suggest_price(product, args.age, args.competitors)
print("\nπ¦ PRICING RECOMMENDATION")
print("-" * 40)
for k, v in result.items():
print(f" {k:<25}: {v}")
print("\nπ± SMS FORMAT:")
print(f" {format_sms(result, args.currency)}")
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
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