Background: I earned my degree in supply chain management and worked in warehouses. Now, I want to shift to a data-focused inventory management role. Please recommend a free or budget-friendly foundational online course.
I recently found that a course offered by edX on supply chain fundamentals provides a solid practical approach to inventory management, especially for someone moving to a data-focused role. I have taken similar courses and appreciated their balance of theoretical insights and hands-on data exercises. This course may suit your background in supply chain with extra emphasis on analytics. While the material is introductory, it builds a strong baseline and offers excellent opportunities to apply data-based decision-making in inventory processes.
Hey Mia_17Chess, I totally get the importance of blending supply chain fundamentals with a data-driven approach. I recently revisited a free course I found on Alison called “Diploma in Supply Chain Management”. While it might not be as analytics-heavy as some might like, I found it extremely accessible and a great refresher on inventory basics, plus a few neat insights into data interpretation. It offered a really laid back introduction into various concepts including forecasting and just quantifying inventory flows, which might help bridge your supply chain know-how with the kind of data skills you’re targeting. Have you considered which specific data tools you want to focus on or are you still exploring the wide field of inventory analytics? Would love to chat more about how you plan to mix those interests – sometimes there are unexpected gem courses out there that dive into both areas in a cool, integrated way. Cheers!
hey mia_17chess, im checkin out a course on coursera called ‘fundamentals of supply chain management’. its pretty basic but blends inventory and data. might be a good, budget friendly start if you dont mind some extra self-paced work 
I recently enrolled in a FutureLearn course titled ‘Supply Chain in the Digital Age’ that has proven quite beneficial for developing a strong inventory management foundation with an emphasis on data-driven solutions. Even though the course is structured to cater to beginners, it addresses practical inventory challenges while integrating analytical techniques promised for today’s competitive market. The audit version is affordable and suited for those transitioning from a traditional supply chain background to a role where data plays an increasingly vital role. My experience suggests that a combination of solid fundamentals and analytical insight is key.