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Hyperparameter Optimization of Artificial Neural Network in Customer Churn Prediction using Genetic Algorithm

Trends Economics and Management

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Title Hyperparameter Optimization of Artificial Neural Network in Customer Churn Prediction using Genetic Algorithm
 
Creator Fridrich, Martin; Brno University of Technology
Faculty of Business and Management
Department of Informatics
 
Subject customer churn, predictive analytics, machine learning, artificial neural networks, experimental parameter tuning
M1, M3, C38
 
Description Purpose of the article: The ability of the company to predict customer churn and retain
customers is considered to be worthy competitive advantage since it improves cost allocation
in customer retention programs, retaining future revenue and profits. In addition, it has several
positive indirect impacts such as increasing customer’s loyalty. Therefore, the focus of the article
is on building highly reliable and robust classification model, which deals with such a task.
Methodology/methods: The analysis is carried out on labelled ecommerce retail dataset
describing 10 000 most valuable customers with the highest CLV (Customer Lifetime Value).
To obtain the best performing ANN (Artificial Neural Network) classification model, proposed
hyperparameter search space is explored with genetic algorithm to find suitable parameter
settings. ANN classification performance is measured with regard to prediction ability, which
is understood as point estimate of AUC (Area Under Curve) mean on 4fold cross-validation
set. Explored part of hyperparameter search space is analyzed with conditional inference tree
structure addressing underlying fundamental context of given optimization which results in
identification of critical factors leading to well performing ANN classification model.
Scientific aim: To present and execute experimental design for performance evaluation and
hyperparameter optimization of classification models, which are used for customer churn prediction.
Findings: It is concluded and statistically proven that in experimental context described,
regularization parameter as well as training function have significant influence on classifiers
AUC performance contrasting other properties of ANN. More specifically, well performing
ANN classification models have regularization parameter set to 0, adaptation function set to
trainlm or trainscg and more than 100 training epochs. Global optimum is identified for solution
with regularization parameter set to 0, trainlm adaptation function, 350 training epochs and
7-4-2 architecture.
Conclusions: Results imply that placing hyperparameter optimization to ANN classification model
leads to improved customer churn prediction ability. The article describes design and execution of
machine learning pipeline, hyperparameter optimization and original meta-analysis of the results
with conditional inference tree structure, which are considered beneficial for further research.
 
Publisher www.fbm.vutbr.cz
 
Contributor
 
Date 2017-06-01
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion


 
Format application/pdf
 
Identifier https://trends.fbm.vutbr.cz/index.php/trends/article/view/385
10.13164/trends.2017.28.9
 
Source TRENDY EKONOMIKY A MANAGEMENTU; Vol 11, No 28 (2017); 9-21
Trends Economics and Management; Vol 11, No 28 (2017); 9-21
2336-6508
1802-8527
 
Language eng
 
Relation https://trends.fbm.vutbr.cz/index.php/trends/article/view/385/323