Optimizing E-Commerce Pricing Strategies: A Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning Models for Predicting Customer Satisfaction

Abstract

Optimizing pricing strategies in e-commerce through machine learning is crucial for enhancing customer satisfaction and achieving business success. This study evaluates the effectiveness of five machine learning models—Linear Regression, Decision Trees, Random Forest, Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Neural Networks—in refining e-commerce pricing strategies using a dataset of historical transaction records. Models were assessed based on Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), R-squared (R²), and F1-Score.Neural Networks demonstrated superior performance with the lowest MAE (0.126), RMSE (0.155), and the highest R² (0.84) and F1-Score (0.88), highlighting its capacity to model complex, non-linear relationships. However, its high computational demands may limit its feasibility for some businesses. In contrast, Random Forest, with an MAE of 0.130, RMSE of 0.160, R² of 0.82, and F1-Score of 0.86, offers a balanced alternative, combining strong performance with greater interpretability.

The findings emphasize the importance of choosing a machine learning model that aligns with business needs, resource constraints, and the trade-off between accuracy and interpretability. Integrating these models can optimize pricing strategies, better meet customer expectations, and improve business outcomes.

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Md Salim Chowdhury, Md Shujan Shak, Suniti Devi, Md Rashel Miah, Abdullah Al Mamun, Estak Ahmed, Sk Abu Sheleh Hera, Fuad Mahmud, & MD Shahin Alam Mozumder. (2024). Optimizing E-Commerce Pricing Strategies: A Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning Models for Predicting Customer Satisfaction. The American Journal of Engineering and Technology, 6(09), 6–17. https://doi.org/10.37547/tajet/Volume06Issue09-02
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Abstract

Optimizing pricing strategies in e-commerce through machine learning is crucial for enhancing customer satisfaction and achieving business success. This study evaluates the effectiveness of five machine learning models—Linear Regression, Decision Trees, Random Forest, Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Neural Networks—in refining e-commerce pricing strategies using a dataset of historical transaction records. Models were assessed based on Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), R-squared (R²), and F1-Score.Neural Networks demonstrated superior performance with the lowest MAE (0.126), RMSE (0.155), and the highest R² (0.84) and F1-Score (0.88), highlighting its capacity to model complex, non-linear relationships. However, its high computational demands may limit its feasibility for some businesses. In contrast, Random Forest, with an MAE of 0.130, RMSE of 0.160, R² of 0.82, and F1-Score of 0.86, offers a balanced alternative, combining strong performance with greater interpretability.

The findings emphasize the importance of choosing a machine learning model that aligns with business needs, resource constraints, and the trade-off between accuracy and interpretability. Integrating these models can optimize pricing strategies, better meet customer expectations, and improve business outcomes.


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PUBLISHED DATE: - 04-09-2024

DOI: -

https://doi.org/10.37547/tajet/Volume06Issue09-02

PAGE NO.: - 6-17

OPTIMIZING E-COMMERCE PRICING STRATEGIES: A

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MACHINE LEARNING

MODELS FOR PREDICTING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Md Salim Chowdhury

College of Graduate and Professional Studies Trine University, USA

Md Shujan Shak

Master of science in information technology, Washington University of science and

technology, USA

Suniti Devi

Department of Management Science and Quantitative Methods, Gannon University, USA

Md Rashel Miah

Department of Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia, Westcliff University, USA

Abdullah Al Mamun

Department of Computer & Info Science, Gannon University, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA

Estak Ahmed

Department Of Computer Science, Monroe College, New Rochelle, New York, USA

Sk Abu Sheleh Hera

Ketner School of Business, Trine University, USA

Fuad Mahmud

Department of Information Assurance and Cybersecurity, Gannon University, USA

MD Shahin Alam Mozumder

Master of science in information technology, Washington University of science and

Technology, USA

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Open Access


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INTRODUCTION

In the rapidly evolving landscape of e-commerce,

pricing strategies play a crucial role in influencing
customer satisfaction and driving business success.

As

businesses

seek

to

enhance

their

competitiveness and optimize their pricing

approaches, leveraging advanced data-driven
methodologies has become increasingly important.

Machine learning models offer powerful tools for
analyzing and predicting customer behavior,

enabling businesses to make informed decisions
that align with market dynamics and consumer

expectations.
This study explores the application of various

machine learning techniques to optimize e-
commerce pricing strategies, focusing on

improving customer satisfaction through precise
and data-driven pricing decisions. By evaluating

and comparing the performance of five prominent
machine learning models

Linear Regression,

Decision Trees, Random Forest, Support Vector
Machines (SVM), and Neural Networks

the study

aims to identify the most effective approach for
predicting pricing outcomes and enhancing

customer satisfaction.
The dataset employed for this analysis comprises a

rich

collection

of

historical

e-commerce

transaction records, capturing a diverse array of

variables including customer satisfaction scores,
pricing information, and demographic attributes.

This comprehensive dataset, aggregated from

multiple e-commerce platforms, provides a robust
foundation for training and evaluating the models.

Data preprocessing was a critical phase in this
study, involving essential steps such as outlier

removal, missing value imputation, normalization
of variables, and encoding of categorical data.

These preprocessing techniques ensured the
dataset's quality and suitability for machine

learning applications, enabling accurate and
reliable model training.
The evaluation of model performance utilized a

range of metrics

Mean Absolute Error (MAE),

Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), R-squared (R²),
and F1-Score

each offering valuable insights into

different aspects of model effectiveness. By
systematically comparing these metrics, the study

assesses how well each model manages prediction
accuracy, error handling, explanatory power, and

balance between precision and recall.
Ultimately, the study provides actionable

recommendations for businesses seeking to
enhance their pricing strategies. The comparative

analysis highlights the strengths and limitations of

Abstract


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each model, offering guidance on selecting the most

appropriate approach based on specific business
needs, resource constraints, and the importance of

model interpretability versus predictive accuracy.
In summary, this research underscores the

significance of employing sophisticated machine

learning techniques in optimizing e-commerce

pricing strategies. By integrating these techniques
into pricing decisions, businesses can better align

their

pricing

strategies

with

customer

expectations, improve satisfaction, and achieve

more favorable business outcomes.

LITERATURE REVIEW

The application of machine learning (ML)

techniques to e-commerce pricing strategies has
garnered significant interest in recent years. These

methodologies

offer

advanced

analytical

capabilities that can substantially enhance pricing

decisions and improve customer satisfaction. This
literature review provides an overview of key

research, and findings related to ML in e-commerce
pricing, focusing on the use of various predictive

models and their impact on pricing strategies.
Machine learning models have been extensively

explored for their potential to optimize pricing
strategies in e-commerce. Research by Aggarwal

and Gupta (2018) highlights the effectiveness of
supervised learning algorithms, including Linear

Regression and Decision Trees, in predicting
optimal pricing strategies based on historical data.

They emphasize that these models can capture
complex patterns in pricing and customer

behavior, thus aiding in dynamic pricing
adjustments.
Further advancements in ML techniques, such as

Random Forest and Support Vector Machines

(SVM), have been shown to enhance pricing
predictions. For instance, Zhang et al. (2020)

demonstrate that Random Forest, with its
ensemble approach, provides robust predictions

by reducing variance and improving accuracy.
Similarly, SVMs have been found effective in

classifying customer preferences and adjusting
pricing strategies accordingly (Cortes & Vapnik,

1995).

The introduction of Neural Networks, particularly

deep learning models, has marked a significant
shift in pricing optimization. LeCun, Bengio, and

Hinton (2015) discuss the advantages of Neural
Networks in capturing intricate relationships

within large datasets, which traditional models
might miss. Neural Networks, with their ability to

learn non-linear patterns, have been shown to
outperform other models in various tasks,

including

pricing

strategy

optimization

(Goodfellow, Bengio, & Courville, 2016). The

application of Neural Networks in e-commerce

pricing, as indicated by Nguyen et al. (2019), has
led to improvements in prediction accuracy and

customer satisfaction due to their capability to
handle large and complex datasets.
Evaluating the performance of ML models is crucial

for understanding their effectiveness in pricing
strategies. Metrics such as Mean Absolute Error

(MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), R-squared
(R²), and F1-Score are commonly used to assess

model accuracy and reliability. According to

Hyndman and Athanasopoulos (2018), MAE and
RMSE are fundamental for measuring prediction

errors, with RMSE providing a more sensitive
assessment due to its penalization of larger errors.

R² is useful for understanding the proportion of
variance explained by the model, while F1-Score is

particularly relevant in classification tasks where
the balance between precision and recall is

important (Powers, 2011).
Comparative analyses of ML models have been

conducted to determine their suitability for various
applications, including pricing strategies. For

example,

Kotsiantis

(2007)

provides

a

comprehensive review of different models,

highlighting the strengths and limitations of each in
predictive tasks. The findings suggest that while

complex models like Neural Networks offer high
accuracy, simpler models such as Random Forest

can provide a good balance between performance
and interpretability. This balance is crucial for

businesses that need to justify pricing decisions to
stakeholders and align with practical resource

constraints (Breiman, 2001; Quinlan, 1986).
The practical application of ML models in e-

commerce pricing has been shown to enhance


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customer satisfaction and business outcomes.

Research by Chen et al. (2019) demonstrates that
effective pricing strategies, informed by predictive

analytics, can lead to increased customer loyalty
and reduced churn. By leveraging advanced ML

models, businesses can set prices that better align
with customer expectations, ultimately improving

profitability

and

competitive

advantage

(Brynjolfsson, Hu, & Simester, 2013).

METHODS AND MATERIALS
Data Collection and Preprocessing

The dataset utilized for this study is a

comprehensive collection of historical e-commerce
transaction records. It encompasses a range of

variables including customer satisfaction scores,
detailed pricing information, and various

demographic attributes of the customers. To
ensure that the dataset is both comprehensive and

representative, data were aggregated from a wide
range of e-commerce platforms. This approach was

taken to capture a broad spectrum of e-commerce
activities and customer interactions, providing a

diverse and robust dataset for analysis. By
collecting data from multiple sources, the study

benefits from a richer and more varied dataset that
reflects different market conditions and customer

behaviors.
The data preprocessing phase was critical to

enhancing the quality and usability of the dataset.
During this stage, several key operations were

performed to clean and prepare the data for
analysis. Outliers, which could skew the results,

were identified and removed to ensure the
accuracy of the analysis. Missing values were

addressed through appropriate imputation
techniques to maintain the integrity of the dataset.

Furthermore, to facilitate consistent analysis,

pricing and satisfaction scores were normalized,
ensuring that the data was on a comparable scale.

Categorical variables were also encoded,
transforming them into numerical formats that are

suitable for machine learning algorithms. This
preprocessing work was essential for creating a

reliable dataset that could be effectively used for
training and evaluating machine learning models.
Following the preprocessing, the dataset was

systematically divided into two distinct subsets: a

training set and a testing set. The training set,
which constituted 70% of the entire dataset, was

utilized to develop and train the machine learning
models. This portion of the data was used to teach

the models to recognize patterns and make
predictions based on the historical e-commerce

records. The remaining 30% of the dataset was set
aside as the testing set. This subset was reserved

for evaluating the performance and accuracy of the
trained models, providing an unbiased assessment

of how well the models generalize to new, unseen

data. This careful partitioning of the dataset
ensures that the models are both well-trained and

rigorously tested.

Model Selection and Training

In this study, we evaluated the performance of five

distinct machine learning models, each chosen for
its prominent application and efficacy in predictive

analytics. The models selected for this evaluation
include Linear Regression, Decision Trees, Random

Forest, Support Vector Machines (SVM), and
Neural Networks. The rationale behind selecting

these models stems from their widespread use in
various predictive tasks and their proven track

records in delivering accurate results across
diverse datasets.
To ensure a comprehensive analysis, each model

was meticulously trained on the designated

training subset of the data, employing well-
established training methodologies. For the Neural

Networks model, a multi-layer perceptron (MLP)
architecture was utilized. This architecture is

defined by a specific configuration of layers and
neurons, tailored to capture complex patterns

within the data. Training of the Neural Networks
was carried out using the backpropagation

algorithm, which adjusts the weights of the
network through gradient descent optimization.

This process involves minimizing the error by
iteratively updating the network's parameters

based on the gradient of the loss function.
Furthermore, to enhance the performance of each

model, hyperparameters were meticulously fine-
tuned. For Decision Trees, this involved adjusting

parameters such as tree depth, which controls the
maximum levels of the tree. For Random Forest, the


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number of estimators, or individual decision trees

within the forest, was optimized. The
hyperparameter tuning process employed grid

search techniques in conjunction with cross-
validation. Grid search systematically explores

various combinations of hyperparameters to
identify the optimal settings, while cross-validation

assesses the model’s performance by partitioning

the training data into subsets and validating the

model on each subset. This rigorous approach
ensures that the model's performance is robust and

generalizable.

Evaluation Metrics

Model performance was rigorously evaluated using

a comprehensive set of evaluation metrics, each
serving a distinct purpose in assessing the

effectiveness of the predictive models. The metrics

employed include Mean Absolute Error (MAE),
Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), R-squared (R²),

and F1-Score. Each metric provides valuable
insights into different aspects of model

performance, contributing to a well-rounded
assessment.
Mean Absolute Error (MAE) is utilized to quantify

the average magnitude of errors in the model's
predictions. This metric calculates the average

absolute difference between the predicted values

and the actual values. MAE is particularly useful for
understanding the typical size of the prediction

errors, providing a straightforward measure of
how close the predictions are to the true values. It

offers an intuitive sense of the model's accuracy,
with lower MAE values indicating better predictive

performance.
Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) is another critical

metric used to evaluate model performance. Unlike

MAE, RMSE emphasizes larger errors more

significantly, due to the squaring of the differences
between predicted and actual values before

averaging. This means that RMSE is sensitive to
outliers and provides a measure of the standard

deviation of the residuals. By penalizing larger
errors more heavily, RMSE offers a nuanced view of

the model's error distribution, highlighting the
impact of significant deviations on overall

performance.

R-squared (R²) is employed to measure the

proportion of variance in the dependent variable
that is explained by the independent variables in

the model. This metric provides an indication of
how well the model captures the variability in

customer satisfaction or pricing predictions. An R-
squared value close to 1 indicates that a substantial

proportion of the variance is explained by the
model, reflecting strong explanatory power.

Conversely, an R-squared value close to 0 suggests
that the model does not account for much of the

variance, indicating limited explanatory capability.
F1-Score is used to assess the balance between

precision and recall in the context of predicting
customer satisfaction. Precision refers to the

proportion of true positive predictions among all
positive predictions made by the model, while

recall measures the proportion of actual positive
cases that were correctly identified by the model.

The F1-Score is the harmonic mean of precision
and recall, providing a single metric that captures

both aspects. This metric is particularly useful in

scenarios where there is an imbalance between
positive and negative classes, ensuring that both

false positives and false negatives are
appropriately considered in the evaluation.
Together, these metrics offer a holistic evaluation

of each model's performance, covering aspects
such as accuracy, error distribution, explanatory

power, and balance between precision and recall.
By analyzing these metrics collectively, a

comprehensive understanding of each model's

strengths and weaknesses is achieved, facilitating
informed decisions regarding model selection and

optimization.]

Comparative Analysis

A comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate

the performance of the models across the defined
metrics. Performance metrics for each model were

visualized using bar charts, facilitating a
straightforward

comparison.

This

analysis

considered accuracy, error rates, the model's
ability to explain variance, and the balance

between precision and recall. Statistical analysis
was employed to detect significant differences in

performance metrics and to determine the model
that best meets the criteria for optimizing pricing


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strategies.

Model Selection and Recommendations

The comparative analysis revealed that the Neural

Networks model demonstrated the highest

performance across all evaluated metrics,
including MAE, RMSE, R², and F1-Score. This

indicates its robustness in capturing complex
relationships between pricing and customer

satisfaction.

However,

the

computational

complexity and resource demands of Neural

Networks may be a constraint for some businesses.
In such cases, the Random Forest model is

recommended as a viable alternative, offering a
balanced trade-off between accuracy and

interpretability. Businesses are advised to select a
model based on their specific requirements,

available resources, and the relative importance of

model interpretability versus prediction accuracy
to effectively tailor their pricing strategies.

RESULT

The results of the machine learning models

outlined in the analysis provide valuable insights

into how businesses can optimize their e-

commerce pricing strategies to enhance customer

satisfaction. By understanding the relationship
between pricing and customer satisfaction, these

models enable businesses to make data-driven
decisions that align with customer expectations,

ultimately leading to better business outcomes.

Mean Absolute Error (MAE)

in Price Prediction: The MAE values indicate how

closely the predicted prices align with actual
customer satisfaction scores. A lower MAE, as seen

with the Neural Networks model, suggests that the
pricing strategies generated by this model are

more precise in reflecting what customers are
willing to pay. This precision minimizes the risk of

setting prices too high or too low, both of which can
negatively impact customer satisfaction. For

instance, if a price is too high, customers may feel

overcharged and dissatisfied; if too low, customers
might perceive the product as low quality. The

Neural Networks model, with its lowest MAE, can
help set prices that are perceived as fair and

appropriate by customers, thereby enhancing
satisfaction and loyalty.

Table 1: Mean Absolute Error (MAE)

Model

MAE

Linear Regression

0.152

Decision Trees

0.145

Random Forest

0.130

SVM

0.142

Neural Networks

0.126

Table 1 shows that the Mean Absolute Error (MAE)

for different models reveals their predictive

accuracy for customer satisfaction scores. Neural
Networks achieved the lowest MAE of 0.126,

reflecting its high precision in aligning predicted
prices with actual satisfaction, making it highly

effective for fine-tuning pricing strategies. Random
Forest followed with an MAE of 0.130, indicating its

strong performance in providing accurate pricing
predictions, which is crucial for dynamic pricing

environments where small deviations can
significantly impact satisfaction. Linear Regression

had the highest MAE of 0.152, suggesting it may

struggle with capturing the complexities of

customer satisfaction in e-commerce pricing. This
higher error rate implies that pricing strategies

based on this model might be less aligned with

customer preferences, potentially leading to
greater dissatisfaction.

Root Mean Square Error (RMSE)

Handling Larger Pricing Errors: RMSE is

particularly useful for identifying models that can

prevent significant pricing mistakes. Large pricing
errors can lead to substantial customer

dissatisfaction, as customers may feel that the
prices are unjustified or inconsistent with their

expectations. The Neural Networks model, with the


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lowest RMSE, is most effective in minimizing these

large errors, which is crucial in maintaining
customer trust and satisfaction. By reducing the

likelihood of dramatic pricing errors, businesses

can avoid scenarios where customers might

abandon their shopping carts or seek alternative
sellers, thus improving retention and conversion

rates.

Table 2: Root Mean Square Error (RMSE)

Model

RMSE

Linear Regression

0.198

Decision Trees

0.185

Random Forest

0.160

SVM

0.178

Neural Networks

0.155

Table 2 demonstrates that the Root Mean Square

Error (RMSE) for various models highlights their

effectiveness in managing pricing errors in e-
commerce. Neural Networks achieved the lowest

RMSE of 0.155, indicating its superior ability to
minimize large pricing errors, which is crucial in

preventing lost sales and maintaining customer
loyalty. Random Forest also performed well with

an RMSE of 0.160, suggesting its reliability in

keeping pricing strategies aligned with customer
expectations and reducing the risk of significant

misalignment. In contrast, Linear Regression
recorded the highest RMSE of 0.198, showing its

difficulty in managing larger deviations in pricing,
which could lead to increased customer

dissatisfaction due to substantial errors in price

R-squared (R²)

Explaining Variance in Customer Satisfaction: R²

values indicate how well the pricing model

accounts for the factors that influence customer
satisfaction. A higher R², such as the one achieved

by the Neural Networks model, shows that the
model

effectively

captures

the

complex

relationship between price and customer
satisfaction. This capability is essential for

developing pricing strategies that consider various

factors, such as customer demographics,
purchasing history, and market trends. By

understanding these factors, businesses can set
prices that are more likely to meet customer

expectations, leading to higher satisfaction levels.
For example, if the model identifies that customers

in a particular segment are more price-sensitive, it
can suggest lower prices for that group to maintain

satisfaction and encourage repeat purchases.

Table 3: R-squared (R²)

Model

R-squared (R²)

Linear Regression

0.72

Decision Trees

0.78

Random Forest

0.82

SVM

0.79

Neural Networks

0.84

Table 3 illustrates that R-squared (R²) values

reveal how well different models explain the

variance in customer satisfaction based on pricing
strategies. Neural Networks achieved the highest

R² value of 0.84, demonstrating its strong
capability to capture the factors influencing

customer satisfaction, which implies that it can

develop pricing strategies more closely aligned

with customer expectations, leading to improved
satisfaction. Random Forest also performed well

with an R² of 0.82, showing its effectiveness in
explaining the relationship between pricing and

satisfaction, making it a valuable tool for
optimizing pricing strategies. In contrast, Linear

Regression had the lowest R² value of 0.72,


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suggesting it may not adequately capture the

complexities of customer satisfaction, potentially
resulting in less effective pricing strategies that do

not fully meet customer expectations.

F1-Score

Balancing Precision and Recall in Satisfaction

Prediction: The F1-score is particularly important
when the goal is to accurately predict whether

customers will be satisfied with a given price. A
high F1-score, as demonstrated by the Neural

Networks model, indicates that the model can

accurately predict customer satisfaction without

missing out on potential satisfied customers or
incorrectly predicting dissatisfaction. This balance

is crucial for e-commerce businesses that deal with
diverse customer bases and varying levels of price

sensitivity. By correctly identifying when a price
will lead to satisfaction, businesses can fine-tune

their pricing strategies to cater to different
customer needs, ensuring that prices are both

competitive and acceptable to customers across
different segments.

Table 4: F1-Score

Model

F1-Score

Linear Regression

NA

Decision Trees

0.81

Random Forest

0.86

SVM

0.83

Neural Networks

0.88

Table 4 highlights the F1-scores of various models,

emphasizing their effectiveness in binary

classification tasks like predicting customer
satisfaction based on pricing strategies. Neural

Networks achieved the highest F1-score of 0.88,
showcasing its excellent performance in balancing

precision and recall, thus accurately predicting

customer

satisfaction

and

minimizing

misclassification risks. Random Forest also

demonstrated strong performance with an F1-
score of 0.86, making it a reliable model for

scenarios where balancing precision and recall is
crucial for evaluating pricing strategies. In

contrast, Linear Regression does not have an F1-
score since it is primarily used for regression tasks

rather than classification, indicating it may not be
suitable for predicting binary outcomes such as

customer satisfaction with pricing.

Model Comparison and Selection

The combined bar chart presents the performance

metrics of different machine learning models,
including Linear Regression, Decision Trees,

Random Forest, SVM, and Neural Networks. The
metrics shown are Mean Absolute Error (MAE),

Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), R-squared (R²),
and F1-Score. Each metric is crucial for evaluating

the models' effectiveness in predicting customer
satisfaction based on pricing strategies. MAE and

RMSE measure prediction accuracy and error
magnitude, R-squared indicates how well the

models explain the variance in satisfaction, and the
F1-Score reflects their ability to balance precision

and recall in classification tasks. This chart enables
a comparative analysis to identify which models

excel in various aspects of performance.


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Choosing the Right Model for Dynamic Pricing: The

results clearly show that the Neural Networks

model is the most effective in predicting customer
satisfaction based on pricing strategies. This

model's ability to outperform others across all
metrics suggests that it can serve as a robust tool

for setting prices that are closely aligned with
customer expectations. However, the complexity

and computational demands of Neural Networks
might be a consideration for some businesses,

particularly those that require more interpretable
models or have limited resources.
Random Forest as a Balanced Alternative: The

Random Forest model, while slightly less precise

than Neural Networks, offers a good balance
between performance and interpretability. It could

be particularly useful in scenarios where
businesses need to explain pricing decisions to

stakeholders or when model transparency is

essential. This model’s strong performance across

MAE, RMSE, R², and F1-score also makes it a
reliable choice for dynamic pricing, ensuring that

prices are both competitive and customer-centric.
By leveraging the predictive power of these

machine learning models, e-commerce businesses
can set prices that not only reflect market

conditions but also resonate with customer

expectations. The ability to predict the right price
based on customer satisfaction enables businesses

to enhance customer loyalty, reduce churn, and
ultimately improve profitability. Whether choosing

a highly accurate but complex model like Neural
Networks or a more balanced option like Random

Forest, the key is to align pricing strategies with the
insights gained from these models, ensuring that

prices are fair, competitive, and customer focused.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Discussion

The findings from this study underscore the critical

role of advanced machine learning techniques in

optimizing e-commerce pricing strategies. By
evaluating five prominent models

Linear

Regression, Decision Trees, Random Forest,
Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Neural

Networks

this research provides valuable

insights into how businesses can leverage these

technologies to enhance customer satisfaction and
drive competitive advantage.
The Neural Networks model emerged as the top

performer across all evaluated metrics, including

Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square
Error (RMSE), R-squared (R²), and F1-Score. Its

superior ability to capture complex, non-linear
relationships within the data enables it to deliver

highly accurate predictions, effectively aligning
pricing strategies with customer satisfaction. This

model’s proficiency in managing large datasets and


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identifying intricate patterns makes it particularly

advantageous for businesses seeking to fine-tune
their pricing approaches. However, the high

computational cost and complexity associated with
Neural Networks may limit its practical application

for smaller businesses or those with limited
resources.
In contrast, the Random Forest model, while not

surpassing Neural Networks in accuracy, provides

a commendable balance between performance and
interpretability. Its ensemble approach and

robustness against overfitting make it a practical
choice for dynamic pricing scenarios where both

accuracy and model transparency are essential.

The Random Forest model’s ability to handle a

variety of data types and deliver reliable
predictions without extensive computational

demands positions it as a viable alternative for
businesses that prioritize a blend of accuracy and

ease of understanding.
Linear Regression, Decision Trees, and SVMs,

though less effective than Neural Networks and
Random Forest, still offer valuable insights. Linear

Regression, with its simplicity, may serve as a
starting point for businesses with less complex

needs

or

those

seeking

straightforward

interpretability. Decision Trees, while providing

clear decision rules, may be limited by their
tendency to overfit. SVMs, known for their

effectiveness in classification tasks, demonstrated
moderate performance in this study but may

require further refinement for optimal pricing

predictions.
The application of these models in real-world e-

commerce scenarios highlights the importance of

selecting a model that aligns with specific business
requirements. Businesses should consider factors

such as the complexity of their pricing strategies,
computational resources, and the need for model

interpretability when choosing the most
appropriate

machine

learning

approach.

Integrating these advanced models into pricing

decisions enables businesses to better align their
strategies with customer expectations, ultimately

enhancing satisfaction, loyalty, and profitability.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of

machine learning models for optimizing e-
commerce pricing strategies, with a focus on

improving customer satisfaction. The results
indicate that Neural Networks offer the highest

level of predictive accuracy and performance,
making them an ideal choice for businesses aiming

to leverage sophisticated data-driven pricing
approaches. Despite their advantages, the

complexity and resource requirements of Neural
Networks may necessitate consideration of more

accessible alternatives such as Random Forest,

which provides a balanced performance with
reasonable interpretability.
The insights gained from this research emphasize

the transformative potential of machine learning in
e-commerce pricing. By harnessing these

technologies, businesses can set prices that reflect
market conditions and customer preferences more

effectively, leading to enhanced satisfaction and
competitive advantage. Future research could

explore hybrid models or innovative techniques to

further refine pricing strategies, particularly in
addressing the limitations observed in simpler

models.
Ultimately, the integration of machine learning into

pricing strategies represents a significant

advancement for e-commerce businesses. The
ability to predict and adjust pricing based on

detailed data analysis allows for more precise and
customer-centric decisions, fostering greater

satisfaction and driving long-term success in a

competitive marketplace.

Acknowledgement:

All the author contributed

equally

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THE USA JOURNALS

THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (ISSN

2689-0984)

VOLUME 06 ISSUE09

16

https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajet

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Mozumder, M. A. S., Sweet, M. M. R., Nabi, N.,

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Technology Studies, 6(1), 189-194

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Mia, M. T., Ferdus, M. Z., Rahat, M. A. R., Anjum,

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Approaches for Predicting Human Behavior

using Deep Learning Method. Journal of
Computer Science and Technology Studies,

6(1), 170-178.


background image

THE USA JOURNALS

THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (ISSN

2689-0984)

VOLUME 06 ISSUE09

17

https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajet

23.

Ghosh, B. P., Imam, T., Anjum, N., Mia, M. T.,

Siddiqua, C. U., Sharif, K. S., ... & Mamun, M. A. I.
(2024). Advancing Chronic Kidney Disease

Prediction: Comparative Analysis of Machine
Learning Algorithms and a Hybrid Model.

Journal of Computer Science and Technology
Studies, 6(3), 15-21.

24.

Modak, C., Ghosh, S. K., Sarkar, M. A. I., Sharif, M.

K., Arif, M., Bhuiyan, M., ... & Devi, S. (2024).

Machine Learning Model in Digital Marketing
Strategies for Customer Behavior: Harnessing

CNNs for Enhanced Customer Satisfaction and
Strategic

Decision-Making.

Journal

of

Economics, Finance and Accounting Studies,
6(3), 178-186.

25.

Arif, M., Hasan, M., Al Shiam, S. A., Ahmed, M. P.,

Tusher, M. I., Hossan, M. Z., ... & Imam, T. (2024).

Predicting Customer Sentiment in Social Media

Interactions: Analyzing Amazon Help Twitter

Conversations Using Machine Learning.
International Journal of Advanced Science

Computing and Engineering, 6(2), 52-56.

26.

Shahid, R., Mozumder, M. A. S., Sweet, M. M. R.,

Hasan, M., Alam, M., Rahman, M. A., ... & Islam,

M. R. (2024). Predicting Customer Loyalty in

the Airline Industry: A Machine Learning
Approach Integrating Sentiment Analysis and

User Experience. International Journal on
Computational Engineering, 1(2), 50-54.

27.

Mozumder, M. A. S., Nguyen, T. N., Devi, S., Arif,

M., Ahmed, M. P., Ahmed, E., ... & Uddin, A.
(2024). Enhancing Customer Satisfaction

Analysis Using Advanced Machine Learning
Techniques in Fintech Industry. Journal of

Computer Science and Technology Studies,

6(3), 35-41.





References

Miah, J., Cao, D. M., Abu Sayed, M., & Sabbirul Haque, M. (2023). Generative AI Model for Artistic Style Transfer Using Convolutional Neural Networks. arXiv e-prints, arXiv-2310.

Rahat, M. A. R., Islam, M. T., Cao, D. M., Tayaba, M., Ghosh, B. P., Ayon, E. H., ... & Bhuiyan, M. S. (2024). Comparing Machine Learning Techniques for Detecting Chronic Kidney Disease in Early Stage. Journal of Computer Science and Technology Studies, 6(1), 20-32.

Cao, D. M., Sayed, M. A., Mia, M. T., Ayon, E. H., Ghosh, B. P., Ray, R. K., ... & Rahman, M. (2024). Advanced Cybercrime Detection: A Comprehensive Study on Supervised and Unsupervised Machine Learning Approaches Using Real-world Datasets. Journal of Computer Science and Technology Studies, 6(1), 40-48.

Aggarwal, C. C., & Gupta, A. (2018). Machine Learning for Data Science: A Comprehensive Guide to Predictive Modeling. Springer.

Breiman, L. (2001). Random forests. Machine Learning, 45(1), 5-32.

Brynjolfsson, E., Hu, Y. J., & Simester, D. (2013). "Good" products versus "bad" products: How online product reviews influence sales. MIT Sloan Management Review, 54(1), 13-18.

Chen, J., Xie, Y., & Yang, H. (2019). Predicting customer churn in e-commerce using machine learning algorithms. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 50, 99-108.

Cortes, C., & Vapnik, V. (1995). Support-vector networks. Machine Learning, 20(3), 273-297.

Goodfellow, I., Bengio, Y., & Courville, A. (2016). Deep Learning. MIT Press.

Hyndman, R. J., & Athanasopoulos, G. (2018). Forecasting: Principles and Practice. OTexts.

Kotsiantis, S. B. (2007). Supervised machine learning: A review of classification techniques. Informatica, 31(3), 249-268.

LeCun, Y., Bengio, Y., & Hinton, G. (2015). Deep learning. Nature, 521(7553), 436-444.

Nguyen, H., Tran, T., & Le, T. (2019). Enhancing pricing strategies with deep learning. Journal of Business Research, 98, 145-153.

Powers, D. M. W. (2011). Evaluation: From precision, recall and F-measure to ROC, informedness, markedness & correlation. Journal of Machine Learning Technologies, 2(1), 37-63.

Quinlan, J. R. (1986). Induction of decision trees. Machine Learning, 1(1), 81-106.

Zhang, X., Li, J., & Xu, M. (2020). Random Forests for improving pricing strategies in ecommerce. Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, 34(2), 430-445.

Rahman, M. A., Modak, C., Mozumder, M. A. S., Miah, M. N. I., Hasan, M., Sweet, M. M. R., ... & Alam, M. (2024). Advancements in Retail Price Optimization: Leveraging Machine Learning Models for Profitability and Competitiveness. Journal of Business and Management Studies, 6(3), 103-110.

Arif, M., Hasan, M., Al Shiam, S. A., Ahmed, M. P., Tusher, M. I., Hossan, M. Z., ... & Imam, T. (2024). Predicting Customer Sentiment in Social Media Interactions: Analyzing Amazon Help Twitter Conversations Using Machine Learning. International Journal of Advanced Science Computing and Engineering, 6(2), 52-56.

Shahid, R., Mozumder, M. A. S., Sweet, M. M. R., Hasan, M., Alam, M., Rahman, M. A., ... & Islam, M. R. (2024). Predicting Customer Loyalty in the Airline Industry: A Machine Learning Approach Integrating Sentiment Analysis and User Experience. International Journal on Computational Engineering, 1(2), 50-54.

Mozumder, M. A. S., Sweet, M. M. R., Nabi, N., Tusher, M. I., Modak, C., Hasan, M., ... & Prabha, M. (2024). Revolutionizing Organizational Decision-Making for Banking Sector: A Machine Learning Approach with CNNs in Business Intelligence and Management. Journal of Business and Management Studies, 6(3), 111-118.

Ferdus, M. Z., Anjum, N., Nguyen, T. N., Jisan, A. H., & Raju, M. A. H. (2024). The Influence of Social Media on Stock Market: A Transformer-Based Stock Price Forecasting with External Factors. Journal of Computer Science and Technology Studies, 6(1), 189-194

Mia, M. T., Ferdus, M. Z., Rahat, M. A. R., Anjum, N., Siddiqua, C. U., & Raju, M. A. H. (2024). A Comprehensive Review of Text Mining Approaches for Predicting Human Behavior using Deep Learning Method. Journal of Computer Science and Technology Studies, 6(1), 170-178.

Ghosh, B. P., Imam, T., Anjum, N., Mia, M. T., Siddiqua, C. U., Sharif, K. S., ... & Mamun, M. A. I. (2024). Advancing Chronic Kidney Disease Prediction: Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning Algorithms and a Hybrid Model. Journal of Computer Science and Technology Studies, 6(3), 15-21.

Modak, C., Ghosh, S. K., Sarkar, M. A. I., Sharif, M. K., Arif, M., Bhuiyan, M., ... & Devi, S. (2024). Machine Learning Model in Digital Marketing Strategies for Customer Behavior: Harnessing CNNs for Enhanced Customer Satisfaction and Strategic Decision-Making. Journal of Economics, Finance and Accounting Studies, 6(3), 178-186.

Arif, M., Hasan, M., Al Shiam, S. A., Ahmed, M. P., Tusher, M. I., Hossan, M. Z., ... & Imam, T. (2024). Predicting Customer Sentiment in Social Media Interactions: Analyzing Amazon Help Twitter Conversations Using Machine Learning. International Journal of Advanced Science Computing and Engineering, 6(2), 52-56.

Shahid, R., Mozumder, M. A. S., Sweet, M. M. R., Hasan, M., Alam, M., Rahman, M. A., ... & Islam, M. R. (2024). Predicting Customer Loyalty in the Airline Industry: A Machine Learning Approach Integrating Sentiment Analysis and User Experience. International Journal on Computational Engineering, 1(2), 50-54.

Mozumder, M. A. S., Nguyen, T. N., Devi, S., Arif, M., Ahmed, M. P., Ahmed, E., ... & Uddin, A. (2024). Enhancing Customer Satisfaction Analysis Using Advanced Machine Learning Techniques in Fintech Industry. Journal of Computer Science and Technology Studies, 6(3), 35-41.