{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,25]],"date-time":"2026-02-25T17:32:55Z","timestamp":1772040775972,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,10]],"date-time":"2025-02-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1739145600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"WUST Research Center, Washington University of Science and Technology"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Computers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Strategic cost optimization is a critical challenge for businesses aiming to maintain competitiveness in dynamic markets. This paper introduces Gen-Optimizer, a Generative AI-based framework designed to analyze and optimize business costs through intelligent decision support. The framework employs a transformer-based model with over 140 million parameters, fine-tuned using a diverse dataset of cost-related business scenarios. By leveraging generative capabilities, Gen-Optimizer minimizes inefficiencies, automates cost analysis tasks, and provides actionable insights to decision-makers. The proposed framework achieves exceptional performance metrics, including a prediction accuracy of 93.2%, precision of 93.5%, recall of 93.1%, and an F1-score of 93.3%. The perplexity score of 20.17 demonstrates the model\u2019s superior language understanding and generative abilities. Gen-Optimizer was tested in real-world scenarios, demonstrating its ability to reduce operational costs by 4.11% across key business functions. Furthermore, it aligns with sustainability objectives, promoting resource efficiency and reducing waste. This paper highlights the transformative potential of Generative AI in business cost management, paving the way for scalable, intelligent, and cost-effective solutions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/computers14020059","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,12]],"date-time":"2025-02-12T06:06:06Z","timestamp":1739340366000},"page":"59","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Gen-Optimizer: A Generative AI Framework for Strategic Business Cost Optimization"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9306-9637","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nuruzzaman","family":"Faruqui","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Software Engineering, Daffodil International University, Daffodil Smart City, Birulia, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh"}]},{"given":"Nidadavolu Venkat Durga Sai Siva Vara Prasad","family":"Raju","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Redhibbert Group LLC, Palo Alto, CA 94583, USA"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-6673-658X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shanmugasundaram","family":"Sivakumar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ServiceNow, Santa Clara, CA 95054, USA"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6221-3843","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nikhil","family":"Patel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Business Administration, University of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-0726-5403","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shinoy","family":"Vengaramkode Bhaskaran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zoom Video Communications, San Jose, CA 95113, USA"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4012-086X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shapla","family":"Khanam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Computing and Digital Technology, HELP University, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia"},{"name":"School of IT, Washington University of Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6747-0846","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Touhid","family":"Bhuiyan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of IT, Washington University of Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4732","DOI":"10.1002\/mde.4284","article-title":"Navigating green horizons: An empirical exploration of business practices aligned with environmental goals in the era of sustainable economy","volume":"45","author":"Peng","year":"2024","journal-title":"Manag. 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