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For retailers in 2025, supply chain management presents significant challenges. The requirements of omnichannel retail in particular, coordinating traditional stores with online fulfillment, combined with global trade tensions, changing regulations, and economic uncertainty, are testing retail supply networks. Many previously reliable systems are coming up short, with transparency across these multi-channel operations becoming harder to maintain at a time when clear insight is especially valuable.
From unpredictable inventory allocation to operational blind spots, today’ s disruptions aren’ t merely inconveniences. They translate directly into lost sales and diminished customer loyalty. While these problems are multifaceted, many stem from a surprisingly fundamental issue: inadequate visibility.
The invisible link
The statistics paint a concerning picture for retail at large. A root cause of these losses lies in inadequate visibility within stores and warehouses. Despite technological advancements, 68 percent of European retailers report only partial inventory accuracy, with just four percent achieving 100 percent real-time visibility. Difficulties in warehouses have a knock-on effect to-sales: 40 percent of retailers cancel at least one in ten online orders due to stock mismatches, eroding customer trust and loyalty.
This visibility gap creates tangible consequences in the retail environment. Without an accurate view of inventory across channels, retailers face the notorious‘ online yes, in-store no’ dilemma, where digital platforms promise availability that physical locations cannot fulfill. Conversely, stores may hold inventory that online customers desperately seek but cannot access. Meanwhile, customer patience wears thin as BOPIS( buy online, pick up in store) orders face delays and home deliveries arrive incomplete.
Internally, staff waste countless hours searching for merchandise that inventory systems incorrectly show as available.
Transformative technology
Fortunately, emerging technologies are now able to change the way retail supply chains are monitored and managed in real time, delivering greater transparency across channels.
Autonomous mobile robots( AMRs) equipped with scanning capabilities, such as those powered by Brain Corp’ s BrainOS platform, can conduct continuous inventory stock checks on retail floors ensuring that what the system shows actually matches physical reality. These same platforms enable real-time inventory tracking throughout stores, warehouses, and distribution centers. Unified commerce platforms provide a comprehensive view of inventory across all channels, helping retailers better inform their operations.
From insight to excellence
For retailers navigating an increasingly demanding consumer landscape, supply
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