____________________________________________________________________________________ Inventory Management
AI as a sidekick, not a shortcut
Retailers thinking about adding AI to their inventory operations don’ t need to go all in immediately. Many start small, testing with a few product categories or regions to get a feel for how the models perform. This not only reduces risk but also helps teams get comfortable with the new tools before rolling them out more broadly.
Clean data is also a must. AI relies on structured data to operate at its fullest potential. That means making sure historical sales, inventory records and product data are all collected. From there, retailers can layer in external data sources to make the models even more accurate. It’ s also important to define what success looks like early on. Whether the goal is to improve in-stock availability, reduce markdowns or drive revenue, having a clear focus helps shape the implementation and keep things on track.
AI isn’ t here to replace human judgment, it’ s here to support it. By helping retailers respond faster, adjust more easily and plan with greater accuracy, it brings a fresh momentum to the industry. In a world where timing and availability can make or break a season, AI isn’ t about giving up control, it’ s about having the right tools on hand to keep things moving forward. ■
Gurhan Kok www. invent. ai
Gurhan Kok is the Founder & CEO of invent. ai. Invent. ai is a global retail inventory optimization solutions provider that helps leading retailers accelerate their omni-aware complexities by using profitoptimization models for demand forecasting, allocation, replenishment, returns, and markdowns, powered by AI with advanced analytics.
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