At the core of every retailer’s omni-channel supply chain is the need to be more flexible when managing inventory. Monthly cycle-to-merchandise planning is no longer adequate to keep up with rapid, short-term shifts in demand. Instead, retailers must make decisions at least weekly, while addressing the specific variables unique to each business segment, including individual stores, e-commerce sites and wholesale partners.

With consumers now expecting to be able to treat retail channels interchangeably, retailers are changing the way they manage inventory. As the path to purchase becomes increasingly convoluted, positioning inventory according to anticipated demand has become a daunting challenge. Retailers trying to re-engineer their business models to support omni-channel are looking for a single broad solution suite that can support their omnichannel business while removing technology hurdles. A system that examines one aggregated pool of inventory and allocates and replenishes stores based on established business rules allows retailers to respond quickly to trends and ensure the best performance from their merchandise assortment.

Conquering The Omni-channel Inventory Challenge, by online publishing network Retail TouchPoints, explores five important areas in which  retailers can leverage a single view of their inventory to gain more nuanced, granular control of the business:
- Automatic inventory replenishment
- Ability to create pre-packs
- Implementation of a virtual channel warehouse
- Multichannel planning throughout the business
- Assortment customization for specific markets or channels

Transitioning to an omni-channel model is a challenging but essential step toward delivering a seamless shopping experience and managing inventory effectively. An advanced retail management solution is a necessary tool for retailers who are determined to visualize and operate their business as one brand with many touch points, while ensuring that each offers the same core value.