Global research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group has published new research insights to help retailers leverage AI effectively amidst evolving supply chain and inventory management challenges. The firm’s resource walks retail industry IT leaders through seven steps to develop AI strategies that optimize stock levels, streamline operations, and respond faster to market changes.
TORONTO, June 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Inventory has become one of retail’s most expensive guessing games. As customer expectations evolve faster than supply chains can respond, retailers are often stuck choosing between empty shelves and excess stock, both of which erode margins. In response to these growing industry challenges for organizations and their IT teams, Info-Tech Research Group has published Build Your AI Strategy for Retail Inventory Management, a practical blueprint that helps retailers transition from outdated inventory methods to intelligent, data-driven operations. The global research and advisory firm’s new resource outlines how industry IT leaders can apply AI to improve forecasting, optimize stock levels, and deliver measurable performance gains.
Adoption Challenges Are Slowing AI Integration in Retail Inventory Systems
Info-Tech reports in its recently published resource that despite the clear benefits of AI in transforming retail inventory management, many organizations face significant challenges in adoption. The firm’s research insights highlight that aligning the business stakeholders to develop a cohesive AI strategy remains a common hurdle, especially when it involves addressing existing inventory limitations and identifying critical gaps. Additionally, realizing AI’s full potential often requires mature data infrastructure and advanced system capabilities that not all retailers have in place.
“Inventory management applications that are AI-driven can deliver where traditional inventory management falls short,” says Donnafay MacDonald, research director at Info-Tech Research Group. “By providing real-time insights backed by big data, these applications enable retailers to respond to market changes through predictive forecasts that reduce waste, improve operational efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction.”
Info-Tech Recommends a Seven-Step AI Implementation Framework for Retail IT Leaders
To support IT and business leaders in overcoming these barriers, Info-Tech offers a clear, step-by-step framework featuring a practical use-case library. The blueprint outlines seven key steps to guide retail IT leaders in developing and executing an AI strategy tailored to their inventory needs. These include:
