The rise of omnichannel has fundamentally transformed distribution strategies. Physical stores, e-commerce, marketplaces, click & collect, ship-from-store… each channel comes with its own availability constraints. However, multiplying stock points doesn’t have to mean increasing costs—provided stock management is rethought with a unified and predictive logic.
Fragmented Stock, a Risk of Global Misalignment
In an omnichannel model, stock is often spread across multiple sites (stores, warehouses, dark stores) and managed using different rules. The result? Overstock in some areas, stockouts in others, costly internal transfers, and increased pressure on logistics.
More than 60% of retailers report margin losses due to poor stock allocation across their channels. This leads not only to higher operational costs but also to customer dissatisfaction from product unavailability.
Centralized Forecasting, Decentralized Execution
The solution isn’t holding more stock, but forecasting demand better. Today, artificial intelligence makes it possible to accurately anticipate required volumes per point of contact by factoring in local data, seasonality, return rates, and customer behavior.
With a centralized sales forecasting model, it becomes possible to define optimal minimum stock and safety stock levels for each channel—without generating excess.
Smart Orchestration of Stock Flows
The most advanced companies now use unified platforms to orchestrate stock movements in real time: store-based shipping, inter-warehouse pooling, and prioritization of orders by high-value channels.
This dynamic management provides a 360° view of inventory, essential for making informed restocking decisions and avoiding unnecessary clearance sales.
Harmonizing stock levels without increasing costs relies above all on the ability to forecast, steer, and redistribute intelligently. The omnichannel era isn’t won with more inventory—but with more precision, coordination, and visibility.
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