How Big Data Changed Fulfillment and Inventory in Retail

Designed for retail leaders and lovers alike, Retail Refined explores the in-store technology of the future, challenges the industry’s preconceived notions, and brings together retail’s biggest names to understand the brand strategies that will define the next decade in retail.

 

Retailers learned many lessons in 2020 relating to the “new” in-store experience. This knowledge now shines the light on what’s to come regarding inventory accuracy, flexible fulfillment, and more trends. Sharing thoughts on these subjects and the role of technology is Tim Kane, Retail Solutions Consultant for North America, Zebra Technologies. Zebra supports retailers with devices and solutions for inventory, fulfillment, operations, the customer experience, and analytics.

“The biggest lesson learned from 2020 is how quickly retailers could respond. In early March, when the pandemic was becoming a reality, retailers made immediate changes associated with digitizing. One customer advised me they had made 147 operational changes from March to May, and that’s incredible,” Kane said.

With the acceleration of adaption and technology growth, analytics becomes more vital for retailers. “There’s so much more data to capture than just POS. There are shelf cameras and robotics that can capture data and feed it to a machine learning engine. It can then send tasks to store managers and associates about inventory gaps,” Kane explained.

These new tools are elevating the role of store associates. They can focus on more high-level work, while technology automates simple, repetitive tasks. That’s especially beneficial for grocery stores. Customers can use devices to scan products themselves and pay for a frictionless experience. Associates can use them to pick and process orders. “The technology can also track when the customer is nearing the store for pickup when they arrive, and what spot they’re in; all creating a positive experience at curbside,” Kane explained.

Micro-fulfillment for grocery is becoming very sophisticated, learning on technology, as well. “The most expensive parts of online grocery are the labor to pick and the delivery. Now grocery stores are automating this with robotics. They are then partnering with delivery services to reduce costs but meet customers where they are.”

Listen to Previous Episodes of Retail Refined Right Here!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

summer melt
From Freshmen to Founders: Michigan Students Take on Higher Ed’s Summer Melt Crisis with MeetYourClass
May 29, 2025

A growing number of colleges are struggling to convert applicants into enrolled students—and to keep them engaged through graduation. With Gen Z students relying heavily on familiar digital platforms like Instagram and Discord for social interaction, traditional college tools for orientation, enrollment, and community-building often miss the mark. According to research, between 10 to 40…

Read More
Aviation maintenance
The Future of Flight Depends on Mechanics, Not Machines: How Jets MRO is Solving the Aviation Maintenance Talent Gap
May 28, 2025

Private aviation is booming—but behind the sleek jets and luxury cabins lies a hidden crisis. A looming shortage of qualified aviation maintenance technicians threatens to ground growth. According to Boeing’s 2023 Pilot and Technician Outlook, the industry will need about 690,000 new maintenance technicians by 2042. While private jet usage is skyrocketing, the infrastructure to…

Read More
digital learning ecosystem
Stride at 25: Redefining the Digital Learning Ecosystem for Today’s K–12 Learners
May 28, 2025

As virtual learning matures and school choice accelerates across the U.S.,the 25th anniversary of Stride Inc. offers a moment to reflect on how far the digital learning ecosystem has come and where it’s headed.. Once known as K12 Inc., the company helped pioneer online education at scale. But in a landscape shaped by evolving…

Read More
search
From Search (SEO) to Answers with Generative AI
May 27, 2025

In this episode of The Marketing AI SparkCast, Aby Varma—founder of Spark Novus, which partners with marketing leaders to adopt AI responsibly and strategically—hosts Mike Ensing, Founder and CEO of Revere AI. They explore how LLMs are revolutionizing search, shifting the customer journey, and forcing a new marketing playbook where brand discovery is increasingly…

Read More