Revitalize your supply chain

Consumers have more choices than ever, with countless channels to shop from and a steady flow of new products competing for attention. With so much choice and volatility, how do you stay relevant, profitable and ready for what’s next?

According to the 2025 MHI Annual Industry Report, more than half of supply chain leaders plan to increase their investments in innovation, with 60% spending over $1 million and nearly 20% investing more than $10 million to modernize their operations. The focus has shifted toward end-to-end (E2E) supply chain orchestration, bringing together technology, data and talent to create more connected, resilient and efficient networks.

The market is painting a clear picture: Staying ahead requires leveraging technology strategically—not just reacting to change, but orchestrating your entire supply chain for visibility and control.

Where to begin

A good place to start is addressing the biggest friction points in your order management process: manual data entry, disconnected systems and data delays. You may have systems in place to help with elements of your supply chain, but if those don’t communicate with each other, you’re losing valuable time switching between platforms and reconciling data manually.

These gaps in your process present opportunities for greater efficiency. But where should you concentrate your investment? Each business is unique, and it may take some close inspection to identify your biggest opportunities for growth. Keep in mind that automation and AI are only as effective as the data behind them. Clean, connected data is the foundation for accurate insights and truly scalable automation.

Here are some key focus areas for supply chain investment:

Embrace an omnichannel strategy

Today’s shoppers expect a consistent experience across every channel, whether they’re buying online, in-store or through a retail partner. Investing in omnichannel visibility ensures customers can always find what they want, where they want it.

Brands that use integrated systems to manage multiple channels build stronger relationships with both retailers and customers , leading to repeat business and faster fulfillment.

Connect and optimize your systems

Disconnected systems create blind spots. Without shared data across your platforms, you can’t see the full picture of your operations, making it harder to spot trends or respond to disruptions.

The 2025 MHI report highlights that 82% of companies are using or plan to adopt AI technologies, and 91% are using or adopting cloud computing to centralize data and enhance visibility. Centralized, secure data allows for better forecasting, faster response times and smarter business decisions.

Maintain consistent item data

Accurate, comprehensive item data gives consumers the confidence they need to make a purchase in the digital aisle. When product details are missing or inaccurate, consumers lose confidence and will likely turn elsewhere to get what they need. Accurate, up-to-date item data also helps ensure your products are launched online and in stores when your retail partners need them.

Invest the time and resources needed to do a thorough evaluation of your item data. Where is it stored? Who manages and maintains the data? What technology is being used, and could it be improved? Clean, connected data not only improves sales but also strengthens trust across your network.

Manage your inventory

Supply chain agility and inventory challenges remain top concerns for the leaders polled by MHI. Poorly managed inventory leads to lost sales, frustrated customers and damage to your brand. Staying ahead of shifting demand while preventing overstocks and stockouts is a constant challenge.

According to the report, inventory and network optimization technologies are among the top priorities for supply chain leaders, with over 90% adoption expected within five years.

You need real-time metrics and sales data to help inform your inventory decisions. If the logistics of collecting, verifying and displaying this kind of data isn’t within your wheelhouse, consider investing in a tool to help you monitor sales trends.

Real-time insights into sales, demand and replenishment allow you to balance supply with customer needs, minimizing waste and improving margins.

Streamline fulfillment

You’ll also want to consider your fulfillment and warehousing processes as you evaluate potential investments. How complicated are your shipping and warehousing operations? Are orders accurate and on-time?

Complex fulfillment processes can slow growth and increase costs. The MHI report found that the adoption of automation and robotics continues to climb, with 83% of respondents planning to use or expand their use within the next five years.

Automated fulfillment and shipping solutions reduce manual errors and accelerate delivery. Some organizations are turning to micro-fulfillment centers or AI-enabled routing tools to get products closer to customers and shorten lead times.

Automation doesn’t just save money—it helps you build resilience and improve customer satisfaction.

Automate revenue recovery

Revenue recovery automation helps businesses find and fix leaks caused by inaccurate invoices, chargebacks or missed deductions. By auditing transactions and resolving errors automatically, companies protect margins and improve transparency with retail partners. The MHI Report notes that organizations investing in analytics and automation are more likely to report stronger performance and supply chain resilience, proving that small process improvements can have a big impact.

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The alternative: doing nothing

If you choose not to invest in your order management and fulfillment processes, what’s the cost?

Without a solid foundation built of efficiency and accuracy, your omnichannel operations will suffer. You will deliver an inconsistent experience to consumers and trading partners that will lead to lower satisfaction, strained relationships and poor brand perception. Inaccurate and incomplete item data can lead consumers to look elsewhere or result in higher return rates. Missing or inaccurate sales and inventory data will lead to missed sales and loss of profit. Lengthy shipping times and underutilized warehouse space can significantly impact your bottom line.

Let’s not forget your most valuable resource: your employees. You want them to be satisfied and productive, but with manual data entry, limited insight and time-consuming processes, employees could become dissatisfied.

In a competitive market, inaction can be the most expensive choice.

Invest in expertise

As the supply chain continues to evolve, you could remain stagnant. Or, you could analyze your business and invest in ways to grow along with your partners and customers.

Chances are, you got into business because you were passionate about your product. It’s likely that you’re not an expert in every aspect of the supply chain. The good news is that you don’t have to be!

Hand the heavy lifting of automation, order management, fulfillment and sales data tracking over to industry experts like SPS Commerce. As you invest in the expertise of reliable technologies, you can focus on innovation, growth and the priorities that matter most to you.