When consumer demand is misjudged, retailers, drowning in inventory, are forced to slash prices and absorb losses. These inventory miscalculations can erode revenue and rapport with the very customers retailers have worked so hard to attract. Inventory management is at the heart of retailers' ability to deliver value.

Gartner agrees, “Having the right product on the shelf and getting it into the customer’s hands at the right time and by the customer’s chosen fulfillment method, represent a huge trust-building opportunity.

Retailers can master their inventory digitally with visibility into product selections, efficiency gains from automation, and the ability to sort products the way customers shop. In this playbook we: 

• Examine common pitfalls in conventional retail buying practices
• Clarify key capabilities for more profitable assortments  
• Identify compelling digital experiences for consumers and for buyers

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