Provide a single, real-time view of inventory
Authors:
Michael Wholohan, Holger Lierse
Changed on:
17 Nov 2025
Problem
Successful omni-channel operations depend on having complete visibility into inventory across all locations and systems. However, stock is often distributed across multiple platforms (for example ERP, POS, WMS, 3PL) and siloed data prevents retailers from seeing their total available inventory in real-time.
Without this consolidated visibility, they lack the insights needed to make informed fulfilment decisions, optimise stock allocation across channels, and accurately promise availability to customers. This fragmentation leads to operational inefficiencies, poor inventory utilisation, and an inability to meet customer expectations across channels.
Example
A national fashion retailer with 150 stores and a growing e-commerce business. Their inventory is managed across separate systems: an ERP for purchasing and allocation, a POS system for in-store sales, and a WMS for their distribution centre.
During a promotional weekend, a popular dress was showing as "out of stock" online because the DC inventory had depleted. However, their stores collectively had 200+ units sitting on shelves and in backrooms. Without a unified view connecting these systems, the retailer couldn't fulfil online orders from store inventory, resulting in $100K in lost online sales while simultaneously having to markdown the same items in stores weeks later.
Additionally, their customer service team struggled daily with conflicting information. A customer would see 3 units "available" for a store pickup, but upon arrival, the store associate would explain those units were already reserved for other online orders or were returns awaiting processing. This disconnect between systems created frequent broken promises, increased customer service contacts, and damaged their brand reputation for reliability.
Solution Overview
Fluent Order Management solves inventory fragmentation by acting as the Single Source of Truth (SSOT) for all available stock. It leverages its Inventory Aggregation capability to ingest stock updates from disparate source systems such as ERP, WMS, POS, and 3PL in real-time among others, normalising and consolidating the data into a single, unified inventory pool. This eliminates siloed data, providing the retailer with a 100% accurate, real-time total view of available stock across the entire network.
Critically, the system calculates a Global Available-to-Promise (ATP) figure by dynamically accounting for not just on-hand stock, but also reserved items, and allocated safety stock, ensuring accurate promises to customers and preventing overselling.
Additionally, retailers can gain granular Inventory Segmentation & Statuses control, allowing them to define which stock (e.g. clearance SKUs or eligible items) is eligible for specific sales channels or fulfilment methods.
This centralised, accurate data is then delivered via real-time, resilient APIs out to all consumer-facing channels and store associate tools, guaranteeing that every customer touchpoint displays the same, current availability. The overall outcome is a significant increase in online sales by utilising previously hidden store inventory, the elimination of conflicting information, and a substantial boost to operational efficiency and customer trust.
By implementing Fluent OMS, the retailer gains total control and confidence in their inventory:
- Increased Sales and Availability: By combining DC and store stock, the retailer can now promise and sell inventory previously hidden in stores, directly converting lost online demand into revenue and avoiding costly markdowns.
- Operational Efficiency: The Customer Service team instantly receives accurate, unified information, reducing the time spent resolving inventory conflicts and lowering operational costs. Store associates can also rely on the system to know exactly what is available versus what is already reserved.
- Enhanced Customer Trust: Accurate Available-to-Promise data eliminates conflicting information and failed pickups, building customer confidence and safeguarding brand reputation for reliability.
- Inventory Utilisation: The retailer can actively manage where inventory is sourced from, improving stock turns and reducing the need for costly transfers or holding slow-moving inventory.
