What is advanced product inventory management?

Traditional inventory management involved clipboards, spreadsheets, and last-minute scrambles when demand spiked.

But today, with AI, omnichannel selling, growing customer demands, and global expansion, keeping track of products has become a whole new game. 

When your operations span warehouses, stores, and online platforms, the old methods just don’t cut it anymore. E-commerce inventory management software becomes a must-have for brands. And the cost of doing nothing is high. Manhattan Associates points out that gaps in omnichannel supply chains lead straight to stockouts, overstocks, and lost revenue.

Because of this, you need e-commerce stock management software to get control. The right platform tracks, controls, and optimizes inventory across every channel and reacts in real time. 

As Viktor Bergqvist, Head of the Inriver Innovation Lab, puts it, “Advanced algorithms can dynamically route and reallocate inventory as sales unfold, reacting in real time to regional demand surges. The result is a more resilient supply chain able to handle intense volume and speed.” 

In this article, you’ll get a clear view of what makes the best advanced inventory management software, how PIM strengthens inventory control, and seven strategies to organize and automate inventory tracking at scale.

What makes the best advanced inventory management software?

When you evaluate advanced inventory tools, the best systems should provide you with control and confidence across every channel you sell through. 

For example, the best inventory management software for e-commerce helps brands synchronize stock across marketplaces and online stores; however, the same principles also apply to in-store and global operations.

An e-commerce product management software must show you what’s in stock, but it should also connect the dots between your warehouses, stores, and digital platforms so you can make smarter decisions in real-time.

The first essential capability you should look for is real-time stock synchronization. You need one single source of truth across your entire network so customers see accurate availability whether they shop online or in-store. 

Alongside this, automatic reorder points prevent costly stockouts and overstocks by triggering replenishment before problems hit.

Next, look for AI-driven demand forecasting. By analyzing past sales, seasonal trends, and external factors, the system should predict what products you’ll need and where. This cuts waste and improves fulfillment speed.

Equally important is integration with a Product Information Management (PIM) platform. Inventory management is more robust when paired with accurate, structured product data, ensuring every SKU carries complete attributes and compliance details wherever it is listed.

Finally, multichannel support is critical. When your customers move between marketplaces, e-commerce sites, and physical outlets, your software must do the same. The right solution tracks and fulfills orders across channels without confusion or duplication.

How PIM supports advanced product inventory management software

Even the best product inventory management software struggles without a solid foundation in product data. That’s where a PIM makes the difference. 

By structuring and governing every attribute, specification, and detail, a PIM ensures your inventory management software always works with clean, consistent information.

As Viktor puts it: “Treat PIM as the single source of truth; use workflows to generate content and push it consistently to every channel.”

With PIM as the backbone, you gain inventory visibility that is accurate, compliant, and ready for any market.

How to choose the right PIM software

When you’re selecting a PIM, the goal is to centralize product data and create a foundation that makes advanced inventory management work at scale. 

The right solution connects seamlessly to your ecosystem, supports omnichannel growth, and ensures that every product detail is accurate before it reaches your customers.

There are several things you should consider when choosing a PIM:

• Integration strength: Your PIM must seamlessly connect with ERP, OMS, e-commerce, and inventory systems to provide a unified view of operations.
  
• Data governance: Look for features that enforce required fields, validation rules, and audit trails. This ensures that inventory management software works only with accurate, trusted data.
• Workflow automation: Approval gates, enrichment workflows, and publishing rules save your team time and reduce costly errors.
• Scalability: Your PIM should be able to handle thousands of SKUs and multiple languages or markets without slowing down.
• Composable architecture: A flexible system grows with you instead of locking you into one vendor’s way of working.

Some leaders hesitate at the upfront cost of a modern PIM, but this is a short-sighted approach. 

Viktor explains that “Implementations can fail if not aligned with business goals or if teams aren’t prepared to use the tools. Budgeting correctly and addressing overlooked opportunities is how you avoid wasted spend and achieve lasting efficiency.”

7 Key strategies for organizing and automating inventory tracking and management with PIM

Here are seven strategies you can apply with a PIM to strengthen your inventory management and scale with confidence.

1. Automate reorder points

Set dynamic reorder triggers that adjust to demand patterns in real time. This reduces guesswork, minimizes manual intervention, and prevents costly stockouts or overstocks. With automation in place, your team can focus on growth instead of fire drills.

2. Use digital shelf analytics

Track inventory performance, product availability, and customer behavior across every channel. With PIM-driven digital shelf analytics, you gain actionable insight into what sells, where demand spikes, and how to optimize replenishment. Smarter decisions become part of your daily workflow.

3. Implement advanced technologies

Harness AI to forecast demand, leverage IoT to streamline supply chains, and integrate PIM to keep every system aligned. These technologies work best when connected, giving you an accurate, accessible foundation for inventory decisions. Together, they drive efficiency and improve customer satisfaction.

4. Enhance vendor-managed inventory

Share real-time data with distributors and retail partners to increase visibility and collaboration. Vendor-managed inventory makes replenishment faster, encourages repeat orders, and helps you adapt to shifts in demand instantly. The result is fewer disruptions and stronger supply chain resilience.

5. Streamline order management

Automate logistics to route orders to the best fulfillment center and synchronize delivery schedules. With PIM as the hub, you can coordinate every step of fulfillment efficiently and effectively. That means fewer errors, faster delivery times, and a smoother customer experience.

6. Apply augmented reality in warehouses

Use AR tools like smart glasses to guide warehouse staff through stock picking and verification. This reduces errors and speeds up audits, ensuring customers get what they ordered, when they expect it. AR-enabled workflows make warehouse operations smarter and more efficient.

7. Track sustainability metrics

Integrate sustainability into your inventory performance evaluations. With accurate data, you can reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, and report your environmental impact transparently. A PIM-supported system ensures sustainability becomes a measurable, ongoing part of inventory management.

How Inriver powers advanced inventory management software

Inriver provides a powerful, all-in-one platform to tackle your most complex inventory challenges. 

As your brand, manufacturing operation, or retail business grows, you need more than spreadsheets or disconnected tools. With Inriver, you gain features built to keep you in control:

• Automation and predictive analysis: Use real-time data feeds based on your sales and market trends to anticipate issues before they become problematic.

• Online stock availability monitoring: Prevent stockouts by keeping tabs on your digital shelf. Automated alerts ensure you always know what’s available across platforms so your customers never have to wait.

• Performance tracking: See how your products perform at every touchpoint. Drill down into visibility and customer interactions to uncover actionable insights that help you drive conversions.

• Comprehensive integrations: Share data across your entire ecosystem with customizable integrations. From onboarding to point of sale, remove the blind spots that slow you down.

• Stay compliant and sustainable: Track sustainability metrics, adhere to regulations, and demonstrate your commitment to circular product journeys.

When you put these features to work, implementing the seven strategies above becomes seamless. With a single, closed-loop platform to run your operations, Inriver empowers you to manage inventory more effectively and grow without limits.

“With Inriver, we can now update our product information in one place and publish it across all channels in less than 15 minutes.”

– Jonas Taube

Advertising Manager, Coop Sverige

Read the full case study

Master product inventory management for business success

It doesn’t matter how strong your product line is or how loyal your customers are if your inventory management is holding you back. By implementing these strategies, you set yourself up for happier customers, more efficient operations, and long-term growth.

With Inriver, you gain a fully flexible digital solution designed to help you sell more products in more places. You get API-based syndication, digital shelf analytics, and an adaptable data model that adjusts to your requirements. That means you have the tools you need to manage complexity, stay compliant, and scale without limits.

“The most important aspect of PIM implementation is the change management and understanding its implications on people, processes, and governance. Let the people and process design the technology; don’t let the technology dictate your approach.”

– Melissa Dyke

Product Data Information Data Steward at Carhartt

Read the full case study

Now it’s your turn to take the next step. Book a personalized demo or meet with our team to discover how Inriver can give you complete control over your inventory and the confidence to grow.