INVENTORY VISIBILITY AND REAL-TIME AVAILABILITY SERVICES: TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS FROM THE KROGER TRANSFORMATION
Keywords:
Inventory visibility, real-time availability, retail innovation, RFID technology, AI in supply chain, Kroger transformation, inventory accuracy, customer satisfaction, digital retail systems.Abstract
In the face of increased consumer expectations and increasing competition from e-commerce, Kroger initiated a massive digital transformation centered on better inventory visibility and real-time availability. This study looked at how Kroger's use of sophisticated technology like RFID systems, cloud-based inventory management platforms, and AI-powered analytics affected how well it worked. The study used a mixed-methods research methodology to look at changes in inventory accuracy, stock availability, lead times, and customer satisfaction by combining survey data, interviews, and secondary sources. The results showed big increases in all of the important performance indicators. For example, inventory accuracy went up by more than 20%, while out-of-stock events went down by more than 50%. Thematic analysis of employee input showed even more that things were easier to use and more efficient. The results showed that Kroger's technology projects not only made the supply chain run more smoothly, but they also improved the customer experience. This made the store a paradigm for data driven inventory innovation.
