Consolidating Tech Debt & Your AI Stack

Retail is in its AI era. From streamlining operations and optimizing supply chains to increasing personalization for shoppers, retailers have been eagerly jumping on the artificial intelligence bandwagon to modernize their brand and workflows. As the industry continues to embrace digital transformation and adopt innovative AI solutions, it’s important to remember—fragmented systems and duplicative functionality contribute to increased tech debt. 

Be wary of bolting new AI tools onto already complex tech stacks as it could create a sprawling mess of disconnected platforms and overlapping capabilities; simplify your AI stack before it becomes tech debt. Managing technical debt is crucial for maintaining agility and delivering exceptional customer experiences. Technical debt refers to the long-term costs associated with choosing suboptimal solutions that require future rework such as additional implementations. Accumulating technical debt can hinder innovation and agility, making it challenging for retailers to adapt to market changes effectively. 

Duds & Dupes: Your AI Tech Stack

Many retailers are expanding their technology stacks with a variety of AI platforms to support current and future business needs. As businesses grow, and needs change, retailers will seek out more solutions that address new concerns; however, sometimes this leads to patchy workflows and/or duplicative functionality. Streamline your technology stack by adopting a single AI system that aligns with your business needs and scales as you grow—analytics, personalization, forecasting, inventory optimization and more—not only simplifying your AI stack but also enhancing operational efficiency.

In order for AI to be truly impactful, it must be embedded into every step of your workflow. Instead of piecing together a patchwork of specialized AI tools, or worse—fake AI modules, select a system that offers comprehensive functionalities to avoid the pitfalls of managing multiple disparate tools: outdated data, low visibility, inaccurate forecasting, limited collaboration, etc.. 

Eliminating redundant components and embracing multi-purpose services also simplifies your AI stack. You don’t need separate assortment management systems for ecommerce and physical retail, or isolated demand planning for stores and wholesale accounts. Simplification not only cuts down on the resources needed for system upkeep but also accelerates the implementation of new features, ultimately enhancing your ability to respond to market demands and meet shopper expectations. As retailers continue to embrace digital transformation, choosing an all-in-one AI system can be the smartest way to stay ahead—without drowning in complexity.

The takeaway: you don’t need more AI tools. You need a better, unified one.

While adopting AI is essential for staying competitive, retailers must approach its integration thoughtfully—choose integrated and comprehensive solutions that closely align with business needs from the start. Unified AI platforms reduce complexity and technical debt, paving the way for sustained innovation and ensuring that your systems grow in tandem with your business objectives.

7thonline is a leading provider of cross-channel merchandise planning and assortment management solutions, empowering retailers and wholesalers to make smart decisions at every step of the retail workflow. With artificial intelligence and machine learning embedded into the core of the platform, 7thonline has been enabling leading retailers and wholesalers to optimize planning processes, demand forecasting, and inventory productivity. To learn more, email us at info@7thonline.com or book a demo with our team.