A common practice for consumers these days is to begin their research for a product online. Sites like buy.com and google.com allow consumers to easily compare prices between items and choose a retailer from whom they will make their purchase. However, price is certainly not the only factor influencing a decision. In many instances, a shopper wants the product immediately and is not willing to wait for delivery of an online purchase. Many retailers, including Walmart, offer the option to see if some items are in stock in a selected store.
This coordination between e-commerce and an inventory management system is really impressive when you think of what it must take to get you that information. While it is not 100% accurate (no IMS system is), making inventory information available down to single product – individual store level is an amazing use of this technology.
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