AI and Automation: Buzzwords or Business Boosters?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation are hot topics right now. And it makes sense.

Everyone seems to be using AI and automation, whether professionally, personally, or both. But even with their widespread usage, there are some who are questioning whether AI is just a buzzword or if it’s truly disruptive (a definite buzzword) technology that benefits small and midsized businesses (SMBs).

Here at Cin7, we’re on team disruptive. We’re all about utilizing the latest technology, like AI and automation, to help our customers become as efficient and profitable as possible. Our firm commitment to use AI responsibly ensures that our AI systems are designed to protect our users’ privacy and data while giving their business a boost—something that sets us apart from the competition.

However, just because we see the business benefits of safely and securely using AI and automation doesn't mean others, like yourself, are on the same page. That’s why we asked 530 people in inventory and supply chain management roles how they’re using AI and automation today and what benefits they’ve seen as a result.

In Cin7’s 2025 State of Inventory Intelligence report, we share their answers and look at how respondents (who hail from different industries and countries) are overcoming common inventory challenges with the help of AI and automation.

Shared Business Struggles

Across the globe, businesses are struggling with similar operational pressures. High operational costs pose the largest dilemma, with the challenges of accurate demand forecasting, real-time inventory visibility, optimizing inventory turnover, and syncing across multiple channels following right behind.

According to our report, keeping up with growing consumer demand, especially during demand spikes (e.g., shopping “holidays” like Prime Day and Black Friday), are making managing everything even harder. At the same time, many manufacturers are contemplating bringing manufacturing back home due to U.S. tariff policies—a huge endeavor at the best of times.

On top of all these challenges, companies operating on fragmented channels are losing time and money trying to sync critical information, specifically their inventory.

Turning to Technology, Adoption is Uneven

These business challenges, along with supply chain disruptions, funding gaps, and outdated inventory systems, are stalling businesses’ efforts to reach one of their top priorities: growth.

So, what are they doing to get things back on track?

They’re turning to new technology. Fifty-nine percent are using automation, 39% are using AI, and 35% are using forward-thinking technologies.

The U.S. is leading the charge in AI daily usage at 28% more likely than average, while 1 in 5 of inventory and supply chain management employees across the globe reveal they aren’t using any of these technologies for inventory management. 

Usages for AI, Automation, and Forward-Thinking Technologies

AI, automation, and forward-thinking technologies are obviously growing in popularity, but they’re clearly not embraced by all. The reasons? Many businesses don’t know how to use these tools effectively or even which tool (or tools) they need. Other reasons for shying away from these technologies include a limited budget and little or no leadership support.

Understandable concerns, but the many businesses that are eagerly investing in AI, automation, and forward-thinking technologies for their inventory management needs couldn’t be happier. They’re using them most for:

1. Optimizing inventory management processes (61%)
2. Analytics (55%)
3. Reducing operational costs (50%)
4. Demand forecasting (50%)
5. Stock replenishment (47%)
6. Writing (27%)

And, as it turns out, taking advantage of these cutting-edge technologies has paid off.

AI and Automation: Business Boosters

Excitingly (but not surprising to us), the report reveals that AI and automation are business boosters, not buzzwords. Survey respondents report clear and quantifiable benefits, including:

• Increased real-time visibility (85%)
• Reduced operational costs (79%)
• Reduced stockouts (78%)
• Reduced overstock (75%)
• Reduced team burnout (66%)

But there are even more benefits, such as:

• Accurate tracking (67%)
• Faster order processing (62%)
• Fewer fulfillment errors (46%)
• Reduced waste (46%)
• Increased sales (41%)

Plus, respondents reported significant time savings.

How Cin7 is Using AI

For Cin7, saving companies time, helping them scale efficiently, and improving inventory accuracy makes employing AI a no brainer. Our advanced, AI-powered inventory management tools, including Cin7 ForesightAI and Intelligent Document Recognition (IDR), efficiently automate your inventory forecasting and purchase order tasks, ensuring intelligent workflows for error-free outcomes that contribute to a growing bottom line.

Cin7 customer Dion Alessi, General Manager, HairCo, backs up our claims. Before ForesightAI, forecasting was a time-consuming, Excel-based task. After ForesightAI, Dion could predict inventory (based on lead times, minimum order quantities, and past sales data) three to six months in advance, leading to a 10% increase in sales.

“I was pulling my hair out before. With Cin7 ForesightAI, the forecasts are all there with a couple clicks of a button,” he says. “It changed my life.”

With ForesightAI and IDR, you can save hours of your life and redirect your energies to accelerate your growth and build your business’s legacy.

“Looking back, I would have done this ten years ago. The accuracy in the numbers and the time saved with Cin7 is huge,” says Dion.

Request a free demo to see how you can boost your business with Cin7’s AI and automation, and to learn more about what product businesses like yours think about these technologies, download Cin7’s 2025 State of Inventory Intelligence report today.