71% of Retailers still lack advanced order management — But plan to catch up in 2026

Today's retail customers expect fast, flexible, and frictionless fulfillment — whether they're picking up in-store, ordering online, or returning items across channels. But most retailers aren't yet equipped to meet those expectations.

In our recent survey, when retail leaders were asked whether their business has advanced order management capabilities — including features like omnichannel order capture, BOPIS (buy online, pick up in store), order orchestration, and real-time inventory visibility — 71% admitted they currently have no or only partial capabilities.

The good news? A majority of these retailers plan to upgrade their systems in 2026 to close that gap.

Why advanced order management is no longer optional

Customers don't think in channels. They just want speed, convenience, and options. That means retailers must be able to:

• Capture orders from any channel — online, in-store, mobile
• Fulfill based on real-time inventory and logistics logic
• Offer flexible delivery and pickup options, like BOPIS or BOPAC (buy online, pick up at curbside)
• Easily process returns across locations
• Optimize order routing for speed, cost, or customer preference

Without advanced order orchestration, even well-stocked retailers can lose sales, suffer delivery delays, or frustrate loyal customers with disconnected experiences.

Investment momentum is building

While the gap today is clear, most retailers are taking steps to improve. Our data shows that 2026 will be a turning point, with investments planned across the sector to modernize fulfillment systems.

Interestingly, the drive to adopt advanced order management is coming from the top: owners and presidents are the decision-makers most likely to prioritize these upgrades. This indicates that order management is being viewed not just as an operational fix, but a strategic growth lever.

What retailers should look for in an order mangement as part of a retail specific ERP

Investing in an advanced Order Management is not just about keeping up — it's about managing the entire supply chain in a single solution and creating a competitive advantage. Here's what to look for when evaluating your next solution:

• Omnichannel order capture
  Your order management should unify orders from all sales channels — eCommerce, mobile, call centers, physical stores — into a single system. This ensures centralized visibility and reduces the risk of duplicate or lost orders.
• Real-time inventory visibility
  To avoid stockouts and overpromising, you need real-time insight into inventory across stores, warehouses, fulfillment centers, and even goods in transit. This allows for accurate availability and smarter sourcing decisions.
• Order orchestration logic
  Look for tools that let you automate how and where orders are fulfilled — whether by proximity, inventory availability, cost efficiency, or customer preference. The ability to set rules and priorities ensures both flexibility and control.
• Flexible fulfillment options
  BOPIS, BOPAC, ship-from-store, and ship-to-store must be native to the system — not bolted on. Your Order mangement should make it easy to switch fulfillment methods without disrupting the customer journey.
• Seamless returns and exchanges
  The return process is a critical part of the experience. A modern Order mangement should enable customers to return online purchases in-store, manage restocking workflows, and track return status effortlessly.
• Integration with POS and WMS
  Order management doesn't live in a vacuum. Choose a solution that manages the entire supply chain planning and execution and ntegrates seamlessly with your broader retail tech stack, so data flows across departments — not into silos.
• Exception handling and alerts
  When something goes wrong (inventory mismatch, fulfillment delay, etc.), your Order mangement should alert the right people and provide options for resolution. Proactive exception handling helps protect the customer experience.
• Scalability and cloud readiness
  As you grow, your system should grow with you. Cloud-based solutions offer the scalability, speed, and accessibility required for multi-location operations and rapid expansion.

With these capabilities in place, retailers can stop managing orders — and start orchestrating experiences.

Get ready for what's next

If your retail business is still juggling orders across disconnected systems or struggling to offer flexible fulfillment options, 2026 is the year to modernize. 93% plan to invest in advanced order managemetn capabilitites.

we shouldn't call it an OMS as we are selling order management within an ERP . tie it up with the inventory, and the finance for a full supply chain management with a single source of truth.