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The Industrial Revolution transformed production by increasing efficiency and lowering item costs. This, along with a higher standard of living, boosted the consumer goods industry as more people gained disposable income, leading to higher demand. Businesses focused on mass production and enhancing the customer experience at the point of sale.

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Mass production lowered costs and made consumer goods more widely available and affordable. Businesses needed to keep better records to meet growing demand efficiently.

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Manual Tracking and Brand Marketing (1930's-1950's)

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Manual Tracking and Brand Marketing (1930's-1950's)

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Inventory was still tracked manually using ledgers and paper logs.

The rise of national advertising (radio, magazines) increased demand for products, making inventory control more essential

stock shortages and overproduction were common due to a lack of accurate forecasting tools.

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1930s-1950s: Manual Tracking and Brand Marketing

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Barcodes, innovative in design and function, were created as a means of automating the identification of products. However, during this period, they had not yet become common in retail and other industries.

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The first barcode (on a pack of Wrigley's gum) was scanned at a checkout.

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Early point-of-sail (POS) systems started appering, beginning the shift to digital tracking

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Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems integrated inventory, sales, and ordering processes into one system. Barcodes and scanners became widespread. Just-in-time (JIT) inventory methods, introduced by companies like Toyota, minimized warehouse costs and reduced overstock.

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Faster checkouts, accurate stock levels, and automated recording. Businesses reduced waste and improved customer satisfaction, avoiding both overstock and stockouts.

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AI and machine learning are used to forecast demand, identify buying trends, and recommend optimal inventory levels. These tools adapt river time, improving accuracy and helping companies prepare for seasonal or unexpected changes. For example, AI can recognize when a product is trending on social media and recommend increasing stock in specific regions.

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Inventory management systems now use cloud platforms that provide real-time visibility into stock levels across multiple locations. This data allows businesses to make immediate decisions such as rerouting shipments or adjusting marketing strategies based on current stock.