The retail paradox: stock available, but sales lost

Retailers often face the frustrating paradox: systems show a product is in stock, but the customer can’t find it in-store or order it online. This so-called “phantom stock” leads to missed sales, disappointed customers, and damaged brand loyalty.

The root cause? Poor inventory accuracy and a lack of integration between the shop floor, stockroom, and webshop.

The true cost of inaccurate inventory

Studies show that average inventory accuracy in retail is only 60–70% (GS1 / Auburn RFID Lab ; McKinsey). In practice, this means 3 to 4 out of 10 products are incorrectly registered. The consequences are serious:

• Out-of-stock situations despite available stock
• Inefficient processes as staff spend time searching for items
• Unnecessary markdowns and write-offs
• Lower customer satisfaction and reduced loyalty
• Retailers may invest heavily in marketing and omnichannel strategies, but without real-time inventory visibility, these efforts fall short.

How Mieloo & Alexander solves this challenge

Mieloo & Alexander empowers retailers with RFID technology, sensors, and smart software that enable real-time inventory management. With our Asset Tracer solution and integration into warehouse management systems (WMS), retailers gain full control across the entire chain, from distribution center to shop floor.

Our solutions deliver:

• Inventory accuracy above 95% (Accenture case studies)
• Real-time product location in both stores and stockrooms
• Seamless webshop integration for accurate online availability
• Significant reduction in staff search time

A practical example: from chaos to control

A global fashion retailer partnered with Mieloo & Alexander to implement RFID. Previously, up to 20% of products were “lost” in the supply chain. After implementation:

• Real-time visibility across all items
• 30% fewer out-of-stock notifications
• 8% sales increase due to better product availability 

The power of real-time inventory data

By connecting shop floors, stockrooms, and webshops, retailers not only gain operational efficiency but also elevate the customer experience. Shoppers see accurate availability online, while staff instantly locate items in-store, creating a seamless, profitable omnichannel experience.