Supply chains report that 3% to 20% is lost to chargebacks each year (Source: Gartner Top 5 Practices to Reduce Retailer Chargebacks and Lower Costs). And in today’s fast-paced, data-driven supply chains, chargebacks are a costly and often avoidable problem.  

These penalties, typically issued when a trading partner fails to meet specific requirements, can erode profit margins, damage relationships, and disrupt operations.  

Fortunately, digital supply chain collaboration offers ways to reduce and even prevent retailer chargebacks. By improving visibility, communication, and data accuracy, businesses can align more closely and avoid the pitfalls that lead to chargebacks. 

What is supply chain chargeback management?  

A supply chain chargeback is a financial penalty that a retailer or distributor imposes on a supplier for failing to meet agreed-upon requirements, such as late shipments, incorrect labeling, or incomplete orders. Supply chain chargeback management aims to reduce these penalties by identifying root causes, improving compliance, and streamlining operations across the supply chain. 

5 tactics to prevent supply chain chargebacks  

Supply chain management software streamlines fulfillment by improving order accuracy, automating workflows, and providing real-time visibility, helping businesses avoid chargebacks due to delays or errors. 

Here are five tangible ways to tackle chargebacks using digital tools and smarter collaboration: 

1. Identify and group chargeback root causes 

The first step in solving any problem is understanding it. Supply chain chargebacks often stem from recurring issues like late shipments, incorrect labeling, or mismatched purchase orders. However, without a clear view of the data, these issues can seem random or isolated. 

What to do: 

• Use digital dashboards to track chargeback trends over time. 

• Group chargebacks by root cause categories—such as shipping errors, documentation issues, or compliance failures. 

• Visualize this data to spot patterns and prioritize the most frequent or costly issues.  

By categorizing chargebacks, you can move from reactive firefighting to proactive problem-solving. 

2. Assign owner for compliance improvements 

Once you know what’s going wrong, the next step is to make sure someone is responsible for fixing it. Too often, chargeback management falls through the cracks because no one owns the process. 

What to do: 

• Assign clear ownership of chargeback categories to specific teams or individuals—such as logistics, warehouse operations, or customer service. 

• Set KPIs and accountability metrics for reducing chargebacks in each area. 

• Use workflow tools to track progress and ensure follow-through. 

When everyone knows their role in compliance, it becomes easier to make consistent improvements. 

3. Boost collaboration with suppliers, retailers 

Chargebacks are often a symptom of poor communication between trading partners. Misaligned expectations, unclear requirements, or last-minute changes can all lead to costly mistakes. 

What to do: 

• Use cloud-based platforms to share real-time data with suppliers and retailers. 

• Set up automated alerts for order changes, shipment delays, or compliance risks. 

• Hold regular collaboration meetings to review performance and align with expectations. 

Digital collaboration tools help ensure that everyone is working from the same playbook—reducing misunderstandings and improving execution. 

4. Use data tools to improve performance 

Modern supply chains generate massive amounts of data. The key is turning that data into actionable insights that help prevent supply chain chargebacks before they happen. 

What to do: 

• Implement predictive analytics to flag potential issues—like shipments at risk of delay or orders with missing documentation. 

• Use machine learning models to identify which suppliers or SKUs are most likely to trigger chargebacks. 

• Integrate data from multiple systems (ERP, WMS, TMS) to get a 360-degree view of supply chain performance. 

With the right tools, you can shift from reacting to chargebacks to preventing them altogether. 

5. Strengthen quality checks and dispute handling 

Even with the best systems in place, mistakes can still happen. That’s why it’s important to have strong quality control and a clear process for disputing chargebacks when they’re issued in error. 

What to do: 

• Introduce automated quality checks at key points in the supply chain—such as before shipping or receiving. 

• Use digital documentation (photos, timestamps, scan logs) to verify compliance and support dispute claims. 

• Create a centralized chargeback portal where teams can track, investigate, and respond to chargebacks efficiently. 

A strong dispute process not only helps recover lost revenue but also builds trust with trading partners. 

Prevent chargebacks: Collaboration is the cure for chargebacks 

Supply chain chargebacks are often a symptom of deeper issues, such as miscommunication, poor data quality, or lack of visibility within a supply chain. OpenText Business Network Cloud helps businesses reduce chargebacks by providing end-to-end visibility and automation across trading partner interactions. Our Trading Grid and Command Center solutions enable businesses to identify and group chargeback root causes through advanced analytics and real-time monitoring of transaction data.  

It supports assigning ownership for compliance improvements, such as e-invoicing, by integrating workflows and role-based dashboards that track and trace accountability throughout your entire supply chain.  

OpenText enhances collaboration with suppliers and retailers via a centralized, cloud-based environment that facilitates seamless data exchange and communication. No matter your industry or geographic location, the path to fewer chargebacks and better performance starts with a smarter, more collaborative connected community. 

The post How to prevent retailer chargebacks in your supply chain: 5 proven tactics  appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

Every June 27th, we celebrate Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). These businesses are the backbone of our economy, driving innovation, creating jobs, and fostering vibrant communities. This year, MSME Day 2025 carries a powerful theme: 
“Enhancing the Role of MSMEs as Drivers of Sustainable Growth and Innovation.” 

 At OpenText, we recognize the unique challenges faced by MSMEs. Often, MSMEs lack the resources of larger corporations, yet they need enterprise level integration to compete in the global marketplace. That’s why we are proud to support MSMEs with easy EDI integration solutions that help them grow, compete, and innovate while building long-term sustainability.  

What is MSME Day? 

Recognized by the United Nations since 2017, MSME Day raises awareness about the critical role MSMEs play in building strong, inclusive, and sustainable economies. These businesses: 

• Represent 90 percent of all companies worldwide 

• Provide over 70 percent of global employment 

• Contribute approximately 50 percent of global GDP 

This year’s theme highlights the importance of MSMEs in leading innovation and driving responsible growth. 

OpenText is aligned with this mission by offering integration and automation solutions that help MSMEs operate more efficiently, reduce waste, and adapt to changing global standards for sustainable business. 

Why supporting MSMEs matters more than ever  

MSMEs often face significant hurdles, including: 

• Limited access to financing and technology 

• Disruption from global economic shifts or supply chain issues 

• Difficulty scaling digital operations 

Yet these businesses are uniquely positioned to lead innovation at the local level and shape resilient, sustainable economies. 

OpenText bridges the gap by delivering digital infrastructure that enables MSMEs to overcome resource limitations. Our EDI solutions are designed to simplify supply chain integration and support long-term business continuity regardless of size or budget. 

How OpenText supports MSMEs with flexible, scalable digital solutions  

With decades of experience in EDI integration, OpenText offers solutions that go far beyond basic document exchange. Our technology is built for the evolving needs of MSMEs, supporting a wide range of communication protocols, data standards, and deployment models. We help businesses stay compliant with global mandates, adapt quickly to changing partner requirements, and harness the power of AI and analytics to unlock new opportunities. 

Key benefits of OpenText EDI for MSMEs: 

• Quick and scalable deployment 
  Get started quickly with expert onboarding and personalized support. 

• Custom supply chain integration 
  Integrate with internal ERP systems and external trading partners for operational efficiency. 

• Real-time transaction visibility 
  Gain full oversight of your data to make more informed, timely decisions. 

• Flexible support models 
  Choose between self-service tools or managed services based on your business needs and budget. 

• Growth-ready technology 
  Scale confidently with a solution built to support long-term sustainability and innovation. 

By reducing manual effort and enabling smarter, data-driven logistics, OpenText solutions also help MSMEs lower their environmental footprint, further supporting the theme of sustainable growth. 

Join the celebration and embrace growth  

MSME Day is a time to celebrate the incredible achievements of small businesses. But it’s also a call to action. Learn more about OpenText and discover how to overcome EDI integration hurdles to unlock new levels of efficiency and growth.  

Happy MSME Day!  

The post MSME Day 2025 – Celebrating the engine of our economy  appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) represents a significant shift in how food safety is managed in the United States. One of its key sections, FSMA Section 204, focuses on enhancing food traceability to address foodborne illness outbreaks more effectively. The compliance rules defined in FSMA 204—which were initially set to enter into force in January 2026—will apply from July 2028, placing new requirements on organizations that handle specific food items. 

What is FSMA Section 204? 

FSMA Section 204, also known as the FDA final rule on Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods, mandates capturing and reporting key data elements (KDEs) for specific foods. The regulation is designed to enable the FDA to identify and remove potentially contaminated food items from the market swiftly, thereby reducing the health risks associated with foodborne illnesses. 

Key requirements for organizations involved in the food supply chain 

The FSMA Section 204 regulation identifies seven Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) in the food supply chain. Organizations involved in these CTEs must maintain a traceability plan, capture related KDEs for each event, and enable data reporting to the FDA within 24 hours upon request. The CTEs include: 

1. Harvesting 

2. Cooling 

3. Initial packing 

4. First land-based receiver 

5. Shipping 

6. Receiving 

7. Transformation 

For each CTE, organizations must capture specific KDEs, which vary depending on the event but often include information such as the location, date, and time of the event, the quantity and type of food involved, and the Traceability Lot Codes (TLCs) assigned to the food products. 

Foods in scope of the regulation 

To focus the regulatory efforts on foods that present the highest public health risks, the FDA maintains a Food Traceability List (FTL) that governs which foods are in scope for the FSMA 204 regulation. This list includes various high-risk foods such as: 

• Fresh leafy greens 

• Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables 

• Soft cheeses 

• Shell eggs 

• Nut butters 

• Certain seafood items 

Foods that contain listed foods as ingredients are also subject to the additional recordkeeping requirements, provided the listed food remains in the same form (e.g., fresh) in which it appears on the list.  

While the regulation covers a broad range of foods, it provides several exemptions that are listed in § 1.1305 of the final rule. 

Steps to prepare for FSMA Section 204 compliance 

While the compliance deadline was pushed out to July 2028, it is crucial to work on deployment plans already now. The extended deadline provides ample time for companies to understand the requirements and implement the necessary systems to ensure compliance. However, delays can lead to rushed implementations, increased costs, and potential non-compliance penalties. 

Key steps that organizations should take as they prepare for FSMA Section 204 compliance include:  

1. Understand the requirements: Organizations must familiarize themselves with the FSMA Section 204 regulation, including the specific KDEs and CTEs they need to track. 

2. Develop a traceability plan: A comprehensive traceability plan should outline how the organization will capture, store, and report KDEs for each CTE. 

3. Implement technology solutions: Leveraging technology solutions that automate the capture and reporting of KDEs can streamline compliance efforts and improve overall supply chain performance. 

4. Train staff: Ensuring that all relevant staff members are trained on the new requirements and the organization's traceability plan is essential for successful implementation. 

5. Collaborate with supply chain partners: Effective compliance requires collaboration across the supply chain. Organizations should work closely with their suppliers and customers to ensure seamless data exchange and traceability. 

Benefits of enhanced food traceability 

Complying with FSMA Section 204 offers several benefits beyond regulatory adherence. Implementing the required improvements in food traceability enable, for example: 

• Enhanced food safety: Rapid identification and removal of contaminated products reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. 

• Efficient recalls: Targeted, precise recalls minimize the associated costs and impact on business operations. 

• Operational efficiency: Enhanced traceability enables streamlined inventory management and optimized supply chain operations. 

• Consumer trust: Transparency in the food supply chain enhances consumer trust and brand loyalty. 

Partnering with OpenText to ensure FSMA Section 204 compliance 

To efficiently meet the compliance requirements for FSMA Section 204, organizations should look to automatically capture the KDEs on all CTEs they participate in. OpenText Business Network offers a highly configurable solution for companies in the food supply chain to automate FSMA compliance while improving their overall supply chain performance.  

By leveraging OpenText's deep expertise and advanced technology portfolio, businesses can ensure seamless data exchange with supply chain partners and meet the FDA digital reporting requirements.  

To learn more about FSMA Section 204 and how OpenText can help your organization, please read our InfoDoc: Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) – Section 204(d) 

The post Road towards FSMA 204 compliance: Regulatory push to improve food traceability and safety  appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

Every day, dm opens its doors to more than two million customers in Germany. We also have an extensive retail footprint across Europe, offering health and beauty products through 4,000 stores across 14 countries.

At dm, employee wellbeing is part of our DNA. We’re always looking for new ways to empower each of our 89,100 employees to make dm an even better place to work. To put that philosophy into action, we give people in back-office teams a chance to experience customer-facing roles in our retail stores.

Some years ago, I took time out from my enterprise content management (ECM) duties to work at one of our stores. It was a brilliant opportunity to see first-hand how our teams use our digital systems to support their work.

Recognizing opportunities for innovation

My time working in-store gave me many valuable new ideas about how we could improve the employee experience and reduce manual workload for our colleagues, so they can spend more time on value-added customer service interactions.

For example, our in-store teams used to manually collate and send paper documents such as delivery receipts and supplier invoices from our stores in Germany back to our headquarters. Then, colleagues in our central back-office departments would manually re-key the information into our SAP systems to make sure key data was available for other business processes. It was time-consuming, repetitive work.

There were also challenges with document-driven processes in other parts of the organization. Previously, some teams relied on a mixture of shared folders, email inboxes, and phone calls to collaborate on tasks. This led to challenges in terms of transparency and insight into status information, making it difficult to respond to specific requests. Version control was also tricky, and it was hard to avoid duplication of effort.

In total, we store around 80 million documents across the business, and that number is growing steadily year-on-year. To take control of that data, we looked to consolidate and streamline document management across the business.

Taking a fresh approach to document management

Around the same time, we were embarking on another digital transformation project. One of the main goals of the project was to move our country-specific instances of SAP ERP to a single global SAP Retail solution. This transformation will pave the way for our migration to SAP S/4HANA. The driving motivation for all of this was the harmonization of processes and maintaining a future-proof technology platform. It was the perfect opportunity to modernize our approach to document management.

When we evaluated the capabilities of OpenText Content Management for SAP Solutions and OpenText Core Archive for SAP Solutions, we knew that they would be an excellent fit for our needs. Both solutions can be tightly integrated with SAP, including SAP Fiori mobile apps. And with OpenText Content Cloud, we can enhance our document management capabilities while reducing maintenance and management workload.

Harnessing cloud solutions and industry best practices

Working with OpenText Professional Services and a consulting partner allowed us to implement the new solutions very quickly and efficiently. By using tools and accelerators from OpenText FasTrak Migration and FasTrak Move & Modernize, we consolidated over 80 million existing documents on the new platform on time and within budget. That was a big achievement for such a large and complex migration project.

By leveraging the integration capabilities of our OpenText and SAP solutions, we’ve transformed the way we store, manage, and archive documents across our business. For example, our in-store employees now use an SAP Fiori app to take photos of delivery receipts and supplier invoices from their mobile devices. Using digital workflows, we can capture the relevant data and bring it into SAP Retail in real time. Not only are we eliminating manual, repetitive work, but we’re also making information available to the business faster than ever.

Replacing information silos with a central, secure document management solution is also making it much easier for other teams to collaborate. For example, our product and quality teams can now work together on shared documents in the cloud, facilitating full transparency and always up-to-date status information.

Planning for an AI-powered future

Looking ahead, we’re excited to build on what we’ve achieved. We plan to expand our OpenText solutions to our international business units, and to explore how we might use generative AI technology to automate more tasks and unlock productivity improvements.

To learn more about how we worked with OpenText to boost the efficiency of document-driven business processes, read our case study.

The post Inspiring people with creativity, curiosity, and new solutions  appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

Let’s face it: plain old SMS is starting to feel... well, a little 2005. Customers today expect more from their omnichannel messaging experiences — and guess what? OpenText™ Core Messaging is stepping up in a big way. 

We’re excited to announce that rich communication channels such as WhatsApp and RCS are on the horizon — and they’re bringing with them a whole new world of interactive, secure, visually rich business messaging. 

What’s new? It’s not just text anymore 

Say goodbye to boring SMS text threads. With WhatsApp and RCS (Rich Communication Services) Business Messaging, you’ll be able to deliver: 

• Media-rich content (images, videos, maps!) 
• Location sharing 
• Quick reply buttons 
• Cards and carousels that let users browse, book, or buy — all in one chat 

It’s not just messaging. It’s an interactive experience. Whether you’re confirming an appointment, promoting a new product, or helping someone book a service — everything happens inside one sleek, seamless conversation. 

Security? It's built right in 

Worried about spam or sketchy senders? Don’t be. 

• WhatsApp Business requires strict Meta-verified registration — you have to prove you're legit before you can message at scale. 
• RCS, backed by Google, has its own vetting standards to keep bad actors out. 
• And while OpenText Core Messaging gives you seamless access to both platforms — we just make sure you're plugged into the right, verified ecosystem. 

Your messages? Safe. Your brand? Trusted. Your customers? Confident. 

Why it matters — especially to Gen Z (and the rest of us) 

Let’s be real: Gen Z doesn’t just want to receive a message — they want to interact with it. Scrollable carousels, tappable replies, media-rich previews... it’s the new standard. 

These upcoming features are purpose-built for the next generation of digital customer experiences — and businesses that adopt them early will stand out in a sea of static text. 

TL;DR: Messaging, but make it awesome 

With WhatsApp and RCS channels, OpenText Core Messaging will help you: 

• Engage customers where they are 
• Create richer, smarter, automated conversations 
• Build trust with verified, secure interactions 
• Drive better outcomes (and look really good doing it) 

So go ahead — ditch the dusty SMS templates and step into the future of omnichannel messaging. Your customers (and your ROI) will thank you. 
 
Want to be among the first to roll out rich messaging at scale? Stay tuned — the future of business messaging is arriving soon, and it’s looking very good. 

The post Messaging just got a major glow-up appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

LuLu Group International has a wide-ranging business portfolio, but retail is the cornerstone of what we do. Around the world, we have over 260 stores with a combined floor area of more than 1.1 million square meters, offering high-quality products to millions of customers every year. 

We’ve placed the customer experience at the heart of our long-term growth strategy. Our goal is to deliver smooth, high-quality journeys wherever our customers shop: from our e-commerce sites to our brick-and-mortar stores. 

To deliver sparkling customer services, it’s crucial to keep our shelves stocked. To make that process run smoothly, our in-store teams work behind the scenes to receive goods from our network of global suppliers. With over 14 million stock-keeping units, keeping up with a continual flow of supplier deliveries is no easy task. 

In the past, our goods-receiving process was extremely paper-heavy. Suppliers would bring paper invoices to the goods-receiving areas of our stores, which our teams needed to manually match to the corresponding purchase orders before they could accept the deliveries. The whole process was very time-consuming, which often meant there was a significant lead time in getting new products on the shelf. 

Reducing reliance on paper

To make the goods-receiving process flow more quickly and smoothly, we realized that we needed to take a fresh approach to accounts payable (AP). If we could remove the need for our teams to spend time leafing through paper invoices, we knew we’d unlock big time-savings that would ultimately help us get products ready for sale faster. 

Our search for an AP automation solution led us straight to OpenText. As well as being leaders in the information management space, OpenText has a very strong strategic relationship with SAP—the technology platform our business is built on. When we evaluated the capabilities of OpenText Vendor Invoice Management for SAP Solutions and OpenText Intelligent Capture, we knew we’d found the solution we were looking for. 

Transforming AP processes

Using the OpenText solutions, we’ve transformed our AP process. Today, our suppliers send us their invoices in advance of delivery. We use Intelligent Capture to automatically extract the necessary data from the documents and then use Vendor Invoice Management to match each invoice to its corresponding purchase order in SAP.  

When suppliers deliver to our stores, our goods-receiving teams scan the invoices using a handheld device. If the solution can validate all the information is correct, our teams get instant confirmation that they can accept the delivery. For compliance purposes, we store copies of all paper invoices off-site and use OpenText Archive Center for SAP Solutions to retain a copy of the invoice data. 

Going live in just six months

By working closely with experts from OpenText Professional Services, we went live with our new digital AP process in just six months—a big achievement for a project considering the large number of stakeholders involved. At every step, OpenText helped us to engage with our in-store teams and suppliers and ensure the new workflow would meet their needs. 

It’s now been five years since we first started our collaboration with OpenText, and the results we’ve achieved are outstanding. Our digital workflow for AP enables us to process invoices with a 70% straight-through processing rate. When you consider that we receive nine million invoices a year, that level of automation translates into massive time-savings for our teams. 

Most importantly, the OpenText solutions are enabling us to get new products on our shelves faster than ever. We’ve accelerated our goods-receiving processes by an estimated 50%, which helps us to ensure our customers can always find their desired products when they visit our stores. 

To learn more about how OpenText solutions are underpinning high-quality customer experiences at LuLu Group, click here to read our case study or watch the video below.

The post How AP automation is helping LuLu Group International deliver seamless shopping experiences appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

The retail and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industries are experiencing a profound technological metamorphosis, driven by rapid digital innovation, changing consumer expectations, and the need for operational efficiency.

As we navigate through 2025, five groundbreaking technological trends are fundamentally reimagining how businesses engage with consumers, manage supply chains, and create value. 

Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics: The new competitive advantage 

Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from a buzzword to a critical strategic tool for retail and CPG companies. In 2025, AI-driven predictive analytics are no longer optional but essential for survival in a hyper-competitive marketplace. 

Advanced machine learning algorithms now enable businesses to predict consumer behavior with unprecedented accuracy. By analyzing vast datasets encompassing purchase history, social media interactions, demographic information, and real-time market signals, companies can create highly personalized marketing strategies and product recommendations. 

For CPG brands, AI is revolutionizing product development. Companies are using predictive models to anticipate emerging consumer preferences, design products that meet precise market needs, and optimize pricing strategies in real-time. Retail giants are deploying AI to manage inventory with remarkable precision, reducing waste and minimizing stockout scenarios. 

Immersive augmented and virtual reality experiences 

The boundary between physical and digital shopping experiences has become increasingly blurred, with Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies leading this transformation. In 2025, these technologies are no longer novelties but integral components of retail and CPG marketing strategies. 

AR-enabled mobile applications allow consumers to virtually "try on" clothing, visualize furniture in their homes, or see how cosmetic products might look on their skin. CPG brands are using AR to provide interactive product packaging, enabling consumers to access detailed product information, ingredient sourcing, and sustainability credentials with a simple smartphone scan. 

Virtual reality experiences are creating immersive brand storytelling platforms. Consumers can now take virtual factory tours, understand product manufacturing processes, and connect with brands on a deeper, more experiential level. 

Sustainability tech: From buzzword to business imperative 

Sustainability technology has transitioned from a marketing differentiator to a fundamental business requirement. In 2025, consumers demand transparency, and technology is the primary mechanism for delivering authentic sustainability credentials. 

Blockchain technology is now standard for supply chain traceability. Consumers can track a product's entire journey—from raw material sourcing to manufacturing and distribution—ensuring ethical and environmentally responsible practices. IoT (Internet of Things) sensors enable real-time monitoring of carbon emissions, waste reduction, and energy consumption across global supply chains. 

Advanced recycling technologies and circular economy platforms are helping CPG companies redesign packaging, minimize environmental impact, and create closed-loop product lifecycle systems. Smart packaging with embedded sensors can now communicate product freshness, reduce food waste, and provide precise recycling instructions. 

Hyper-personalized omnichannel experiences 

The omnichannel strategy has matured into a sophisticated, data-driven approach that seamlessly integrates online and offline experiences. In 2025, technology enables truly personalized consumer journeys that adapt in real-time to individual preferences and behaviors. 

Advanced customer data platforms consolidate information from multiple touchpoints—e-commerce platforms, mobile apps, in-store interactions, and social media—to create comprehensive consumer profiles. Machine learning algorithms then utilize these profiles to deliver contextually relevant experiences across every interaction point. 

For retail and CPG companies, this means dynamic pricing, personalized promotions, and product recommendations that feel intuitive rather than algorithmic. Conversational AI and advanced chatbots provide instant, context-aware customer support that rivals human interaction. 

Edge computing and 5G: Enabling real-time retail intelligence 

The convergence of edge computing and 5G networks is unlocking unprecedented capabilities for retail and CPG businesses. These technologies enable real-time data processing, low-latency interactions, and sophisticated in-store and digital experiences. 

Smart retail spaces equipped with edge computing can now track customer movements, analyze shopping behaviors, and optimize store layouts instantaneously. Computer vision technologies powered by 5G can monitor inventory levels, detect theft, and provide seamless checkout experiences. 

For CPG brands, edge computing enables sophisticated quality control mechanisms. Sensors can detect microscopic variations in product quality, ensuring consistent standards across global manufacturing facilities. Real-time logistics tracking allows for dynamic route optimization and precise delivery estimations. 

Adaptive innovation is the new competitive landscape 

The technological trends of 2025 demonstrate that success in retail and CPG industries is no longer about implementing individual technologies but creating adaptive, interconnected ecosystems. Companies must view technology not as a tool but as a fundamental approach to understanding and serving consumers. 

The most successful organizations will be those that can integrate these technologies holistically, maintain agile innovation frameworks, and continuously reimagine their relationship with consumers. As technology continues to evolve at an exponential pace, the only constant will be change itself. 

Are you ready to learn more?

At OpenText, we will spend 2025 continuing to focus on meeting the supply chain, sustainability, and customer engagement requirements of our customers - including AI. Learn more about how OpenText solutions for consumer goods and retail industries can help you overcome your challenges.

The post The top 5 trends transforming retail and CPG in 2025  appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene, wreaking havoc across multiple U.S. regions. Compounding the Southeast's recovery from Helene, it also exposed the fragility of modern supply chains. With high winds, torrential rain, and devastating flooding, Milton severely disrupted vital supply chains, paralyzing port operations as well as road and rail transportation. The resulting bottleneck in goods movement sent shockwaves across industries. For retail, it underscored an urgent need to address the escalating threat of natural disasters to global trade.

A perfect storm of disruptions as retail’s peak season approaches

Unfortunately, with peak season on the horizon, retailers are also navigating another perfect storm of potential supply chain disruptions. The recovery of transportation routes in the hurricane-affected areas is expected to be a prolonged process, likely taking weeks. Recent labor disruptions at U.S. ports are adding to the complexity. Some reports suggest that supply chain restoration from these could also take four to six weeks. Black Friday is just three weeks away. With consumer confidence up, interest rates and inflation down, retailers could be dealing with heavy demand. amid burgeoning customer expectations in addition to these disruptions.

Global retail supply chains are not exempt from the chaos. Unpredictable weather events are not confined to North America, nor are labor disputes and shortages. Across the globe, Geopolitical tensions, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, could affect ocean freight just as air cargo capacity winds down for the winter. Both costs are expected to increase in response to demand, with ocean rates expected to climb by as much as 30%.

Risk mitigation strategies are working but resiliency remains an issue

There is good news on the horizon. Many retailers have implemented measures to mitigate some of the risks in their supply chains. Strategies like nearshoring, dual-sourcing, and regionalization have all begun to have an impact on retail supply chains. However, a recent McKinsey survey suggests that many companies may be losing sight of one crucial aspect of the supply chain: resiliency.

Visibility and compliance are two main areas of concern for analysts. The number of respondents to the McKinsey study who said they had deep visibility into their supply chains fell from 56% to 30% over the last two years. This is concerning, given that disruptions often occur deep in the supply chain and can take weeks to recover. Also worrying: Only 9% of respondents to the McKinsey survey said their supply chains were currently in compliance with new regulations.

For retailers, supply chain technology delivers agility and stability

Retailers may not have a choice when it comes to compliance. Regulations, such as the digital product passports in Europe, are increasing. Modern supply chains are complex, and disruptions unpredictable. Addressing that complexity and building the flexibility to meet unexpected challenges is crucial to ensuring a stable supply chain in an increasingly unstable environment. Managing inventory levels and diversifying sourcing and fulfilment strategies is a step in the right direction. However, the need for an agile supply chain that can quickly adapt to consumers' changing demands and pivot when faced with disruption is more crucial than ever. The question for retailers is how.

Supply chain analysists are touting integrated supply chain technologies with advanced visibility capabilities as the answer. Increasingly augmented with AI capabilities, these technologies can help retailers anticipate risks, identify and rectify inefficiencies, maintain stock levels, and ensure strong supplier and customer relationships.

Most importantly, they can deliver supply chain visibility ensuring clear skies ahead for retailers can meet demand this peak season, no matter what the forecast calls for.

Ready to see what OpenText supply chain technologies can do for you? Check us out.

The post Retail: As peak season approaches, so does a perfect storm of supply chain challenges appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

For businesses using Oracle NetSuite as their ERP, managing Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) data transfers can be a complex and time-consuming process. Manually entering data, dealing with errors, and jumping from one system to the next creates bottlenecks slows you down if you don't integrate NetSuite adequately.

But what if there was a way to seamlessly integrate EDI with NetSuite, improve data visibility, and streamline your entire operation? With our one-of-a-kind Built for NetSuite EDI integration adapter, you get a composable, i.e. flexible NetSuite connector, made from existing pre-built components and customized to your unique needs.  

Earlier this year, I was interviewed by CIO.com to speak about our fast and affordable approach to NetSuite EDI integration. Here’s a preview: 

The challenges of "cookie-cutter" NetSuite connectors

Integrating EDI with NetSuite is never a one-size-fits all solution – not if you truly want to achieve seamless and automated supply chain processes. Choosing an off-the-shelf NetSuite connector leads to these disappointing outcomes: 

• Delays in implementation 

• Errors and inconsistencies in data 

• Limited visibility into trading partner transactions 

• Unforeseen costs  

The difference of a flexible Built for NetSuite adapter 

OpenText offers a NetSuite-certified adapter that seamlessly integrates EDI with NetSuite. Use enterprise-level components from our modular system customized to fit any business, any complexity and (almost) any budget.  

• Faster Setup: Get up and running quickly with pre-built components. 

• Reduced Errors: Automated processes ensure accurate information flow. 

• Real-Time Visibility: Gain instant insights into all EDI transactions within NetSuite. 

• Lower Costs: Reduce IT overhead and eliminate manual data entry. 

Ready to learn more?

Learn how we can help streamline your supply chain with the OpenText Built for NetSuite ERP adapter. You can also watch the full CIO.com interview.  

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OpenText was an active presenter and participant in the recent IoT Tech Expo in Santa Clara, CA. We also introduced customers to our AI IoT orchestration solution, Aviator IoT. There’s just something about attending a live event and answering questions as they arise that is incredibly satisfying. I wanted to share some of my observations from attending this event. 

The biggest take away is that IoT continues to be a hot topic for organizations. And with both established and emerging companies vying for attention, there continues to be strong investment and innovation in the technology. As Forrester noted, “82% of organizations are adopting IoT solutions or applications.”

 Additional insights from the IoT Tech Expo

Here are some of the other insights I took note of:

• AI was mentioned everywhere but shown very little.  Although artificial intelligence (AI) was a major talking point, examples of real-world implementations were less common. Many companies are still exploring how to effectively integrate AI with IoT to create value. The bottom line:  AI IoT is ripe for future development.

• The lack of IoT standards is still an issue.  There were many discussions about wireless IoT protocols like LoRaWAN and HaLow and other protocols underscoring that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The choice of protocol often depends on the specific data requirements and operational context of the IoT application. On a side note, stay tuned for an upcoming blog about how Aviator IoT will deliver tools for launching custom themed IoT applications.

• Long live the digital twin!  The concept of digital twins—virtual models of physical devices—remains a hot topic. These models can be used for real time fault detection, particularly in complex machinery and equipment.  Read more about the ever-evolving digital twin here.

• Supply chain traceability is more important than ever. Quality control, safety and compliance are just a few of the reasons. Traceability enables swift identification and recall of faulty products, ensures adherence to regulatory stands, builds consumer trust be demonstrating transparency and aids in pinpointing the source of issues in the supply chain. Ultimately, it helps organizations maintain high standards and responsiveness throughout the production and distribution processes. 

Please reach out to me if you would like to have a copy of my session presentation or to just chat about this exciting event.  And you can learn more about OpenText Aviator IoT here.

From IoT Expo to OpenText World

This reflection leads me to another highly anticipated tech event on the horizon, OpenText World North America, November 18 – 21 in Las Vegas. Learn about the latest innovations and technologies, including AI and IoT, at this marquee event. Hear keynote speeches and sessions led by industry thought leaders and visionaries and gain knowledge and practical insights into how technology can help your business adapt to a rapidly changing world.

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