Retail & Change Season 2, Ep. 7 | How Stoc is Revolutionizing Inventory Intelligence
Retail is evolving, and Rob Blythin , co-founder and COO of Stoc , is at the forefront of this transformation. Recently, on the Retail & Change podcast, Rob shared how his team is tackling some of the industry's most persistent challenges with innovative, actionable solutions.?
See the full interview here
Stoc first began as a mission to solve real-world retail pain points. Through conversations with over 300 industry stakeholders, Rob and his team uncovered two recurring challenges: labor inefficiencies and inventory management. “Inventory management stood out because of its complexity and the impact it has on revenue,” Rob explained. From inaccurate stock counts to distribution inefficiencies, it was clear there was room for a smarter approach.?
Smarter Inventory, Stronger Insights
Stoc focuses on inventory intelligence, not just by collecting data but by transforming it into actionable recommendations. As Rob put it, “Don’t just give me another data platform; tell me what to do to solve the problem.” This philosophy drives their inventory advisor platform, which provides retailers with clear, data-backed steps to avoid stockouts, optimize merchandising, and boost sales.?
A Cool Idea for Beverage Retailers
One of Stoc’s standout innovations involves beverage coolers in retail environments. “These coolers are often managed by distributors, not the store’s staff, which creates gaps in oversight,” Rob shared. Stoc’s platform bridges this divide by tracking product movement, cooler temperature, and even ensuring planograms are followed.
The Power of Retrofit Technology
Unlike solutions requiring significant upfront investment, Stoc focuses on retrofitting existing infrastructure. This simplicity is a game-changer, and Rob mentioned, “Millions of coolers are already out there. We made it possible for anyone to install our solution in under two minutes.” Stoc also operates independently of store IT networks, removing hurdles and making adoption seamless.?
From Insights to Revenue Gains
By preventing stockouts, ensuring planogram compliance, and streamlining merchandising, Stoc’s customers are seeing measurable revenue growth. “We baseline where a store is today and track performance as they implement our recommendations,” Rob explained. These insights create not just a smarter inventory system but a stronger bottom line.?
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The Future of Retail is Dynamic
As retail shifts toward personalization and flexibility, Stoc is paving the way for dynamic planograms. Rob envisions a future where retailers can update layouts weekly—or even daily—based on customer preferences, seasonal trends, and regional needs.?
Smarter inventory management isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about delivering measurable results, and Stoc’s focus on solving real problems (rather than building technology for technology’s sake) is resonating with customers. As Rob put it, “We’re not perfect yet, but we’re learning alongside our customers and refining as we go. That’s the best way to develop.”
Catch Rob’s full conversation on the Retail & Change podcast and visit their booth at NRF in January to see their solutions in action.?
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Driving Global Marketing Operations at Crane Payment Innovations
3 个月Great insights, Rob! It's inspiring to see how Stoc is tackling some of the biggest challenges in retail with innovative solutions. I'm particularly impressed with your team's focus on sustainability and reducing waste in the industry. Keep up the great work! #Retail #Innovation