As retailers continue to compete with e-commerce, they remain challenged in optimizing the use of in-store inventory as available to fulfill. The emergence of safe, mobile robots will help retailers to make better use of in-store inventory, while also enhancing the customer experience. Robots in the store will soon be used to not only handle product but to engage with the customer to improve customer service. -John Santagate, Research Director, IDC

Reality, as we know, can be virtual. It can also be augmented.

Planners working with complex supply chains will find that artificial intelligence systems will free them for more interesting work — and could even lead to rising in the company ranks.