Asian retailers turn to agentic AI for inventory resilience

This is amidst supply chain disruptions that are observed in Asia and Australia.

Retailers across Asia will turn to agentic artificial intelligence (AI) for efficient inventory and supply chains in 2026 amidst supply chain disruptions in Asia and Australia, according to a report from Fluent Commerce.  

“Supply-chain disruptions have become the new normal across Australia and Asia Pacific, with extreme weather, geopolitical tensions and financial shocks exposing long-standing vulnerabilities,” aid Jamie Cairns, chief strategy officer at Fluent Commerce.

Local businesses continue to feel the strain, Cairns said, as economic pressure leaves retailers with less room for error.

Meanwhile, a total of 92% of business-to-business (B2B) supply chain leaders in Australia said that they face fulfilment challenges, a YouGov study commissioned by Fluent Commerce found.

More than one in four B2B leaders in Australia say the lack of automation or workflow flexibility is a major pain point, the YouGov study added.

“With pressure rising, it is no surprise that more than 80 per cent of retailers globally say Agentic AI will be central to improving operational efficiency over the next year,” Cairns said.

Although many organisations have already begun to invest in Agentic AI, full rollout has been gradual, the report said.

By the end of 2026, more retailers are expected to fully implement or scale AI agents across their operations. These agents will optimise supply chains with dynamic inventory allocation, smarter reorder timing, proactive rebalancing, and real-time visibility across fulfilment networks.

In Australia and APAC, sourcing strategies are shifting. Retailers are reassessing global supply chains and moving toward near-shoring and regional sourcing, increasing the need for accurate data and integrated systems.

Combined with Agentic AI, these approaches will reduce reliance on distant suppliers and help businesses manage geopolitical and logistical uncertainty.

It added that by prioritising modern, flexible technology and deploying it strategically, retailers in Australia and across Asia Pacific will be better positioned to strengthen resilience, respond to disruptions, and compete more effectively.