Key Terms



unified commerce

technical

Unified commerce is a way retailers and service companies connect all sales channels, inventory, customer information and payments into a single system so customers get the same experience whether they shop online, in an app, or in a store. For investors it matters because it can boost sales, cut costs and make customer behavior easier to predict—like replacing separate neighborhood maps with one live GPS that shows the whole route and traffic.



AI

technical

Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that enables machines to mimic human thinking and learning, allowing them to analyze information, recognize patterns, and make decisions. For investors, AI matters because it can improve how businesses operate, create new products, or identify opportunities faster and more accurately than humans alone, potentially impacting company success and market trends.



predictive fulfillment

technical

Predictive fulfillment is the practice of using data and algorithms to anticipate customer demand and move products or services closer to where and when they will be needed, often before an order is placed. Like stocking the pantry before guests arrive, it can speed delivery and boost sales but also ties up capital and raises the risk of excess inventory, so investors watch it as a driver of margins, cash flow and operational efficiency.



real‑time inventory visibility

technical

Real-time inventory visibility is the continuous, up-to-the-minute view of what stock a company has, where it is, and its condition across warehouses, stores, and supply routes — like watching a live map of a retailer’s shelves and trucks. For investors, it matters because accurate, instant inventory data helps firms avoid lost sales or excess stock, improves forecasting and cash flow, and can reveal operational strength or weakness that affects profitability and growth prospects.



digital wallets

financial

A digital wallet is an app or online service that lets people store and use payment details, identification, loyalty cards, or cryptocurrency on a phone or computer—think of it as a virtual version of a physical wallet that can pay for things, prove identity, or hold digital assets. Investors care because widespread use changes how consumers pay, shifts revenue toward companies that control these payment flows, and introduces technology, security and regulatory risks that can affect profits and valuation.



cross‑channel support

technical

Cross-channel support is a coordinated customer service approach where a company helps people seamlessly across different contact methods — phone, email, chat, social media, or in-app messaging — so a conversation can continue without repeating information. For investors, it matters because smooth, consistent support lowers customer churn, reduces service costs and protects brand value, which can translate into steadier revenue and better long-term returns.



alternative payments

financial

Alternative payments are any ways for consumers or businesses to send and receive money that differ from traditional cash, checks or standard bank card transactions, such as mobile wallets, buy‑now‑pay‑later plans, QR code payments, peer‑to‑peer transfers and cryptocurrencies. Investors care because these options can change how fast and cheaply companies collect revenue, shape customer habits and market share, and introduce different costs, fraud risks and regulatory issues—like a store adding new checkout lanes that change traffic and costs.



mobile‑first fulfillment models

technical

A mobile‑first fulfillment model organizes order-taking, inventory movement and delivery around customers and workers using smartphones and apps, rather than desktop websites or traditional back‑office systems. Think of it like redesigning a store and its delivery routes for people who shop on their phones: it can speed up orders, cut costs, improve tracking and loyalty, and therefore influence sales growth, margins and how quickly a business can scale — all key signals for investors.












03/23/2026 – 08:30 AM

Leaders achieve up to 2X revenue growth, but only 7% of retailers are true unified commerce leaders

ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Manhattan Associates Inc. (NASDAQ: MANH), today announced the findings of its 2026 Global Unified Commerce Benchmark for Specialty Retail, the industry’s most comprehensive assessment of how well retailers connect digital and physical experiences to drive growth, profitability and loyalty. Conducted by Incisiv, a leading retail research firm, the Benchmark is based on real-world purchases and returns. It analyzes more than 400 specialty retailers across EMEA, LATAM and North America on 330 capabilities spanning four key experience areas: Shopping, Checkout, Fulfillment, and Service.

The 2026 Benchmark reveals that while the industry has made steady progress in unified commerce maturity since 2023 when it was first launched, only 7% of retailers have achieved true unified commerce leadership while 33% are still stuck in the Basic category. Leaders are translating connected, data‑driven yet customer-centric experiences into nearly 2X higher growth rates than their basic peers.

The Benchmark highlights a new competitive reality in specialty retail, where scale, assortment and brand presence alone no longer guarantee growth. Key insights include:

AI is reshaping commerce: AI in retail is projected to unlock more than $500 billion in value globally by 2030, shifting the focus from simple task automation to intelligent systems that anticipate demand, personalize in real time and resolve friction before customers encounter it. AI shopping assistants, predictive fulfillment, in‑store personalization and intelligent cross‑channel support with context‑aware escalation are defining the new frontier.

Consumer journeys are fragmented: More than 66% of consumers now use two or more channels before completing a purchase, moving fluidly between marketplaces, social platforms, messaging apps and retailers’ own sites and stores.

Execution economics are under pressure: Global logistics and fulfillment costs have risen by over 20% in the last three years, as customers expect faster delivery, flexible fulfillment and seamless service as standard.

Inventory intelligence: Real‑time visibility and dynamic allocation drive significantly higher inventory turns – 50% in NOAM, 45% in EMEA and 27% in LATAM – helping reduce stockouts and markdowns.

Yesterday’s differentiators are now table stakes. 38% of the capabilities that differentiated leaders in 2024 have become table stakes by 2026, including basic real‑time inventory visibility, digital wallets and cross‑channel support.

“Retailers are being asked to do something incredibly hard right now: deliver faster, more personalized experiences while also protecting margin,” said Katie Foote, SVP & CMO, Manhattan Associates. “What this benchmark makes clear is that the retailers pulling ahead are not doing it with one standout channel or a single capability. They are doing it by reimagining the entire customer journey and connecting the business end to end, from shopping and checkout to fulfillment and service.”

The 2026 Benchmark also reveals how unified commerce maturity is evolving by region:

NOAM retailers benefit from deep ecommerce foundations and mature data infrastructure, leading in shopping and checkout personalization and cart execution.

EMEA retailers stand out in operational consistency, cross‑border fulfillment and privacy‑conscious experiences shaped by a complex regulatory landscape.

LATAM retailers are closing the gap faster than any other region, driven by rapid adoption of alternative payments, messaging‑led service via WhatsApp and mobile‑first fulfillment models.

“There is no single blueprint for winning in unified commerce. Different regions are moving at varied speeds and solving for different customer expectations. However, the common thread is clear: retailers that invest in connected experiences and precise execution are seeing the results in growth, resilience, and strong customer loyalty,” added Foote.

Click HERE to view and download the complete 2026 Global Unified Commerce Benchmark for Specialty Retail. Receive up-to-date product, customer and partner news directly from Manhattan on LinkedIn.

ABOUT MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES

Manhattan Associates is a global technology leader, providing supply chain and omnichannel commerce solutions with unmatched AI capabilities. We design, build and offer best-in-class, AI-powered, cloud-based solutions that drive resilience and efficiency for businesses. We enable enterprises to uniquely unify front-end sales with back-end supply chain execution.

Our commitment to innovation, cloud-native platform and API-first architecture create simpler experiences and faster paths to value for our customers. We empower them to preempt and react to emerging trends and global disruptions with technical expertise and operational confidence, transforming challenges into competitive advantage. For more information, please visit www.manh.com.

Press Contact:

Devika Goel

Manhattan Associates

Tel: +1 470-435-1566

dgoel@manh.com

Source: Manhattan Associates Inc.