Netstock’s AI Opportunity Engine Empowers Small Businesses in Inventory Management
Netstock’s AI Opportunity Engine Empowers Small Businesses in Inventory Management
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, the supply chain and logistics sectors are witnessing some of the most practical AI innovations. While large enterprises like Flexport and Uber Freight are rapidly adopting AI to optimize operations, smaller businesses are often left searching for solutions tailored to their unique needs. Netstock, an inventory management software company founded in 2009, is aiming to bridge this gap with its latest generative AI-powered tool: the Opportunity Engine.
What is the Opportunity Engine?
Netstock’s Opportunity Engine integrates directly into a company’s existing dashboard, pulling data from their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. By analyzing this information, the tool offers real-time, actionable recommendations for inventory management. The goal? To help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) make smarter, faster decisions about stock levels and purchasing, without requiring a team of data scientists.
Proven Impact for Small Businesses
According to Netstock, the Opportunity Engine has already delivered over one million recommendations since its launch. Impressively, 75% of customers have received suggestions valued at $50,000 or more. This isn’t just theory—family-run distributor Bargreen Ellingson is a prime example of how practical the benefits can be.
Jacob Moody, Chief Innovation Officer at Bargreen Ellingson, initially faced skepticism from his team: "Old family companies don’t trust blind change a lot." Rather than mandating the new AI solution, he introduced it as an optional tool for warehouse managers, describing the company’s approach as "eagerly, but cautiously dipping our toes" into AI.
Empowering Staff, Not Replacing Them
One of the Opportunity Engine’s strengths is its ability to make less-experienced warehouse staff more effective. Moody shared that staff without a college degree, but with deep product and customer knowledge, can quickly interpret AI-driven insights to make smarter inventory decisions. This not only boosts their confidence, but also brings operational and financial benefits to the business.
Responsible AI, Human Oversight
Netstock’s cofounder, Barry Kukkuk, acknowledges the apprehension many businesses feel toward generative AI. He credits Netstock’s success to its decade-plus of industry data—protected to ISO standards—which powers its recommendation models. Customers can rate each recommendation and reinforce the models by accepting or rejecting suggestions, allowing the AI to learn what works best in real-world scenarios.
Importantly, Netstock’s AI is designed to support, not replace, human decision-making. Recommendations are easily visible in the dashboard but never forced on users. Moody appreciates this approach: "We’re not letting the AI engine make any inventory decisions that a human hasn’t looked at and screened and said, ‘Yes, I agree with that.’"
Future Potential and Cautious Optimism
As generative AI matures, the Opportunity Engine could eventually automate more decisions. However, both Moody and Kukkuk stress the need for careful oversight. Moody notes the importance of retaining staff who deeply understand inventory management theory and can rationalize AI-driven decisions, ensuring the company stays on the right path.
While many enterprise AI projects struggle to deliver real value, Netstock’s Opportunity Engine demonstrates how thoughtful AI integration can empower small businesses—enhancing productivity and decision-making while maintaining human expertise at the core.
