With global inventory management software forecast to reach $9.8 billion by 2032 and warehouse management systems set to grow at a 13.8% CAGR from 2024 to 2030, this post breaks down the key inventory statistics behind how businesses keep stock lean, accurate, and ready.
Key Takeaways
- 10.3% of global waste was recycled in 2018
- The global supply chain pressure index declined to 45.6 in 2024 (average)
- Global retail ecommerce sales reached $5.8 trillion in 2023
- In 2022, the average US inventory-to-sales ratio for grocery was 1.26
- US retail inventories were $809.6 billion in February 2024
- US retail inventories grew 2.8% year-over-year in February 2024
- Warehouse management systems (WMS) were used by 58% of enterprises in 2021
- Inventory optimization software is used by 27% of manufacturers
- S&OP adoption reached 56% of companies surveyed by 2020
- $70.8 billion was the 2024 global warehouse management software market size (forecast)
- $11.5 billion was the global supply chain management software market size in 2023
- $5.8 billion was the global inventory management software market size in 2023
- 1.4% of total supply chain cost is attributable to inventory carrying costs (as estimated in supply chain cost breakdown studies)
- 25% improvement in inventory turns was reported after implementing cycle counting programs in warehouse operations (study result)
With inventory accuracy and real time visibility improving, retailers and manufacturers are cutting errors and boosting turns.
Industry Trends
110.3% of global waste was recycled in 2018[1]
Verified2The global supply chain pressure index declined to 45.6 in 2024 (average)[2]
Verified3Global retail ecommerce sales reached $5.8 trillion in 2023[3]
Verified4Globally, online share of retail sales was 19% in 2023[4]
Directional5The US online retail share of total retail sales was 14.4% in 2023[5]
Single source6UK online share of retail sales was 25.0% in 2023[4]
VerifiedIndustry Trends Interpretation
As global retail ecommerce hit $5.8 trillion in 2023 with online sales shares rising to 19% worldwide, the US reached 14.4% and the UK 25.0% while supply chain pressure eased to an average of 45.6 in 2024, even as only 10.3% of global waste was recycled in 2018.
Performance Metrics
1In 2022, the average US inventory-to-sales ratio for grocery was 1.26[6]
Verified2US retail inventories were $809.6 billion in February 2024[7]
Verified3US retail inventories grew 2.8% year-over-year in February 2024[7]
Verified4US inventories-to-sales ratio was 1.36 in April 2024[8]
Directional5A 1 percentage-point improvement in inventory accuracy reduces cycle count errors by about 7%[9]
Single source6In 2023, the US inventory-to-sales ratio ranged between 1.2 and 1.4 during much of the year[8]
Verified7US inventories for manufacturing were $832.6 billion in March 2024[10]
Verified8US inventory (manufacturing and trade) averaged $2.1 trillion in 2023[11]
VerifiedPerformance Metrics Interpretation
Inventory levels in the US stayed fairly stable through 2023 and 2024, with the inventories to sales ratio moving from about 1.26 in 2022 to 1.36 in April 2024 and retail inventories reaching $809.6 billion in February 2024 while growing 2.8% year over year.
User Adoption
1Warehouse management systems (WMS) were used by 58% of enterprises in 2021[12]
Verified2Inventory optimization software is used by 27% of manufacturers[13]
Verified3S&OP adoption reached 56% of companies surveyed by 2020[14]
Verified4Real-time inventory visibility is implemented by 44% of firms[15]
Directional5AI-enabled forecasting is used by 24% of supply chain organizations[16]
Single source665% of companies use safety stock policies derived from historical demand data[17]
Verified742% of firms use automated replenishment systems[18]
Verified831% of organizations use machine learning for inventory planning[19]
Verified954% of companies use cloud-based inventory or supply chain planning tools[20]
Directional1049% of surveyed firms say they use inventory optimization tools[21]
Single source1144% of businesses use automated picking systems (e.g., pick-to-light or robotics) affecting inventory handling[22]
VerifiedUser Adoption Interpretation
With nearly half of companies using real-time visibility and inventory optimization tools, alongside only 24% adopting AI-enabled forecasting, the data shows steady progress toward modern inventory management but a clear gap in advanced analytics.
Market Size
1$70.8 billion was the 2024 global warehouse management software market size (forecast)[23]
Verified2$11.5 billion was the global supply chain management software market size in 2023[24]
Verified3$5.8 billion was the global inventory management software market size in 2023[25]
Verified4$16.3 billion was the global enterprise resource planning (ERP) market size in 2023[26]
Directional5$14.8 billion was the global RFID market size in 2022[27]
Single source6$2.1 billion was the global SCM analytics market size in 2022[28]
Verified7$9.1 billion was the global transportation management system (TMS) market size in 2023 (forecast)[29]
Verified8$13.2 billion was the global labor management software market size in 2022 (linked to warehouse operations)[30]
Verified9The global inventory management software market is projected to reach $9.8 billion by 2032 (forecast)[25]
Directional10Warehouse management systems market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.8% from 2024 to 2030 (forecast)[23]
Single source11Supply chain management software market is projected to reach $34.3 billion by 2030 (forecast)[24]
Verified12RFID market is projected to reach $29.2 billion by 2030 (forecast)[27]
Verified13Inventory optimization software market projected CAGR of 12.3% from 2024 to 2032 (forecast)[31]
Verified14The global digital supply chain platform market is projected to reach $19.5 billion by 2027 (forecast)[32]
DirectionalMarket Size Interpretation
With inventory management software growing toward a projected $9.8 billion by 2032 and warehouse management systems forecast to expand at a 13.8% CAGR from 2024 to 2030, the data shows strong momentum in warehouse and inventory technology even as the broader supply chain software market scales toward $34.3 billion by 2030.
Cost Analysis
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Even though inventory carrying costs make up just 1.4% of total supply chain cost, a 25% improvement in inventory turns from cycle counting shows that small cost categories can still deliver big operational gains.
References
- 1oecd.org/en/publications/global-waste-management-outlook_9d4b7ef6-en.html
- 2newyorkfed.org/research/policy/2024/inventory-supply-chain
- 3statista.com/topics/3796/e-commerce-worldwide/
- 4statista.com/statistics/379046/share-of-e-commerce-in-retail-sales-worldwide/
- 5statista.com/statistics/271367/online-share-of-retail-sales-in-the-united-states/
- 16statista.com/statistics/1100725/ai-in-supply-chain-forecasting-usage-by-company-size/
- 6bls.gov/ppi/industry/weights.htm
- 7fred.stlouisfed.org/series/RINV
- 8fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ISRATIO
- 10fred.stlouisfed.org/series/INDPRO
- 11fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MCUMFN
- 9researchgate.net/publication/316842919_Inventory_Accuracy_and_Cycle_Count_Effects
- 12gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2021-06-24-gartner-study-shows-warehouse-management-software-market
- 19gartner.com/en/documents/4009955
- 20gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-07-27-gartner-says-44-percent-of-workload-will-be-cloud-by-2022
- 26gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-05-08-gartner-says-worldwide-software-spending-to-reach-997-billion-in-2024
- 13supplychainbrain.com/articles/35143-inventory-optimization-market
- 14apics.org/apics-for-business/apics-insights/s-and-op-statistics
- 15supplychaindive.com/news/real-time-inventory-visibility-statistics/
- 17sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351978919300395
- 33sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856415002009
- 34sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925527309003424
- 18supplychain247.com/100-firm-survey-automated-replenishment
- 21siia.net/survey/inventory-optimization-usage/
- 22ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/news/automation-in-warehouses-2023/
- 23fortunebusinessinsights.com/warehouse-management-system-market-104678
- 27fortunebusinessinsights.com/rfid-market-100931
- 29fortunebusinessinsights.com/transportation-management-system-market-103560
- 24grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/supply-chain-management-software-market
- 25alliedmarketresearch.com/inventory-management-software-market-A16170
- 28marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/supply-chain-analytics-market-241215544.html
- 30globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/10/05/2756238/0/en/Labor-Management-Software-Market-to-Reach-8-5-Billion-by-2030-Transparency-Market-Research.html
- 31precedenceresearch.com/inventory-optimization-market
- 32reportlinker.com/p06461299/Global-Digital-Supply-Chain-Platform-Market.html