TechnologyJuly 13, 2026
stockout
/ˈstɒk.aʊt/
Definition
A situation where a specific item is temporarily unavailable for purchase because its inventory in a store has been completely depleted.
Etymology
This is a compound word formed from 'stock' (from the Old English 'stocc', meaning a trunk or post, later evolving to mean a supply of goods) and 'out' (indicating absence). It emerged in the mid-20th century within the fields of logistics and operations management.
In the news
The article uses the term to illustrate a scenario where AI-driven inventory alerts are useless if they fail to reach store associates in real time. It highlights that technology is only valuable if staff can act immediately to restock the missing product.
Retail’s AI Problem Isn’t the Technology – It’s Execution
Read the full article ↗Retail TouchPoints