Leading Market Intelligence Organization Recognizes Standout Companies Advancing Next-Generation Retail Technologies
ATLANTA, April 23, 2026 – GAINS, a supply chain performance optimization company, today announced DEO has been named “Inventory Management Innovation of the Year” in the 4th annual RetailTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by RetailTech Breakthrough, a leading independent market intelligence organization that evaluates and recognizes standout retail technology companies, products and services around the globe.
GAINS DEO (Decision Engineering & Optimization Platform) is an inventory and warehouse technology solution that connects strategy, planning and daily execution. The unified decisioning platform continuously evaluates trade-offs across cost, service, risk, and working capital, enabling retailers and distributors to make better inventory decisions at every level. DEO combines data science (AI, ML), decision science (optimization and heuristic), decision orchestration, like workflow automation, and distributed systems engineering principles into one platform.
Merging multi-echelon inventory optimization with scenario simulation and AI-driven insight, DEO helps organizations evaluate inventory policies by SKU location across complex networks. DEO integrates intelligent agents into the core algorithms and workflows that drive supply chain decisions. Some agents operate in an assistive capacity, guiding planners through recommendations and simulations, while others enable increasing levels of automation in defined execution environments. GAINS quantifies how changes in demand, lead times, service targets, network design impact, service levels, and operational cost before decisions are executed, allowing organizations to reduce excess inventory, improve availability and lower warehouse handling and expediting costs.
GAINS DEO discrete components can be deployed on a plug-and-play basis as an extension of a legacy environment or assembled to create an industry-specific solution. Used as a stand-alone or integrated component(s), DEO determines the best approach for each problem, solved with the appropriate level of workforce decisions and systems automation.
“Our comprehensive composable platform integrates decisions across time to plan horizons, spanning from strategic design to order execution. Specifically designed to manage volatility, uncertainty, and complexity, GAINS DEO enables smarter, faster, and more resilient inventory decisions where they matter most,” said Dave Shrager, CEO of GAINS. “We’re grateful to RetailTech Breakthrough for the ‘Inventory Management Innovation of the Year’ award. We like to say that we exist to deliver rapid, real results everywhere inventory matters, and that means developing solutions that help keep factories running and shelves stocked.”
The mission of the annual RetailTech Breakthrough Awards program is to recognize the innovators transforming the global retail landscape through technology. The program conducts a comprehensive analysis of the companies, technologies and solutions redefining how retailers operate, engage customers and drive growth. From e-commerce and omnichannel experiences to AI-driven analytics, automation and in-store innovation, these breakthrough solutions are enabling retailers to adapt faster, operate smarter and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
This year’s program attracted thousands of nominations from companies across more than 16 countries worldwide, highlighting the rapid global evolution of retail technology and the increasing investment in digital transformation across the retail ecosystem.
“GAINS transforms inventory from a static planning exercise into a continuous, decision driven capability that connects strategy, planning and daily execution. Supply chain complexity has exploded in recent years, and supply chain inefficiency and waste are certainly one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century,” said Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director, RetailTech Breakthrough. “GAINS DEO takes a different approach from traditional planning systems. By continuously aligning inventory decisions with real world constraints and business goals, rather than using static min/max rules, GAINS helps organizations stabilize warehouse operations and scale profitably in a volatile and uncertain environment.”
About GAINS
At GAINS, we help customers keep their promises by democratizing supply chain planning. The GAINS Supply Chain Performance Optimization Platform helps businesses large and small Move Forward FasterSM with greater agility, resilience, confidence, and sustainability. Helping customers make better decisions, the GAINS AI-driven cloud platform delivers continuous cost and profit optimization via machine learning, proven algorithms, and actionable analytics for global manufacturing, distribution, retail, and service parts/maintenance operations. Innovative design combined with the GAINS Proven-Path-to-Performance (P3)SM methodology enables rapid onboarding, increased sales, inventory turns, and service levels with reduced operating costs. GAINS proudly provides digital supply chain planning expertise to industry leaders like Graybar, Honda Motors, Home Depot, L’Oréal, and Stuller. GAINS customers span the globe, including deployments in North America, Eastern and Western Europe, Latin America, and Australia/New Zealand. For more information, visit www.gainsystems.com.
About RetailTech Breakthrough
Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the RetailTech Breakthrough Awards program is the premier awards and recognition platform devoted to honoring excellence in retail technology companies, services and solutions around the world. The RetailTech Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of retail technology companies and products in categories that include store management, digital displays, checkout automation, workforce tools, smart dressing rooms and more. For more information visit retailtechbreakthrough.com.
Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
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