Visual explainer · Illustrative
Why Inventory Goes Out of Sync
How connected systems end up telling different stories about the same stock.
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Systems overview · Illustrative
The Anatomy of a Modern Brand Technology Stack
An overview of the core technology categories used by growing consumer businesses, and how they connect.
The short answer
A technology stack is more useful as a map of responsibilities than a collection of logos. Product creation, commerce, operations, fulfilment and finance exchange different records with different rules.
See what happens
Business systems
Connected records
Operational decisions
An illustrative view. Each connection needs clear ownership and a way to handle incomplete or delayed information.
Systems involved
Product Lifecycle Management
PLMManages product development from initial concept through design, sourcing and production.
View systemProduct Information Management
PIMStores and distributes product information across ecommerce, marketplaces and other sales channels.
View systemEcommerce Platform
ECOMMERCEThe online platform where customers discover products, place orders and manage purchases. Shopify is one example.
View systemEnterprise Resource Planning
ERPThe central system that connects inventory, purchasing, finance and core business records.
View systemOrder Management System
OMSControls how orders are received, routed, allocated and fulfilled across channels.
View systemWarehouse Management System
WMSControls how inventory is received, stored, picked and shipped inside a warehouse.
View systemCustomer Relationship Management
CRMBrings customer relationships and interaction history together across the business.
View systemBusiness Intelligence
BITurns operational records into shared metrics, reporting and decision support.
View systemAn operating architecture
Product creation
Commerce
Core operations
Fulfilment
Customer
Data / finance
These layers organise the conversation; they are not a mandatory sequence. Information also moves upstream, and capabilities can share a platform.
Map the boundaries
- Name the authoritative record at each stage.
- Document the events exchanged between systems.
- Make overlapping capabilities explicit.
- Include the people who resolve exceptions.