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Why Unified Commerce Is No Longer Optional: The Retail Edge for 2025 and Beyond

Why Unified Commerce Is No Longer Optional: The Retail Edge for 2025 and Beyond

A Scale Smarter Perspective

The UK retail sector is under strain. Rising customer expectations, fragmented journeys, and operational complexity are testing even the most established brands. But while the pressures are real, so is the potential.

The challenge isn’t just about adapting —it’s about scaling smarter. Those who rethink their foundations, not just their features, are already pulling ahead.

The omnichannel illusion

Omnichannel set the stage for customer-centric retail. But as our research in The Race to Unified Commerce reveals, many businesses are still navigating siloed systems and duplicated data.

Only 42% of omnichannel retailers report having customised their stack to meet today’s challenges. Meanwhile, direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands and mid-sized retailers less encumbered by legacy are quietly executing at pace.

The result? Faster fulfilment, better margins, and experiences that meet customer expectations.

Mid-sized = momentum

Our data shows that mid-sized businesses (£500m–£1bn revenue) are outperforming their larger peers. Their size gives them a critical edge: enough scale to invest, without the inertia of outdated infrastructure.

87% of these companies report real-time inventory visibility. 89% have implemented unified checkout across all channels. These are not vanity metrics, they are operational accelerators.

In short: they’re not just transforming. They’re building the commerce model for what’s next.

Unified commerce = strategic re-architecture

This isn’t about layering new tech on top of old problems. Unified commerce is a ground-up redesign connecting systems like ERP, POS, OMS and CRM into a single, responsive platform.

Done right, it enables:
  • Smarter stock optimisation
  • Personalisation at scale
  • Frictionless fulfilment
  • Checkout consistency across all touchpoints

This is the infrastructure of smarter growth not in theory, but in measurable gains.

Data activation: The undervalued advantage

Centralised analytics and AI-driven personalisation are delivering tangible business value when implemented well.

Yet adoption is uneven. Only 42% of omnichannel retailers have fully deployed AI personalisation tools, versus 50% of DTC peers. Those who have? Over 55% are seeing a significant uplift in sales.

This isn’t about futuristic tech. It’s about activating the data most businesses already have and doing it at scale.

Modular thinking: Future-proofing without overload

Unified commerce isn’t a binary switch it’s a journey. The most forward-thinking brands are adopting modular platforms that allow for agile innovation without total system upheaval.

Yet only 28% report having a fully modular stack. Among digitally mature brands, it’s 70%.

Why that matters: modularity enables speed. It means faster launches, simpler integrations, and a platform that grows with your ambition not against it.

The retail bar is rising

The gap between what customers expect and what most retailers can deliver is growing. And the real risk isn’t falling behind it’s becoming invisible.

Speed, adaptability, and consistency are no longer optional. They are the minimum requirement to compete and the bedrock of resilience.

Conclusion: Smarter infrastructure wins

In 2025 and beyond, retail success won’t hinge on size, spend, or heritage. It will be defined by clarity of strategy and capability to deliver at speed, at scale, and without friction.

Unified commerce is the infrastructure that enables all three. It’s not a nice-to-have. It’s a strategic imperative.

PMC’s latest report:

The Race to Unified Commerce explores how leading retailers are building for speed, scale and unified experiences
Learn more
Learn more

PMC’s latest report:

The Race to Unified Commerce explores how leading retailers are building for speed, scale and unified experiences
Learn more
Learn more

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