Customers of Acumatica, a cloud ERP business management system, will soon benefit from the company’s latest product update, 2026 R1. Announcing its general availability, Acumatica has designed 2026 R1 to tackle an increasingly volatile supply chain environment.
The first product update of 2026 gives customers full access to its AI studio, a suite of tools that let clients produce and deploy AI-powered workflows more easily. It also provides a sneak preview of the company’s AI Assistant before its release to general availability later this year.
2026 R1 was designed for manufacturers and retailers in various industries to enhance workflows so businesses can streamline operations and improve profitability control.
Changing supply chain requires adaptability
In the supply chain landscape in 2026, being able to balance cost and flexibility has become as challenging as predicting oil price markets. Often erratic customer demand and an increasingly complex marketplace are just some of the issues that can affect finances for a business.
Debbie Baldwin, director of product management at Acumatica said, “Agility has become not only a competitive advantage, but also a business necessity. Manufacturing and retail leaders need smarter execution in ordering and profitability management.”
The 2026 R1 update delivers, “intelligent abilities that help customers adapt quickly and operate with greater precision,” she said.
Manufacturing – efficiency on the floor boosts profitable orders
The 2020s have raised challenges for most industries with manufacturing being one particularly affected. While we live in an time of opportunity, manufacturers are facing rising costs and skills shortages, directly affecting their operations.
Processing delays and inaccurate production data are two causes that can affect manufacturing margins negatively and put added strain on industry operators. Acumatica 2025 R1 has been purpose-built to “strengthen execution,” with a range of updated features, including Manufacturing Management.
The Acumatica Shop Floor Kiosk is a new interface designed to support production environments. More intuitive than its predecessor, it lets customers collect production data directly on the shop floor in real time. Workers benefit from a clearer view of live processes, cutting the need for manual data entry and allowing real-time monitoring of manufacturing operations.
2026 R1 also provides second-level tracking for more timely production and precise cost management. In-transit inventory visibility provides better planning, letting Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) and Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP) secure inventory while it’s in transit between locations. Manufacturing teams should see fewer costly duplicate transfers and redundant purchases, and enhanced multi-site stock recommendations.
Distribution – faster fulfilment and higher returns
Distributors also face complexity when operating warehouses and marketplace channels. Acumatica 2026 R1 promises to combat such issues with its Distribution Management product, which will deliver real-time picking location adjustments and recommended put-away guidance. Shorter travel times and boosted fulfilment are promised as a result, according to the company.
Workers should find it easier to control inventory and source goods thanks to the update. New approval workflows for adjustments to inventory let users request and manage purchases in different currencies. Shipping and back-office processes are more efficient, with automated shipping paperwork and improved print queue management. Together, these features promise to free up valuable employee time, helping workflows become smoother and more efficient.
Retail – faster B2B commerce and marketplace control
When using 2026 R1, retailers who scale B2B, DTC, and online marketplaces can take advantage of the platform’s Native BigCommerce B2B integration. This users to create new company entities and improve the ways customers are organised. Sales orders will now automatically sync bi-directionally.
2026 R1 offers improved Shopify marketplace tax automation in Shop, Instagram, TikTok, and Walmart, using tax mapping and refined reconciliation for more precise financial reports and fewer “oops” moments. Users also get real-time visibility into fees and performance through the new Amazon profitability dashboards.
Smarter supply chains make satisfied customers
Christian Hancock, general manager at Wine Racks America and an Acumatica customer, spoke about the challenges facing supply chains in businesses like his. He said: “Real-time data and margin control are critical in maintaining business performance amid supply chain complexity. Manufacturers need better insight in inventory and financial data to stay competitive.” Speaking of Acumatica’s 2026 R1 update, he said: “The new abilities and workflow enhancements are promising developments, and we look forward to evaluating how they can help improve cost visibility and support more data-driven decisions.”
It is yet to be seen how the update will impact supply chain management for manufacturers and retailers, but its intelligent workflow enhancements promise to help businesses respond faster to demand fluctuations and help them adapt to market volatility.
(Image source: THAM YUAN YUAN from Pixabay)
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