Softline retailers have been battling store closures and traffic declines in malls for several years.  They have made moves to shift toward experiential retailers.  They have deployed omni-channel capabilities like buy online pickup in store (BOPIS) and buy online return in store (BORIS) to drive traffic and deliver a seamless experience for customers.  Ultimately, softline retailers were just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel… until COVID-19 coronavirus arrived.

Though online commerce has been continuing to grow as a percentage to total business, most business is still done in stores.  In light of COVID-19, many chains have opted to close their doors. This is going to have several impacts to these retailers:

• Order visibility: How are retailers able to pinpoint the status and timing of their orders in their supply chain?
• Demand projection: On core or fashion basics, how will retailers accura