Pet retail has always been complex. But heading into 2026, it’s becoming less forgiving.
Customer expectations are higher. Staffing is still tight. Inventory mistakes cost more than they used to. And for many pet retailers, it’s becoming clear that the technology behind the scenes plays a bigger role in day-to-day success than ever before.
The issue isn’t always a lack of tools. Sometimes, it’s having too many systems that don’t work well together.
Unified Systems are Becoming Table Stakes
Omnichannel isn’t new, and it’s no longer a differentiator. Shoppers expect to browse their favorite pet stores online, buy in-store, pick up locally, and trust that inventory information is accurate.
Where things break down is behind the scenes.
When POS, inventory, and online orders live in separate systems, even simple tasks get harder. Inventory doesn’t match. Fulfillment decisions slow down. Store teams lose confidence in the data.
That’s why more pet retailers are moving away from disconnected tools and toward systems that share data in real time. The payoff isn’t flashy — it’s practical. Fewer surprises. Cleaner inventory. Less second-guessing at the register or during fulfillment.
Retail Software is Shifting from Features to Foundations
For a long time, choosing retail software meant comparing feature lists. Does it support eCommerce? Loyalty? Reporting? Integrations?
That mindset is changing.
As operations get more complex, retailers are asking a more fundamental question: can this system support how we actually run our business — now and as we grow?
Instead of stacking more tools, retailers are consolidating. They want fewer systems, better data, and a foundation they won’t outgrow in a year or two. Flexibility, scalability, and consistency matter more than checking every box on a feature list.
Daily Pressure is Rising for Small Teams
Most pet retailers are being asked to do more with less. Teams are juggling in-store sales, online orders, inventory movement, loyalty programs, and customer relationships — often with limited resources.
Technology should make work easier, not harder.
As JR Anderson, who works closely with our pet retail clients of all sizes, often puts it, “There’s the tangible cost of technology — and then there’s the opportunity cost, which is where many retailers are losing more than they realize.”
When systems don’t talk to each other, that opportunity cost shows up fast. Extra time spent reconciling inventory. Manual workarounds to fulfill orders. Less time on the floor with customers. Those hidden costs add up quickly.
PetStack: Building for What’s Next
Across all of these shifts, one thing is consistent: retailers want clarity. They want systems they can trust, data that makes sense, and fewer daily headaches.
That’s the thinking behind PetStack — the POS and retail management software built for independent pet retailers who’ve outgrown entry-level tools but don’t want enterprise complexity. Learn more at FieldStack.com.
We’ll be at Global Pet Expo (Booth 5390) sharing what we’ve been building with PetStack, including new tools designed to support modern pet retail operations under one system. We look forward to seeing you there!
