SPS Commerce Unveils MAX, AI That Guides Retail Supply Chains

New embedded AI aims to simplify workflows, catch anomalies, and prepare the ground for smarter automation.

SPS Commerce, a leader in retail supply chain technology, has introduced MAX, an AI-powered tool designed to work directly inside customers’ existing workflows. The system is built to guide users, highlight anomalies across trading partners, and suggest actions, without taking control of transactions just yet.

Supply chain processes rely on complex digital rules, from purchase orders to invoices. According to Mike Svatek, Chief Product Officer at SPS Commerce, “MAX was designed to help users move effortlessly between tasks and trading partners, providing clear guidance where operational improvements are possible.”

MAX begins its journey in an advisory role, offering insights and recommendations based on the network of suppliers and retailers. Over time, the AI could expand to act on behalf of users within clearly defined parameters, all while keeping humans in the loop.

The system measures success using familiar operational metrics like compliance rates, order accuracy, and efficiency in the order-to-cash cycle, rather than introducing new AI-specific benchmarks. This ensures businesses can evaluate value without overcomplicating reporting.

Svatek also highlighted the dual potential of AI in supply chains: optimizing internal system workflows (intra-system) and coordinating activity across partners (inter-system). Network-based businesses like SPS Commerce are uniquely positioned to deliver both.

By embedding AI in a practical, operationally grounded way, MAX represents a cautious yet forward-thinking approach, enabling retail supply chains to modernize while building confidence in AI-driven decision-making.