GROWTH SERIES 2026 | WEEK 12: THE ~AUTONOMOUS STORE MANAGER
Martin Bailie Bailie CEO & founder MWB Advisory
If Week 13 was about the “eyes” of the store, Week 14 is about the “brain” of the entire network. In todays world of global volatility, static planning is no longer just obsolete—it’s dangerous.
The industry is moving from “guessing” to “rehearsing.” Through our partnership with Kallikor , we are helping retailers move beyond spreadsheets and into Simulation Digital Twins.
This is about creating a “flight simulator” for your entire supply chain, allowing you to test high-stakes structural changes before you commit a single Euro of capital!
The Bailie Perspective:
From Averages to Actuality
“Retail leaders are still committing millions to plans they’ve never truly tested. They rely on ‘averages’ and ‘linear forecasts’ that fall apart the moment a ship is delayed or a promotion over-performs. My perspective is simple: if you haven’t simulated the stress, you haven’t planned the success. We must bridge the gap between strategic intent and operational reality.” Martin Bailie
In 2026, the winners aren’t those with the biggest warehouses, but those with the most adaptable ones.
Kallikor: The “Leap Forward” in Supply Chain Design
I’ve seen first-hand how Jonathan Barrett and the Kallikor team are rewriting the rules. Their Adaption platform doesn’t just show you what happened; it lets you play with “what if.”
“Efficient adaptability is fast becoming as important as cost efficiency. We provide a space where automated strategy becomes a reality—allowing leaders to rehearse change, reduce risk, and accelerate time-to-value.” — Jonathan Barrett , CEO of Kallikor
The Kallikor USP: Structural Experimentation
Unlike legacy tools, Kallikor’s modular digital twin technology allows for Bottom-Up Simulation.
- The “Ripple Effect”: See how a decision in the warehouse impacts transport, store availability, and carbon footprint simultaneously.
- Rapid ROI Evidence: Identified an average of $14.2M in value within the first six months for partners.
- Precision Planning: Models achieve 98.6% accuracy against real-world performance, moving organisations from 8-week debating cycles to 8-week decision-ready evidence.
Case Study: Morrisons – The Resilience Blueprint
The partnership between Morrisons and Kallikor is a masterclass in risk-free innovation. By creating a “living digital model” of their end-to-end supply chain, Morrisons can now trial changes across 1,200+ locations virtually.
- The Transformation: Moving from static planning to a dynamic environment where they can test network-wide flows and warehouse automation before physical rollout.
- The Impact: “By using AI to bring the real and synthetic worlds together, we can design and evaluate changes across our entire supply chain… ensuring every decision supports the bigger picture.” — Ross Eggleton FCILT , Group Director, Morrisons.
Sustainability: Reducing Waste Through Digital Twinning
Supply chain waste—whether it’s food spoilage or inefficient logistics—is a major drag on both the P&L and the planet.
- The Waste Gap: Digital twins identify hidden constraints that lead to overstocking. By aligning inventory placement with actual simulated demand, retailers can target a significant reduction in waste.
- Carbon Footprint: Rehearsing transport routes and warehouse layouts in the twin allows for carbon-optimised decision-making without sacrificing service levels.
Week 14: Performance Benchmarks
To achieve the “Kallikor Effect,” focus on these three pillars:
- Stop Planning, Start Rehearsing: Use synthetic environments to test disruptions (e.g., Gulf delays or sudden tariff shifts) before they hit.
- Eliminate Silos: Ensure your Finance, Ops, and Sustainability teams are looking at the same single evidence base.
- Shorten Decision Cycles: Target a 50% reduction in the time it takes to move from a “strategic question” to “validated action.”
