Acumatica updates cloud ERP platform with AI workflow tools and supply chain enhancements for mid-market businesses

The 2026 R1 release introduces AI Studio for building custom automated workflows, alongside operational updates across manufacturing, distribution and retail functions

Debbie Baldwin, director of product management at Acumatica. 

Acumatica, a cloud-based ERP software provider focused on small and mid-sized businesses, has released its 2026 R1 product update. The release centres on AI Studio, a set of tools that allows customers to build and deploy AI-powered workflows within the platform, and includes experimental access to an AI Assistant ahead of its full release later this year. The update also delivers targeted functional changes across manufacturing, distribution and retail operations.

For manufacturers, the release adds a shop floor kiosk interface designed to capture production data directly at the point of work, reducing manual data entry and providing visibility into active production orders. The update also introduces seconds-level tracking for production timing and labour cost calculations, which the company says improves accuracy for high-speed or repetitive manufacturing processes. On the planning side, in-transit inventory is now visible within Materials Requirements Planning and Distribution Requirements Planning functions, allowing the system to account for stock already moving between locations when generating transfer and purchase recommendations.

Distribution customers gain real-time picking location adjustments and automated put-away guidance within warehouse operations, which Acumatica says is intended to reduce travel time and accelerate order fulfilment. The release also adds approval workflows for inventory adjustments and multi-currency requisition management for businesses operating across multiple subsidiaries, alongside automated shipping document generation to reduce manual processing.

For retail operations, the update includes a native integration with BigCommerce's B2B commerce functionality, with bi-directional sales order synchronisation between the two platforms. Shopify marketplace tax mapping has been expanded to cover TikTok, Instagram and Walmart channels, with automated reconciliation for financial reporting. New Amazon profitability dashboards provide visibility into fees, refunds, Fulfilled by Amazon settlements and margin performance at the product level.

"Real-time data and margin control are critical in maintaining business performance amid supply chain complexity," said Christian Hancock, general manager at Wine Racks America, an Acumatica customer. "Manufacturers need better insight across inventory, purchasing, and financial data to stay competitive. These new capabilities 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."

Additional industry edition updates are scheduled for release during the week. Further information is available at acumatica.com.