There is currently a ton of noise regarding Agentic AI. While much of the technology sector discusses future potential, Tower Systems, the newsagency software company I founded, is focused on practical actions.
Tower already delivers Agentic AI capabilities specifically for newsagents. It’;s in the newsagency software now and it’s a business operations game changer.
Defining Agentic AI for the newsagency channel
The term Agentic AI refers to intelligent systems designed to take autonomous, goal-oriented actions.
Newsagents can identify Agentic AI where multiple tasks, which previously required individual management, are rolled into a single workflow undertaken without manual effort. This facility in the Tower Systems newsagency software can be seen as Agentic AI in action for a newsagency business.
Tower Systems has delivered outcomes for small business retailers that fit this definition. One example is this capability in early 2025.
Agentic AI in Practice: Automatic Ordering
Tower Systems released an Automatic Order feature that allows newsagents to schedule regular supplier orders using specific stock reorder logic.
The software allows business owners to setup specific suppliers to automatically create orders for products. This is done using the Stock Reorder-desired levels process (min/max quantities) or by forecasting the order quantities based on sales records.
When Automatic Ordering is enabled and properly configured, the Retailer software generates supplier orders for the relevant products at the specified frequency. The system acts on behalf of the newsagent to ensure the order is ready to be sent out.
How it helps newsagents manage stock
The system offers flexibility to suit different supplier relationships and management styles often found in the newsagency channel.
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Flexible Scheduling: Newsagents can set the frequency to Daily, Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly, or Yearly.
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Intelligent Forecasting: Users can choose a ‘Forecast’ method that generates reorder quantities based on the sales record for the item and an estimate of what is needed for the coming period.
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Context Aware: The system can be instructed to calculate quantities based on desired levels while accounting for stock already on pending or sent orders.
Once configured, the software takes over the responsibility. The first order will generate approximately an hour from when the Auto Order is first activated, with subsequent orders following the set schedule.
Actionable outcomes
This innovation is not just about saving administrative time. It is about removing the mental load of remembering to check stock levels for routine items.
There is solid evidence of lost revenue due to stock not being on hand when people want to purchase. A common reason for stock not being unhand is that it was not ordered on time.
When the system generates an order, a notification appears in the Notification button at the top of the main Retailer screen and the POS screen. The newsagent simply clicks the notification to open the supplier order in the Orders Maintenance screen for review.
This workflow helps you miss reorder opportunities, it gets stock on the shelves for when people want it.
By utilising these tools, newsagents allow the Tower Systems software to act as a functional agent for their business. This drives efficiency and ensures critical stock replenishment cycles are never missed.
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Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.