Anticipatory shipping is a logistics strategy in the retail industry that involves predicting and preparing for customer orders before they are actually placed. Using data analytics and predictive algorithms, retailers analyze customer behavior, preferences, and historical data to anticipate the demand for certain products. This allows them to pre-position inventory in strategic locations, reducing delivery times and enhancing overall efficiency. Anticipatory shipping aims to expedite order fulfillment and improve customer satisfaction by proactively meeting demand. While it involves some level of speculation, advancements in technology and data analysis have made this approach increasingly viable for certain retailers.