The Popeyes chicken sandwich shortage highlights the importance of real-time inventory management in today's fast-paced business environment. Companies must have robust technology to keep up with demand, as customers expect near-instant gratification. Macy's faced a similar issue and improved its customer experience by moving to DataStax, reducing catalog refresh time and increasing sales. Businesses need to be prepared for their unique "chicken sandwich" moment to ensure they can meet customer expectations and maintain loyalty.