5 PIM market trends to watch in 2025

1. AI will move from experimentation to adoption 

2024 saw many businesses grapple with the challenge of moving from experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) to integrating it into their operations. We all understand the enormous potential of AI, but that doesn’t make implementation smooth sailing. In fact, it often requires navigating complex technical, operational, and cultural barriers. 

As we look at PIM trends for 2025, it’s clear that brands that can successfully make this leap from experimentation to integration are set to gain a significant competitive advantage. If you’re looking to make this leap in 2025, PIM systems powered by AI and machine learning provide a practical, impactful starting point to embed AI into your everyday operations.

Through 2025 and beyond, AI-driven PIM solutions will help businesses across all sectors move beyond initial use cases like content generation and process automation. Focus will instead move to tackle more complex challenges, such as: 

• Demand forecasting: Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data to predict product trends and optimize inventory management. This leads to more efficient stock levels, reduced waste, and better alignment with market demand. 
• Customer personalization at scale: AI insights enable hyper-targeted product recommendations tailored to individual customer preferences, creating a more engaging and satisfying shopping experience. 

2. Enhanced data governance will no longer be a “nice-to-have”

As data-led regulations for products become increasingly complex, PIM systems are evolving to meet the challenge head-on. PIM solutions can provide significant value to brands looking to comply with compliance issues such as GDPR, CCPA, and the European Union’s upcoming Digital Product Passport (DPP) legislation. Automated workflows simplify adherence to these standards, saving time and reducing the risk of human error. Additionally, robust security measures like encryption, access controls, and audit trails protect sensitive data. 

PIM solutions provide brands with advanced tools that validate and clean product information, ensuring data accuracy across platforms and channels. This commitment to quality and transparency shows customers they can rely on your brand to operate ethically. Compliance isn’t just a legal necessity – it’s a trust-building strategy that strengthens relationships and reinforces brand loyalty. 

3. Extending Customer Lifetime Values will become a priority

With customer acquisition costs on the rise, increasing the lifetime value of existing customers (CLV) will become an increasingly important trend for PIM users in 2025. While consumers have never had more choice, they are still likely to stay loyal to the brands they like and trust for repeat purchases. This means that retaining and nurturing these relationships not only brings a higher return on investment but also builds loyalty and trust. Going beyond the initial sale can help unlock significant growth potential. 

Where does PIM software fit in here? In two ways. Firstly, with the right PIM software in place, you can deliver that stand-out product experience the first time a potential customer interacts with your products. Once you have acquired that customer, PIM software can also help you extend the value of that customer relationship. It does this by providing personalized point-of-sale product recommendations, customized after-sales strategies, and intelligent product bundling for cross-sell and upsell after that initial purchase. Prioritizing customer lifetime values can be a winner for all parties. Your customers get a streamlined way of buying the products they want, and your business has a cost-effective way of expanding your existing revenue streams.

4. Cloud-based PIM systems will dominate the market

Cloud-based solutions offer key advantages for businesses trying to navigate the demands of modern digital commerce. This is especially true when considering PIM software. Being on the cloud enables teams to manage product data from anywhere, ensuring seamless remote collaboration across entire organizations. Cloud-based PIM solutions also offer easier integration with adjacent enterprise systems like ERP, CRM, and e-commerce platforms.

As brands, manufacturers, and retailers prioritize faster deployments and fewer IT complexities, cloud-based PIM solutions will continue to grow in importance in 2025 and beyond. With the simplified workflows and scalability offered by cloud-based PIM systems when compared to on-premises options, it’s easy to see why the benefits of being on the cloud are helping businesses transform their product information management strategies.

5. Sustainability will still be important – but approaches may change 

As consumers continue to demand greater transparency and environmental responsibility, sustainability remains a critical focus for businesses. PIM systems have a big role to play in tracking product origin stories, sustainability metrics, and data practices relating to responsible sourcing and labor standards. This is not only important for compliance with regulations like Digital Product Passports, but it can also help brands spot areas where improvements can be made. 

This is important in the context of evolving corporate approaches to sustainability. While regulatory compliance has traditionally driven corporate environmental commitments, the focus is shifting amid global economic and geopolitical uncertainties. According to Forrester, operational efficiency and financial benefits will overtake compliance as the primary motivators for sustainability initiatives in 2025. 

Sustainable practices can often lead to cost savings through improved resource management and reduced waste – but only when they are supported by data. Sustainability teams must adapt to this changing landscape by not only tracking environmental metrics but also highlighting measurable financial benefits. A PIM solution can help do both. 

inriver: The fully flexible PIM to help you win in 2025

Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all PIM systems. In an increasingly uncertain world, businesses are understanding the need to be agile across their tech stack so they can pivot their digital commerce strategies as necessary. That’s why so many businesses are choosing composable PIM solutions like inriver.

Built on the foundation of the industry’s most adaptable data model, the inriver PIM platform gives our customers the flexibility they need to succeed. It provides the complete solution for all their digital commerce needs, including AI-powered content enrichment, API-based single-click syndication, and digital shelf analytics technology. Combined with the substantial internal benefits, such as automated cross-department workflows, simplified supplier onboarding, and enterprise-grade data security, it’s clear that the inriver PIM platform is the right PIM solution to power success in 2025 and beyond.