From AI to “shoppertainment”: 6 takeaways from PIMpoint Chicago

Last week saw the final stop of 2025’s PIMpoint on tour, as the Inriver team welcomed customers, partners, and others to Chicago for a high-value gathering of PIM experts, product data leaders, and commerce innovators.  

Held at The Dalcy, in Chicago’s Fulton Market District, the PIMpoint agenda was packed with customer stories, product demos, expert panels, and, of course, a little time for networking with a glass or two. Here is a quick recap of 6 key takeaways. 

1. Trust is the new battleground in commerce 

The need for trusted commerce experiences was a common theme in nearly every session at PIMpoint Chicago. Trust is now clear as a fundamental in modern commerce: between consumers and channels, suppliers and systems, brands and customers. Whether via AI, governance tools, or validating data from supplier to shelf, trust was presented not just as a goal but as a competitive differentiator. 

2. AI innovations that really move the needle 

A key part of PIMpoint was the announcement of the latest AI advancements that are being integrated right into the Inriver PIM platform. These AI innovations will make a real, tangible difference to workflows, go-to-market strategies, and content enrichment operations. The advancements include: 

• New AI agents integrated into key PIM workflows 
• AI guidance for brand terms, customer glossaries, and more
• MCP server that connects to external AI applications 

For a deeper dive into these exciting new developments, read more on the Inriver autumn release. 

3. From “Now” to “Next”: Further innovation from Inriver 

The “Innovation Spotlight: From Now to Next” session was a highlight of PIMpoint Chicago and gave attendees a chance to see the Inriver roadmap and learn how to prepare for what’s coming next. In addition to the AI innovations, the key themes in this session were:  

• Emphasis on automation and smart workflows to reduce friction and increase PIM adoption internally. 
• Greater integration with syndication, data distribution, and governance mechanisms to tighten channel consistency. 
• Future-proofing product data architectures to adapt as commerce and channel strategies evolve. 

As commerce becomes more complex, it is clear that PIM must evolve from a back-end tool to a strategic backbone. 

4. Real stories, real challenges 

The Inriver customers on stage were able to add some meat to these insights by giving real-life context to the growing power of PIM software.  

• Rust-Oleum: The session “From chaos to clarity and trust” peeled back the curtain on Rust-Oleum’s previously messy, fragmented product data processes and how PIM gave structure. 
• Jordan’s Furniture: The innovative furniture and self-styled “shoppertainment” brand shared how product information underpins not just e-commerce but brand identity and omnichannel consistency, whether online or in-store.  
• Evergreen / Aperture Labs: This session spotlighted real-time pricing strategies — building a “price brain” that applies guardrails, automates approvals, and delivers channel-specific pricing intelligence.  

These stories underscored that PIM success is not just about data mastery. It’s about aligning PIM with key business priorities (pricing, brand consistency, customer trust). 

5. Omnichannel complexity is real — but manageable 

A recurring theme, especially in the panel “The art to succeed with trusted commerce experiences in an ever-growing omnichannel landscape,” was that managing product information in today’s multi-touch environment is challenging, but not impossible.  

 The insights from the panel included: 

• Break the silos: product, marketing, and operations all need shared visibility into data. 
• Govern early: define standards, policies, and workflows ahead of scale rather than after problems arise. 
• Leverage automation: the more you can detect inconsistencies, anomalies, or gaps automatically, the more you free your team for strategic work. 

6. The talent challenge: Adoption over technology 

One soft but central insight throughout PIMpoint was that people and adoption remain the real obstacles, not the toolset. Throughout sessions, speakers stressed that even the most powerful PIM platform must embed itself in workflows, mindsets, incentives, and responsibilities. If the organization doesn’t adopt, ROI suffers. Several presenters used metaphors like “be a gentle bully” to push internal alignment and participation, which echoed what we’ve heard in previous PIMpoint events this year. 

PIMpoint Chicago: What next? 

As the Inriver team takes a well-earned break from a successful PIMpoint on tour, it’s already time to start looking to the future and what comes next. PIM software is on a journey from behind-the-scenes infrastructure to a strategic lever in modern omnichannel commerce. However, PIM success does not simply come from flicking a switch. Instead, it comes from trust, automation, internal adoption, and alignment with strategic business goals. 

Want to join the PIMpoint party next year? Stay tuned for more information on PIMpoint 2026 and how you can be part of the fun!