4 ways AI is transforming PIM as we know it

1. AI-driven automation: reducing manual effort and improving data accuracy

The manual handling of large volumes of product data has always been one of the biggest challenges in PIM because it’s extremely time-consuming and the probability of making an error can be relatively high.  

An AI-enabled PIM can radically improve the process in several ways.

How AI helps:

• An AI-powered PIM platform can automatically populate, for example, product attributes — reducing manual effort and saving teams time.
• AI can help businesses ensure that there’s product data consistency across omnichannel by using algorithms to help analyze — and then accurately categorize — product descriptions and images.
• The creation of translations and localized content can be automated with AI. For example, product information can be translated and adapted as needed while maintaining context and relevance.

Related industry interview: “Automation is the key to effective Product Information Management”

2. Enhancing PXM with AI-powered personalization

Personalization has become a natural part of modern e-commerce, with a reported 80% of consumers preferring brands that offer more personalized experiences; spending 50% more on them.  

With the modern consumer expecting tailored shopping experiences as standard, Product Experience Management (PXM) software has emerged as a good match for a PIM platform; with its ability to harness stored product data within the PIM system and drive the delivery of more personalized, engaging customer experiences.  

How AI helps:

• AI can optimize product descriptions with dynamically created content and make relevant product recommendations that are based on its own analysis of customer preferences and behaviors, customer histories, and marketplace trends.
• AI can review and analyze customer feedback to help it suggest improvements to product content.

Note: The 2025 Gartner Market Guide for PIM Solutions acknowledges that not all PIM vendors are moving toward PXM at this time. Its ‘near-term vision’ indicates that, in the future, PIM will diversify into those vendors that offer PXM — and those that don’t.

Related article: PIM vs PXM: How to make that human connection

3. AI-powered Digital Shelf Analytics (DSA)

AI-powered DSA can provide strong support to businesses by keeping track of key information so that product listings remain optimized and up-to-date. 

How AI helps:

• Aspects like pricing information, customer feedback, and product visibility can be closely tracked and monitored in real-time by AI; using this information to provide businesses with valuable insights.
• AI-powered DSA can monitor product performance across multiple channels and identify ‘underperformers’ for internal teams to work on and improve.

Gartner predicts that companies investing in DSA enhancements to replace manual data-gathering will reduce costs by 30% by 2026. 

Related content: Checklist: Is your DSA solution right for you?

4. AI-enabled closed-loop feedback systems

Up until recently, brands have found it challenging to incorporate customer feedback into their product information updates — but AI can strongly support this use case. An AI-enabled, closed-loop feedback system can collect, analyze and then act on incoming customer feedback in real-time. 

How AI helps:

• By analyzing customer feedback, AI can provide businesses with relevant product recommendations that help improve and enhance product listing elements — like product descriptions and images.
• It can also make data-driven predictions about what customers may want or need from a brand’s products in future. These insights can help guide businesses to invest in the right places when it comes to product development.

Related article: What is digital shelf optimization? 

Is it time to embrace AI for your PIM?

In its 2025 Market Guide for PIM Solutions, Gartner recognizes inriver as a powerful AI-powered PIM with closed-loop capabilities. Inriver leverages AI solutions like AI Inspire to help businesses with onboarding, product enrichment, and omnichannel content distribution. 

Investing in an AI-driven PIM not only streamlines operations and generates bigger financial efficiencies, but also provides consumers with the most engaging, deeply personalized digital shopping experiences.

AI in PIM with inriver

The inriver platform provides the most flexible PIM software available. Built on a fully adaptable data model, the inriver PIM solution is the ideal engine for any omnichannel strategy. 

In addition to being the single source of truth for market-ready product information, the inriver PIM includes API-based syndication and digital shelf analytics technology, offering all the tools you need to thrive in today’s omnichannel world from a single, intuitive platform. 

As the evolution of artificial intelligence continues at pace, inriver is constantly working to integrate the latest AI-powered capabilities into the PIM platform. With these innovations, inriver accelerates trusted commerce experiences for global brands and manufacturers.