The way we shop is changing, and not just because of new trends or technologies. More and more of us are thinking about where our stuff comes from, how it’s made, and what happens to it when we’re done with it. From clothing to electronics to home goods, people are asking tough questions about the true cost of convenience and consumption,  and that shift in mindset is putting pressure on retailers to do better.

From the energy used in production and shipping to the mountains of packaging and returned items that end up in landfills, the retail industry in particular has a massive environmental footprint. Fashion alone is responsible for 10% of all global carbon emissions, and the rise of eCommerce has only added new layers of waste and inefficiency. Behind every product on a shelf or in an online cart, there’s a complex system that can strain natural resources, contribute to pollution, and generate enormous waste.

Retail Industry’s Environmental Impact

A carbon intensive industry

The retail industry is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, and it’s not always due to the obvious culprits like shipping operations and reverse logistics. Notably, Scope 3 emissions, those stemming from a company’s supply chain, are 92 times higher than direct operational emissions.

From the extraction of raw materials to the final delivery of products, every stage of the retail value chain leaves a carbon footprint: 

• The production of goods is often concentrated in regions reliant on fossil fuels, long distances from the end consumer. 
• The transportation of goods by road, air or sea generates substantial carbon emissions, particularly as demand escalates for rapid deliveries and returns. 
• The storage of goods in stores and warehouses requires energy use in increasing amounts as retailers grapple with overstocks

A strain on resources & landfills

Retail’s environmental footprint extends far beyond carbon emissions. The industry is a major consumer of water, raw materials, and energy. At the same time, it contributes heavily to landfill waste. Single-use packaging, unsold inventory, and returned merchandise all too often end up discarded rather than reused or recycled.

Overproduction and unsold inventory exacerbate retail’s environmental burden. Each year, billions of dollars’ worth of goods go unsold, often ending up in landfills or incinerators.  Fashion has become a notorious culprit, with some brands producing up to 52 micro-seasons annually to keep pace with trends. This cycle not only strains natural resources but also creates immense waste. In 2023, the fashion industry is estimated to have produced between 2.5 billion and 5 billion items of excess stock.

The hidden cost of eCommerce

The rise of eCommerce has led to an explosion of packaging waste, increased emissions from last-mile delivery, and skyrocketing return rates, particularly in fashion and home goods. Product shipping and returns account for 37% of total greenhouse gas emissions, with emissions from return shipping alone totaling 24 million metric tons of Co2 in 2022.

Every search query, image load, video stream, digital transaction and cloud computation demands energy, and generating that energy emits more greenhouse gases. It’s estimated that tech contributes between 2.3 and 3.7% of global CO₂ emissions  – the equivalent to the aviation industry’s total emissions. 

Excessive packaging, though designed to protect goods, adds another layer of resource depletion and pollution. Retail is responsible for 40% of global plastic usage, with much of it failing to be recycled.

Key Pillars of Sustainable Retail Operations

Sustainability in retail is about embedding responsible practices across the entire value chain, from sourcing to customer experience. There are a few foundational elements that are key to implementing sustainable retail practices:

1. Building sustainable supply chains

New sustainability regulations and growing consumer expectations will require retailers to provide unprecedented levels of transparency across their supply chains. But the modern retail supply chain is a complex and multifaceted ecosystem, which includes sourcing raw materials, manufacturing goods, shipping finished products, warehousing, distribution to stores, picking and packing, order fulfilment, reverse logistics, and circular reintegration. 

Such a complex physical network will require sophisticated technology to identify and address operational inefficiencies, reduce waste, and optimise product lifecycles at every stage. Retailers will need to address carbon emissions in their own operations, and in the wider value chain while working closely with suppliers to ensure ethical labor practices, reduce carbon emissions, and source renewable or recycled materials. This also involves rethinking vendor relationships, investing in supplier training, and using certifications to validate sustainability claims.

2. The 4 R’s: Resale, Recycling, Rental, Repairs

In a circular economy, products are designed and managed to maximize their value and minimize waste. Retailers are adopting strategies that keep products and materials in use for as long as possible, extracting maximum value before recovering and regenerating products at the end of their service life, and can be summarized into The 4 R;s:

• Resale: Secondhand marketplaces are gaining popularity, especially among environmentally conscious consumers. Retailers like Selfridges have integrated resale into their business models, aiming for a significant portion of transactions to be circular by 2030.
• Recycling: Take-back programs enable customers to return used products for recycling. Brands like MUD Jeans offer recycling options for their products, reducing the need for virgin materials and lowering environmental impact.
• Rental: Subscription and rental models allow consumers to use products temporarily, reducing the demand for new items. Companies such as Decathlon have introduced rental services for sports equipment, promoting product reuse.
• Repairs: Offering repair services extends the life of products and reduces waste. Retailers are establishing repair workshops and providing customers with the resources to maintain their purchases.

3. Optimized inventory management

Inventory management is a significant challenge for retailers, with inefficient practices leading to both excess stock and stocks-outs. Overstocking has long been the preferred option to maximise sales opportunities, but it comes with a high environmental costs, including increased resource consumption, carbon emissions and waste. 

As new regulations demand that brands take responsibility for the full lifecycle of unsold stock, and businesses strive to meet their emissions targets, balancing stock levels effectively is now critical. However, a number of factors have made it increasingly difficult for retailers to plan inventory: 

• Rapid trend cycles: Driven by social media, the number of microtrends has boomed, and ultra-fast-fashion players have heightened consumer expectations for a constant cycle of new products by shortening speed-to-market times. 
• Channel complexity: As consumers increasingly shop across multiple channels, brands are struggling to provide product options across a growing number of touchpoints – especially if they’re not operating a single pool of stock.  
• Supply chain disruptions: Global supply chains have faced unprecedented disruptions in recent years, causing shipments to be delayed and extending already long lead times. 
• Unpredictable seasonality: While 2024 is expected to be the warmest year on record,   the UK experienced its coldest summer in almost a decade.  These unseasonal weather patterns caused by climate change make it hard to predict demand and sell through seasonal stock.  

While some unsold stock can be marked down or recycled, if brands are to reduce the pressure their activities place on the planet, they will need to reduce the amount of stock that goes unsold in the first place.

4. Personalized, data-driven customer journeys

To encourage consumers to shop more sustainably, retailers can shape their in-store and online experiences to highlight eco-friendly products and collections. For eCommerce search and browsing experiences, this starts at the product level with detailed product descriptions,

tagging products with sustainability-related attributes (e.g. organic, carbon-neutral, recycled, pre-loved), and prioritising these products within the search experience through product

recommendations. 

Using AI-powered personalisation tools, retailers can connect product data with real-time customer behavioural data and tailor the customer journey to match the right products to the right customers. This allows brands to identify shoppers who are inclined to shop sustainably and cater their on-site experience to suit those preferences.

These same tools also enable store associates to deliver more meaningful in-person experiences. With enhanced product information and tailored recommendations available in the POS, they have the insights needed to guide consumers toward more informed and conscious choices.  With instant access to detailed product data – such as materials, origin, environmental impact, and sustainability certifications – associates can confidently answer questions and help customers select products that align with their values. 

5. Mitigating return rates

It’s no secret that returns have a huge cost for the planet. Around 17 billion items are returned every year, generating 4.7 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions and 2.3 million tonnes of waste. 

In the past, customer returns have been considered an unavoidable cost of doing business, but a number of new digital technologies are helping shoppers make more suitable purchasing decisions – and reducing the likelihood of returns. In a world where customers shop across multiple channels, from online to in-store to mobile apps and more, consistency in product information ensures a seamless shopping experience. 

When product details like size, material or features are presented clearly, customers feel confident in their purchasing decisions, which reduces hesitation and the likelihood of returns. Inaccurate or inconsistent information can lead to customer frustration, erode trust in a brand and increase costly returns. 

Driving Sustainability in Retail

From improving supply chain efficiency to enhancing product transparency and enabling smarter decision-making, modern companies that embed sustainability into the very fabric of their operations reduce their environmental footprint but also build stronger trust with consumers, meet evolving regulatory demands, and future-proof their business in an increasingly eco-conscious marketplace.

As sustainability continues to shape the expectations of customers, investors, and stakeholders alike, the businesses that leverage technology to drive meaningful change will be the ones that lead,not follow. Now is the time to invest in solutions that align profitability with responsibility, proving that doing good for the planet can also be good for business.

When it comes to choosing a product information management (PIM) solution, there’s a lot to consider – features, integrations, scalability, price, etc. But one often overlooked factor can make or break the success of your PIM adoption: the user interface (UI). But a good UI isn’t just about looking nice. It’s about making your team’s day-to-day work smoother, faster, and more intuitive.

Let’s explore what UI really is, why it matters so much, and why Akeneo PIM consistently stands out as one of the best solutions on the market for usability.

What is User Interface (UI)?

UI (User Interface) refers to the way users interact with a software application, and can include everything from the layout of the screens and the structure of menus, to how information is displayed and how easy it is to find and complete tasks. In short, UI is about how software looks, feels, and functions for the people who use it.

A good UI ensures that users can accomplish what they need to do, whether that’s enriching product data, updating catalogs, or launching new products, with minimal effort and confusion.

Why is UI important?

A strong UI may seem like just a good “nice to have” but when you’re dealing with complex software solutions that touch multiple teams and processes, it’s often actually critical for success. Here’s why:

• Ease of adoption: A simple, logical interface reduces the learning curve, making it easier for teams to start using the tool confidently and quickly.
  
• Efficiency: Good UI design minimizes wasted time searching for information or figuring out next steps, making everyday workflows faster.
  
• Reduced training costs: When the system is intuitive, businesses spend less time and money training employees.
  
• Better data quality: A clear interface helps users understand where data gaps exist and what actions they need to take to resolve them.
  
• Higher user satisfaction: If people enjoy using the software, they’re more likely to use it consistently and correctly, leading to better business outcomes.

How to Evaluate UI in Business Solutions

When assessing a PIM (or any business-critical software), evaluating the UI carefully is crucial to ensuring long-term success. A polished UI can determine how efficiently users work, how quickly teams adopt the tool, and how reliably your product data can be maintained.

Here are the key elements you should pay close attention to when evaluating UI.

1. Clean, Uncluttered Design

A strong UI starts with clarity. When users log in, they should immediately understand where they are and what they can do next. Screens should not be overwhelmed with buttons, menus, or information. Instead, the design should prioritize focus, presenting only the most relevant tools and content depending on the context.
An uncluttered design reduces cognitive load, making it easier for users to concentrate on the task at hand without being distracted or overwhelmed.

Questions to ask:

• Are the most important actions easy to find without searching?
• Is the layout organized logically, without excessive visual noise?

2. Logical Structure and Navigation

Poor navigation can cause frustration and wasted time. An intuitive structure helps users find what they need quickly and reduces the chances of errors or omissions.

A good UI creates a clear, intuitive map for users to follow. Menus, categories, and workflows should mirror how users naturally think about and organize their work. Navigation paths should feel predictable, consistent, and straightforward whether you’re drilling down into a product family, switching between catalogs, or editing product attributes.

Questions to ask:

• Can users easily return to the homepage or dashboard from any page?
• Is there breadcrumb navigation or a logical menu hierarchy?

3. Helpful Guidance

Even with great design, new users may need a helping hand. Look for solutions that offer built-in guidance, such as tooltips, pop-up hints, onboarding tours, or contextual assistants. Features like this often go a step further by actively suggesting the next best action based on workflows and priorities.

Guidance tools empower users to get up to speed quickly and work independently, reducing reliance on support teams and minimizing errors.

Questions to ask:

• Does the system offer contextual help or embedded instructions?
• Are workflows clearly explained or supported by step-by-step assistance?

4. Responsiveness

Responsiveness refers to both speed and adaptability. Actions like clicking, filtering, editing, and saving should happen quickly and seamlessly. Additionally, the interface should adapt smoothly across different devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) without losing functionality or clarity.

Slow, clunky interfaces frustrate users and discourage adoption. In fast-paced environments, every second counts, and sluggish systems can slow down enrichment efforts or cause users to abandon tasks.

Questions to ask:

• Are page loads and saves quick and smooth?
• Is the interface fully functional on different screen sizes or browsers?

5. Accessibility

Not every PIM user will be tech-savvy. An accessible, user-friendly design ensures that marketers, product managers, and seasonal staff can all contribute effectively without needing specialized training.

A truly great UI is usable by everyone regardless of technical skill level, experience, or even accessibility needs.Interfaces should avoid jargon, use clear language, and maintain high visual contrast for readability. Keyboard shortcuts, screen reader compatibility, and adjustable settings are important for ensuring inclusivity.

Questions to ask:

• Is the UI intuitive enough for a non-technical user?
• Are accessibility best practices, like contrast and keyboard navigation, supported?

6. Visual Feedback

Visual feedback keeps users informed about system status, next steps, and errors without requiring them to dig through logs or reports, which boosts productivity and minimizes confusion.

Effective UIs communicate with users clearly through visual feedback. For example, when an action is completed, the system should confirm it visually (e.g., a checkmark or notification). When data is missing or needs improvement, visual indicators — like Akeneo’s Data Quality Score — should highlight the issue in an easily recognizable way.

Questions to ask:

• Does the system provide real-time alerts, success confirmations, or warnings?
• Are areas requiring action clearly highlighted?

Akeneo PIM: Best in Class UI 

We may be a bit biased, but analysts and customers alike have long recognized Akeneo PIM for outstanding user interface and usability. 

Here’s a few specifics on why we stand out from the crowd:

• Clean, intuitive, and modern UI: Akeneo’s interface is praised for being user-friendly and approachable, especially by non-technical users. The modern design creates a welcoming environment that reduces the intimidation factor often associated with enterprise software.
  
• Clear navigation and structure: Core elements like the product grid, product edit page, and data quality insights are logically organized, making it easy to browse, search, and edit product information. Everything is right where you expect it to be.
  
• Guided processes with Teamwork Assistant (Enterprise Edition): This feature helps guide users through complex workflows, suggesting what tasks to complete next. It reduces guesswork and makes collaboration across teams easier and more efficient.
  
• Visual data quality insights: Akeneo’s Data Quality Score surfaces areas where product information is incomplete or could be improved. The scoring system is easy to understand at a glance, helping users prioritize enrichment efforts without needing to dig into reports.

Akeneo PIM is ideal for teams who want an easy-to-learn, fast-to-navigate system that minimizes training time. It empowers business users, marketers, and product managers to work independently without heavy reliance on IT support, making it a favorite among organizations that value autonomy and speed.

UI: The Bridge Between Technology and Productivity

UI is all about making complex work simpler, faster, and more accessible. In a world where digital tools are central to daily operations, a strong UI can mean the difference between a tool that empowers your team and one that creates bottlenecks and frustration.

When evaluating a PIM solution — or any business software — the quality of the user interface should be a top priority for all businesses. An intuitive UI accelerates adoption, minimizes training needs, improves accuracy, and boosts the overall productivity of your teams, all while ensuring that users of all technical skill levels can navigate the system with confidence, focus on enriching and maintaining high-quality product data, and adapt quickly to changing business demands.

Good UI design also has a compounding effect:

• Higher usage rates mean better maintained product information.
• Reduced friction leads to faster time-to-market for new products.
• Improved satisfaction reduces employee turnover and reliance on technical support.

Ultimately, the tools you invest in should work for your people — not the other way around.

If you’re looking for a PIM that offers one of the most user-friendly experiences in the market today, reach out to an Akeneo expert today to learn more about how our clean design, intuitive navigation, guided workflows, and helpful visual cues sets us apart as a leader in usability and helps your team get more done with less frustration.

Some products are designed to last a lifetime. Others? Not so much. They’re the items we reach for without thinking — used, replaced, and repurchased in an endless rhythm that quietly powers global commerce.

These goods might not grab headlines, but they fill our cupboards, bathrooms, and shopping carts. They’re fast-moving and deeply embedded in our daily life. And while they may seem simple on the surface, the industries behind them are anything but.

So, what is the name of this fast-paced industry? And why is it so important?

What Are Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)?

Consumer Packaged Goods are non-durable products that households or individuals purchase frequently. Non-durable items refer to products that are either meant to be consumed immediately or have a lifespan of less than three years. Think of everyday essentials such as milk and bread, or clothing driven by the fast fashion industry!

Other examples would be:

• Drinks: juices, soft drinks, water, etc.
• Personal hygiene products: shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc.
• Cleaning products: disinfectants, detergents, soap, etc.

Unlike CPG, durable products are made to be repeatedly used and are designed with their lifespan in mind, lasting three or more years. They’re items that are expected to be constantly used while still being in good condition. Examples include:

• Home appliances: refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, etc.
• Vehicles: Cars, motorcycles, trucks, etc.
• Electronics: smartphones, televisions, computers, etc.
• Furniture: tables, chairs, beds, etc.

Why CPG Matters Today

Because it involves the products we rely on every single day, CPG is more important than it might seem at first glance. From the moment we wake up to the time we wind down, these goods are there — in our kitchens, bathrooms, and closets — quietly built into our routines, rarely given a second thought.

Besides being (literally) vital to our lives, CGP holds importance because of its:

• Massive market size: The global CPG market is worth around $2 trillion and continues to grow, with industry giants such as Coca-Cola, Unilever, Pepsico, L’Oreal, and more. 

• High purchase frequency: CPG products are purchased frequently, often on a weekly or daily basis. 

• Brand loyalty opportunities: Brand loyalty remains significant in the CPG sector as purchases for these products tend to be more frequent than other longer-use products. For example, 69% of consumers exhibit brand loyalty for CPG products, indicating a strong preference for a familiar face amongst the crowd. 

• Economic engine power: The CPG sector supports millions of jobs worldwide, from manufacturing and logistics to marketing and retail. It’s the backbone of both local and global economies.
• Perfect storm for innovation: The CPG industry is a hotbed for innovation, driven by intense competition and evolving consumer demands. Today, companies are embracing technological advancements such as AI and sustainable tech solutions to streamline operations and enhance consumer engagement.

Current Trends Reshaping the CPG Industry

The CPG industry is in the middle of a makeover — and it’s not just about new packaging. From how products are made to how they land in your cart (digital or physical), consumer packaged goods are evolving fast, and there are a few key trends steering the change.

1. D2C and eCommerce are booming

CPG brands are increasingly skipping the middleman and going direct-to-consumer (D2C) as customers show a growing preference for direct connections with the brands they buy from. Meanwhile, eCommerce growth continues to reshape shopping habits—especially for younger, mobile-first consumers.

2. Sustainability is no longer an option

Consumers are demanding cleaner ingredients, eco-friendly packaging, and transparent sourcing—in short, sustainability is their priority. Especially millennials, with 60% willing to pay a premium for sustainably produced products. Brands that don’t walk the sustainability talk risk being left behind.

3. Health and wellness are front and center

Functional foods, clean beauty, and better-for-you options are dominating shelves as consumers prioritize wellbeing over indulgence (at least on weekdays).

4. Private labels are stepping up

Retailers are upping their game with high-quality, lower-priced alternatives. The competition is no longer just between brands — it’s between brand and store. Take Trader Joe’s, for example: over 80% of its products are private label, and many have developed cult followings. From organic snacks to frozen meals, Trader Joe’s has shown that store brands can go toe-to-toe with national names — and often win.

5. Tech is changing how products are made and sold

AI-driven search experiences, QR code-enabled transparency, and even AR try-ons — CPG is embracing digital transformation, one SKU at a time.

These shifts reflect a fast-evolving industry where agility and consumer insight are key. Whether it’s rethinking how products are sold, packaged, or personalized, CPG brands must adapt or risk falling behind in a market where expectations are constantly rising, and loyalty is earned one product at a time.

How PIM Supports CPG Success

In the fast-paced world of consumer packaged goods, managing product information across countless SKUs, markets, and channels can quickly become overwhelming. Creating a single source of truth with a PIM solution ensures product data completeness and legal compliance as well as a consistent brand experience across all existing and emerging sales channels in the CPG space.

By streamlining how information is updated and shared, PIM helps brands reduce time-to-market, improve the customer experience, and keep pace with ever-evolving regulations.. Whether launching a new product, entering a new market, or optimizing for eCommerce, think of PIM as the quiet powerhouse making sure everything stays in sync—without the chaos.

From Pantry Staples to Power Moves

The world of consumer packaged goods may be built on everyday items, but there’s nothing ordinary about the challenges and opportunities it holds. From shifting consumer behaviors and rising sustainability demands to digital disruption and increasing regulatory pressure, CPG brands are being pushed to think faster, act smarter, and deliver more across every channel.

To stay ahead, embracing tools like PIM isn’t just smart—it’s essential. Because in a space where consistency, speed, and trust define success, brands that invest in the right systems today will be the ones that thrive tomorrow.

We are thrilled to share the winners of the annual Akeneo Partner Awards, celebrating the outstanding achievements of our solution and technology partners who continue to drive excellence across the Akeneo ecosystem. 

Award recipients were selected based on demonstrating exceptional performance in either implementing Akeneo’s Product Cloud solution for their clients or developing a joint technology solution that meets unique customer needs. 

In both cases, partners have contributed significantly to the growth and development of the Akeneo ecosystem by acting as advocates for our joint solutions in the broader community and by collaborating to ensure the best customer outcomes and product experience (PX) excellence. 

Global Awards 

MACH Partner Award (Global Technology Partner) – Contentstack

Contentstack, a leading Composable Digital Experience Platform (DXP) provider, empowers organizations to deliver dynamic and personalized digital experiences at scale. Renowned for their innovation and reliability, Contentstack continues to raise the bar for digital content management across industries. 

Growth Award (Global Technology Partner) – Bynder

Bynder is a global leader in digital asset management (DAM), providing a powerful, intuitive platform that simplifies the creation, management, and distribution of marketing assets. Trusted by top brands worldwide, Bynder helps businesses maintain consistency and efficiency in their brand storytelling. 

Innovation Award (Global Technology Partner) –  Ocode 

Ocode specializes in providing secure digital identities for products, enhancing traceability, authenticity, and customer engagement. By bridging the physical and digital worlds, Ocode enables brands to offer enriched product experiences and build greater trust with consumers. 

Activation Award (Global Technology Partner) – Walmart 

Walmart’s commitment to innovation is reshaping retail and digital commerce, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance the customer journey. With a focus on operational excellence and emerging technologies, Walmart is setting new standards for product data management and omnichannel success. 

Regional Awards

Regional Star Award (North America Technology Partner) – Shopify

Shopify continues to lead in enabling businesses of all sizes to create exceptional commerce experiences. With its robust ecosystem and flexibility, Shopify helps brands scale globally, seamlessly managing product information and sales across multiple channels. 

Regional Star Award (Northern Europe Technology Partner) – Cloudinary

Cloudinary’s media experience platform is the go-to solution for managing, optimizing, and delivering visual and rich media at scale. They empower brands to create fast, visually engaging experiences that drive customer interaction and brand loyalty. 

Regional Star Award (Southern Europe Technology Partner) – Algolia

Algolia is the trusted choice for creating lighting-fast, highly relevant search and discovery experiences. Their API-first platform empowers brands to deliver tailored, intuitive search capabilities that enhance product findability and boost conversions. 

Regional Star Award (Central Europe Technology Partner) – SAP

SAP is a global leader in enterprise application software, helping businesses run better with integrated solutions that promote innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. Their ongoing commitment to the Akeneo ecosystem strengthens the future of digital transformation and customer experience excellence. 

Growth Awards

Ntara – North America Solution Partner

Ntara is a trusted digital transformation consultancy, specializing in PIM and commerce solutions that fuel business growth. Their strategic approach to data management and user experience drives measurable outcomes for brands seeking to scale digitally. 

Clever Age – Southern Europe Solution Partner

Clever Age is a full-service digital agency, expertly combining consulting, technology, and creative services to help companies thrive in the digital age. Their expertise ensures that PIM initiatives are seamlessly integrated into broader digital strategies. 

TechDivision – Central Europe Solution Partner

TechDivision is a premier digital commerce consultancy known for delivering outstanding PIM implementations and omnichannel strategies. Their technical excellence and business acumen help brands elevate every touchpoint of the customer journey. 

Vaimo – Northern Europe Solution Partner

Vaimo is a global leader in digital commerce and customer experience, offering end-to-end solutions that prioritize seamless integration, data management, and brand loyalty. They remain a trusted partner for organizations aiming to transform their digital presence. 

Impact Awards

Accenture – Southern Europe Solution Partner

Accenture is a global professional services leader driving digital innovation at speed and scale. Their deep expertise across industries, coupled with their commitment to technology excellence, continues to deliver transformative outcomes for clients in the Akeneo community. 

Vincit – Northern Europe Solution Partner 

Vincit is an award-winning digital company known for crafting human-centered, effective digital solutions. With a strong focus on usability and data management, Vincit helps brands build better product experiences that drive measurable business value. 

Hero Awards

O2 Commerce – North America Solution Partner

O2 Commerce brings deep industry expertise and innovative thinking to every PIM and digital commerce engagement. Their agile approach helps brands unlock the full potential of their product data and deliver superior customer experiences. 

CapGemini – Southern Europe Solution Partner

CapGemini is a global digital transformation leader, blending technology innovation with business insights to deliver sustainable, scalable results. Their strategic focus on PIM and PX excellence supports companies as they navigate today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. 

Diva-e – Central Europe Solution Partner

Diva-e empowered brands to create outstanding, connected digital experiences that engage and retain customers. With their deep PIM expertise and end-to-end services, they help clients transform digital ambitions into reality. 

Start with Data – Northern Europe Solution Partner

Start with Data are the trusted PIM specialists for retailers and manufacturers, delivering independent advice, data strategy, and full lifecycle services. Their expertise helps brands fuel eCommerce growth with complete, consistent, and accurate product information. 

Rising Star Awards

iResponsive Solutions – North America Solution Partner

iResponsive Solutions specializes in delivering customer-first, agile PIM implementations that align perfectly with business objectives. Their tailored, responsive approach ensures brands can scale and evolve quickly in a competitive marketplace. 

Numendo – Southern Europe Solution Partner

Numendo offers expert digital product data management solutions that streamline and elevate product experiences. With a strong focus on innovation and customer-centricity, Numendo helps brands stay competitive and future-ready. 

piazzablu – Central Europe Solution Partner

piazablue delivers tailored digital commerce and data management solutions, enabling brands to optimize product information, streamline operations, and enhance customer engagement across all touchpoints. 

Columbus – Northern Europe Solution Partner

Columbus is a global digital business services provider helping companies transform and future-proof their operations. Their deep experience with PIM and commerce solutions enables brands to unlock new growth opportunities and improve customer experiences. 

Congratulations to all of our 2024 award winners! Our phenomenal network of partners has been instrumental in our journey. We’ve fostered a tight-knit community over the years, and it’s been a pleasure to evolve and expand alongside these remarkable organizations. Together, we are building a thriving ecosystem centered around the product record. 

Learn more about the Akeneo Partner Ecosystem and discover how to get involved in the partner community today. We’ll see you next year for the 2025 Awards!

In case you missed it, our Spring Release was packed with exciting new updates designed to help brands and retailers like yours take product experiences to the next level. These enhancements reflect our ongoing mission to make product experiences smarter, more collaborative, and more aligned with what your customers want.

Here are the top five updates now available within Akeneo PIM that empower you to enrich your product content, streamline operations, and deliver standout customer experiences.

1. Let customer insights power your product content

Your customers are already telling you what they care about through reviews, search behavior, and product interactions. The question is, are you listening?

Now you can, with AI-powered PX Insights. By pulling in insights like top search terms and common review language, PX Insights enables you to incorporate real-life customer insights directly into Akeneo PIM and generate content that speaks directly to your audience’s needs across all channels and platforms.

Your descriptions and other product information can now dynamically reflect evolving consumer interests and trends. This means your content isn’t just accurate—it’s always relevant and resonant.

Learn more about PX Insights

2. Fine-tune AI-generated content with custom prompts

Last year, we introduced GenAI-enhanced enrichment and translation. This year, we’re taking it further by giving you unprecedented control over how AI crafts your product content.

You can now specify how individual product attributes should be handled—whether that means ignoring specific terms, preserving HTML tags, or ensuring a consistent tone across content. Set prompts at the product family level to maintain a distinct voice and style for each category.

Custom prompts also boost translation accuracy and enable faster localization at scale. With the ability to include prompts in automated rules and bulk actions, creating personalized, accurate, and on-brand content is easier than ever.

Learn more about AI-powered custom prompts

3. Strengthen data governance with attribute dependencies

Regulatory compliance can be a major hurdle; in fact, 99% of B2B organizations report facing challenges meeting local and industry-specific regulations. With attribute dependencies, Akeneo PIM provides your team with dynamic, conditional logic that helps automate compliance and improve data quality.

This feature ensures only the most relevant and necessary product attributes are displayed, depending on context, which not only simplifies product data management, but also protects your business from regulatory risk.

Whether you’re aligning with standards like ETIM or preparing for Digital Product Passports, attribute dependencies help ensure your data is compliant and reliable—without the manual effort.

Learn more about attribute dependencies

4. Collaborate more efficiently with enhanced review workflows

Product enrichment is rarely a solo task. To ensure product data is accurate, complete, and brand-aligned, we’ve introduced review steps to Akeneo PIM’s enrichment workflows.

These enhancements streamline collaboration between content creators and approvers. Teams can now leave targeted feedback and instructions directly in Akeneo PIM, making the enrichment process more efficient and transparent.

From validating supplier content to reviewing AI-generated descriptions, this structured workflow ensures that every product record is fully vetted before it goes live—improving trust, consistency, and brand quality.

Learn more about enrichment workflows

5. Customize your workspace with experience extensions

Every business has unique workflows and requirements. That’s why Akeneo PIM now supports experience extensions, allowing you to tailor your interface without custom development or complex integrations.

With experience extensions, you can bring in custom buttons, actions, and pages to display or interact with external tools, datasets, or processes—all within the Akeneo environment.

Whether you need access to external product specs, custom validation tools, or brand-specific workflows, this feature lets you adapt Akeneo to your exact business needs, improving productivity and user satisfaction.

Learn more about Akeneo extensions

Akeneo Spring Release is Here

These latest updates are all about helping you work smarter, move faster, and create product experiences your customers actually want. Whether you’re fine-tuning your content with AI, ensuring compliance without the headaches, or giving your teams better tools to collaborate, there’s something here to make your day-to-day a whole lot easier.

And this is just the start. We’re always continuing to build powerful, flexible tools that grow with you and your business needs.

Curious to see these features in action? Dive in and explore what’s new – we think you’re going to love what’s possible with Akeneo.

“Treat them mean to keep them keen” might work in dodgy dating advice, but it’s definitely not how today’s top brands keep customers coming back for more. The best businesses have ditched that outdated playbook in favor of something far more effective: putting the customer first and making sure they know it.

But it’s not just about showering buyers with promo codes, free shipping, or carefully curated bundles. The smartest brands are going deeper, tapping into customer preferences, frustrations, and thoughts in real-time, and using that insight to continuously improve. 

How? By creating a solid customer feedback loop that turns every opinion into an opportunity!

What is a Customer Feedback Loop?

Just like the name suggests, a customer feedback loop is a continuous process where businesses collect feedback from their customers, analyze it, act on what they’ve learned, and then—crucially—circle back to let customers know their input made a difference. It’s a cycle designed to make sure that businesses don’t get too ahead of themselves or fall behind on their customers’ expectations.

It’s called a “loop” for a reason: it doesn’t end once a change is made. The loop is only complete when the business closes the circle—communicating improvements back to the customers and inviting even more feedback! Rinse, repeat, improve.

The 4 Stages of the Customer Feedback Loop

So, how does this approach work? Well, the customer feedback loop goes through four key stages:

1. Gather the Feedback

The first stage is about putting the focus on your customers’ words—Whether it’s through surveys, reviews, social media comments, support tickets, or chatbots, this is where you tune in and start listening to what your customers are actually saying. 77% of consumers say they have a more favorable view of companies that actively seek and accept customer feedback.

2. Analyze the Feedback

Raw feedback is great, but identifying the patterns and trends is where the magic happens! By analyzing the feedback, you can see what’s working, what’s broken, and what customers are secretly (or loudly) hoping for. Companies that consistently analyze and act on customer feedback see nearly a 10x greater annual revenue increase compared to those that don’t. Let that one sink in.

3. Act on What You’ve Learned

It’s not enough to listen—you’ve got to do something with what you heard. Whether it’s fixing bugs, rolling out new features, or simplifying the checkout flow, this is where your customers start to feel seen, and your customer experience is improved.

4. Close the Loop

Don’t ghost your customers after you’ve made a change! Let them know you heard them and that you acted on that. Following up shows appreciation, boosts brand trust, and encourages even more valuable feedback in the future—which you definitely need.

Why are Feedback Loops Important?

The best way you can know what your customers are thinking is by listening to what they’re saying. Feedback loops give companies a direct line into what customers love, what they can’t stand, and what’s missing. They help brands avoid flying blind or running into preventable problems, instead guiding decisions with real-world input.

In a world where customer expectations evolve faster than app updates, a feedback loop ensures you’re not just always improving, but learning and staying relevant. It’s how good companies become great, and how great ones stay on top.

Let’s face it. Modern shopping can feel like a high-stakes game of musical chairs. Blink, and suddenly there’s a new “must-have” trend, a limited-edition drop, or a miracle product you didn’t know you needed . . . until five minutes ago. We’ve all fallen into the trap—chasing the thrill of the buy now, regret later.

We are bombarded with the must-have latest styles that change every few weeks, pushed to “buy now before you miss out”, and every company claims to have the latest and greatest life-changing product or serum.

But all this speed and stuff comes at a serious cost—not just to our wallets, but to the planet. The result? Closets full of clothes we barely wear, gadgets that gather dust, and a mountain of discarded “essentials” we barely remember buying. It’s time to hit pause.

The Swiss-based WWF said in its Living Planet Report that more than three quarters of the world’s population lives in countries whose consumption levels are outstripping environmental renewal, and concluded that reckless consumption of “natural capital” was endangering the world’s future prosperity, with clear economic impacts including high costs for food, water and energy.

The fashion industry, with its quick turnarounds, endless new collections, and whiplash-inducing microtrends, plays a huge part in this. Producing clothes requires a vast amount of resources, from water-intensive cotton farming to synthetic materials that shed microplastics, not to mention the chemicals used in dyeing and treating fabrics that pollute our waterways.

The Revolution: Smart Consumerism

The good news is that it’s not all doom and gloom; many consumers, especially younger generations, are starting to realize the impact that their consumption of low-quality, environmentally damaging products can have on the planet, and are directing their dollars in response; nearly 60% of millennials are willing to pay a premium for sustainably-produced products.

Consumers are now considering a broader range of factors before making a purchase, embracing principles like:

• Opting for items that can be used multiple times, or using rental services to reduce ownership of rarely used products
• Choosing goods that can be easily repaired rather than replaced, or opting for items that can be recycled or resold
• Saying no to unnecessary or unsustainable products and simply cutting down on overall consumption
• Evaluating the necessity and impact of every single purchase
• Prioritizing suppliers and products that meet high ethical and environmental standards

Transparency To Be Required By Law

Aside from just consumer pressure, there will be legal pressure coming as soon as 2026. 

Unveiled by the EU in 2022 as part of a broader package designed to make sustainable products the norm in Europe, Digital Product Passports will serve as comprehensive digital records that gather and share crucial data about a product’s environmental footprint, from its initial design through to its end-of-life. This includes detailed information on the materials used, sustainability credentials, repair data, and other essential data such as the product’s unique identifier, model, place and date of manufacture, and warranty details.

If you’re a seller within the EU market, the DPP regulation means you’ll need to provide extensive details about every material in your products, how and where they are made, and their environmental impact. 

Harnessing AI for Enhanced Consumer Engagement and Compliance

As both consumer and legislative demand for detailed product information and long-lasting, sustainable products continue to grow, businesses face the critical task of  leveraging the right technology to not only gather but effectively manage and distribute crucial data. In a marketplace that values transparency and personalized experiences, AI can be a pivotal tool in meeting these demands, staying compliant with increasingly stringent regulations, and transforming how information is organized, enriched, and shared with consumers.

Let’s take a look at a few key ways AI can help:

1. Data Cleansing 

AI can streamline data management by cleansing databases of inaccuracies and inconsistencies, ensuring that the product information shared with consumers is reliable and trustworthy which is crucial for building brand credibility and customer loyalty.

2. Documentation and Compliance 

AI systems can be designed to ensure that every product has the necessary documentation, such as DPP, and adheres to industry standards. This is particularly important in sectors like healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, where regulatory compliance is stringent, but will become more important to all industries as more eco-friendly legislation is passed.

3. Supply Chain Transparency 

AI can track and record each touchpoint in a product’s supply chain, from raw materials to final delivery. This transparency is not only vital for compliance with regulations like the DPP but also aligns with consumer expectations for ethical sourcing and sustainability.

4. Smart Recommendations

By analyzing data on consumer behavior and product materials, AI can recommend products made of similar recycled or sustainable materials, not only enhancing the shopping experience by providing personalized options but also promoting environmentally-friendly products.

5. Enhancing Customer Support

AI-driven chatbots can handle routine inquiries, providing instant responses to common questions, allowing human support staff to focus on more complex and nuanced customer needs.

6. Content Personalization and Localization

AI excels in personalizing content based on consumer data and localizing it to meet regional regulations and cultural nuances. This tailored content is more engaging for users and ensures that products meet local regulations, increasing the likelihood of conversion and repeat business.

7. Analyzing & Interpreting Customer Feedback

AI can analyze large volumes of unstructured customer feedback such as reviews, surveys, chat logs, and social media to surface actionable insights. These solutions can detect sentiment, extract recurring themes, and identify gaps in provided sustainability data to help product teams better understand customer needs, guide product improvements, and refine sustainability messaging, ultimately providing insights into what customers actually care about.

Embracing the Revolution: Smart Consumerism and Sustainable Choices

The days of mindless consumption are numbered. Between increasingly eco-conscious consumers, stricter regulations like the Digital Product Passport, and the very real consequences of our throwaway culture, the message is clear: it’s time to rethink how we make, market, and manage products.

The good news? We have powerful tools at our fingertips. AI can feel overwhelming and overhyped, but when utilized correctly, it can be a practical, scalable solution for businesses looking to meet new demands with confidence. From cleaning up messy product data to ensuring compliance and creating meaningful, personalized shopping experiences, AI helps businesses walk the talk when it comes to sustainability and transparency.

So whether you’re a brand trying to future-proof your product strategy or a consumer striving to make better choices, one thing’s certain: smarter consumption is the future. And with the right tech and the right mindset, it’s a future we can all help build, one product at a time.

Once upon a time, searching online meant typing in keywords and hoping for the best—now, AI search engines practically finish your thoughts for you. (Creepy? Maybe. Convenient? Absolutely.)

From intent-driven engines that cut through the clutter faster than you can say “page two of search results,” to AI assistants delivering real-time, personalized recommendations—AI isn’t some distant promise. It’s already transforming how customers discover, decide, and buy, turning what once felt like science fiction into standard practice for brands leading the digital charge.

But how are businesses actually putting this powerful tool to work?  We’ll dive into a few real-world examples, but first let’s take a moment to define what we really mean by “AI” in the context of customer experience—and why it matters now more than ever.

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Forget the movies you’ve seen—artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t about robots taking over the world. It’s about machines getting smart enough to understand what we want, when we want it. 

At its core, Artificial Intelligence refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks include problem-solving, learning, understanding natural language, and even recognizing patterns. From personalized recommendations to automated chat support, AI is what’s quietly powering many of the experiences customers now expect as standard.

Why Do Brands Use AI?

For a long time (and still sometimes now), it can feel like AI is just a buzzword that businesses use to make themselves sound innovative. But if utilized correctly, AI can be the engine that quietly drives a new standard of convenience and personalization – and it’s not just consumers benefiting from this shift.

Many brands are leaning into AI in a real way to stay ahead in a fast-moving, customer-first world. In fact, 45% of brands are already using AI in their marketing efforts, tapping into its ability to scale personalization, streamline operations, and accelerate smarter decision-making.

From boosting efficiency behind the scenes to enhancing the front-end experience, AI enables businesses to work smarter and serve customers more intuitively. 

How Do Brands Use It?

So, what does this look like in practice? We all know about the AI chatbots that are now available on every website, but AI can also be utilized to deliver hyper-relevant product recommendations, optimize search experiences, and even predict what customers might need next. Whether it’s enhancing customer journeys or fine-tuning logistics, AI is showing up in ways that make shopping faster and smoother!

Now for the fun part—real-world proof. Here’s how smart businesses are using AI to rewrite the rules of customer experience:

1. Perplexity ‘Shop Like a Pro’: Intent-Based Search & Discovery

Our first case study is the AI-powered search engine Perplexity, which launched “Shop Like a Pro” in November 2024—a feature that allows users to search for products, receive tailored recommendations, and make purchases directly within the platform. It blends product discovery, smart recommendations, and a frictionless checkout into one smooth, all-in-one shopping experience.

By analyzing user queries, preferences, and behaviors, Perplexity delivers personalized product recommendations in a conversational, easy-to-digest format. Product cards display key details at a glance, giving shoppers the info they need without the hassle. And with the “Buy with Pro” feature, users can complete their purchases instantly—no more jumping between tabs or navigating a maze of websites!

Source

Perplexity’s ‘Shop Like a Pro’ marks a shift toward intent-based search and zero-click purchasing. Instead of requiring consumers to sift through search results and visit different retailers’ sites, Perplexity refines this process, ensuring that shoppers can find and purchase a product within a single, intuitive interaction. For retailers, this raises the stakes: product data needs to be accurate, enriched, and AI-ready to meet shoppers where they are. As platforms like Perplexity blur the lines between search, recommendation, and purchase, businesses that embrace this shift will be the ones leading instead of lagging in the next era of eCommerce.

2. Sephora: Virtual Assistance & Experiences

While Perplexity is redefining how we search and shop in one seamless step, other brands are using AI in entirely different ways. Take Sephora, for example—the beauty and skincare giant has been blending AI and Augmented Reality (AR) into its shopping experience for years, offering customers innovative tools that elevate both personalization and convenience.

One of Sephora’s notable innovations is the Sephora Virtual Artist, developed in collaboration with ModiFace, which allows users to virtually try on thousands of lip shades through their mobile app. By utilizing facial recognition technology, the app accurately maps facial features, enabling users to see how different products would look on them without physical application. Within two years of its launch, the Virtual Artist recorded over 200 million shade trials and attracted more than 8.5 million visits.

Source

Building upon this, Sephora introduced Color Match, an extension of the Virtual Artist. This feature assists customers in shade-matching by analyzing images to find corresponding lipstick colors from Sephora’s extensive product range. Users can upload a photo, and the AI identifies prominent colors, providing a list of matching lipsticks that can be virtually tried on and purchased directly through the app.

The core technology behind these tools includes advanced facial recognition, which accurately tracks facial features to apply virtual makeup precisely, and AI that analyzes users’ skin tones and leverages data such as customer preferences and purchase history to offer personalized product recommendations.

But Sephora didn’t stop there. They also put AI to work behind the scenes to boost SEO and customer outreach. Noticing a rise in detailed product searches, they used AI to whip up landing pages designed around queries like “best foundation for sensitive skin”, which resulted in smart, hyper-relevant content that clicked with customers – and a 6% increase in organic search visibility to prove it! 

Sephora’s AI-driven innovations show just how much tech can elevate the everyday shopping experience, making it smarter, more personal, and a lot more engaging. These tools don’t just boost convenience for customers; they also fuel stronger engagement and higher conversions for the brand.

Drum roll please . . .

We’re proud to share that Akeneo has been recognized as a leader in several newly published 2025 reports from IDC and ISG Research!

Two of the industry’s most trusted research firms, IDC and ISG Research have just released their 2025 assessments of the Product Information Management (PIM) and Product Experience Management (PXM) landscape. And we’re thrilled to share that Akeneo has earned top marks across the board!

From AI-powered automation and omnichannel consistency to next-gen syndication capabilities, our platform—and our vision—are being recognized for leading the pack. So if you’re wondering what makes a modern PXM solution truly best-in-class, or why your peers are investing in platforms that prioritize product experiences, you’ve come to the right place.

Let’s take a look at these five analyst, where Akeneo was ranked, and why we’re excited about what’s ahead.

1. IDC “Worldwide Retail Product Information Management Applications 2025 Vendor Assessment” MarketScape

The IDC MarketScape evaluates top vendors providing retail PIM applications, with a sharp focus on omnichannel consistency, AI-driven capabilities, and platform scalability.

Why Akeneo Was Named a Leader:

Akeneo was recognized as a Leader for our ability to support scalable product experiences across channels. At the core of the Akeneo Product Cloud is a modern PIM that helps retailers centralize product data and drive consistent experiences across eCommerce, marketplaces, stores, and beyond.

Key Strengths:

• Omnichannel consistency: Unified product data across touchpoints enhances brand trust and customer satisfaction.
  
• AI-powered enrichment: GenAI-driven tools support smart translation, tagging, and content creation at scale.
  
• Customization & scalability: Flexible data models and workflows serve both midmarket and large enterprise needs.
  
• Global syndication: Distribute product content to over 400 channels including Amazon and Walmart.
  
• Forward-looking innovation: Investment in sustainability, AI-based data modeling, and integrations.

3 Key Takeaways:

1. AI is redefining PIM: Automation and GenAI tools are now table stakes for digital success.

2. Consistency drives conversion: Unified product data across all channels is critical.
3. Syndication is a game changer: A broad channel network gives Akeneo customers a head start in global expansion.

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2. ISG Product Experience Management (PXM) Buyers Guide Results

The latest ISG PXM Buyers Guide showcases how companies think about product data, and how today’s leaders are orchestrating product experiences. This guide underscores the industry-wide shift from traditional PIM systems to experience-led platforms that put GenAI, analytics, and customer engagement at the forefront.

The businesses that will win in 2025 and beyond are those that can create compelling, consistent, and personalized product experiences across every channel and customer touchpoint.

Why Akeneo Was Named as a Top Three Performer:

Akeneo stood out as a top 3 performer in the critical areas of “Capability”, “Manageability”, and “Product Experience”, three pillars of successful PXM adoption. We were also recognized as “Exemplary” overall, highlighting our leadership in both technology innovation and user-centric design.

So, what makes us different?

• Balanced and intuitive: Akeneo’s platform blends power and usability, giving both technical and non-technical teams the tools to create rich, contextual product stories without getting lost in complexity.

• Scale without stress: Whether you’re managing hundreds of SKUs or hundreds of thousands, Akeneo helps brands scale product content creation and enrichment with ease—thanks to flexible workflows, AI-driven tools, and collaborative features.

• Experience-first approach: While some platforms still treat product data like static spreadsheets, Akeneo transforms it into a dynamic driver of conversion, loyalty, and customer delight.

3 Key Takeaways

1. PXM is central to digital commerce success: In a world of endless choices, product experience is a competitive advantage. Brands must go beyond accuracy and completeness—now, it’s about storytelling, personalization, and emotional resonance. PXM platforms like Akeneo are built to make that possible.
   
2. Continuous, cross-channel engagement is essential: Customers don’t shop in silos. They browse online, research on mobile, purchase in-store, and expect consistent experiences every step of the way. Akeneo ensures your product information is always aligned—wherever and however your customers are engaging.
   
3. GenAI and analytics are the new power tools: The days of manually updating product data are over. Today’s most successful companies are harnessing the power of genAI to accelerate content creation and using analytics to continually refine their strategy. Akeneo’s forward-thinking platform delivers on both fronts, making it easy to turn insights into action.

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