River Island will partner with Product Experience (PX) company, Akeneo, to modernise how it manages product data – driving faster go-to-market and enhanced retail execution – as part of its ongoing digital transformation programme.

Simplified, structured & optimised product data

Seeking to overcome a complex tech landscape, River Island wanted to streamline its product information processes. It sought to simplify, structure and optimise what was previously a complex tech landscape, which consisted of multiple product data masters, legacy workflows and manual, spreadsheet-based product information enrichment.

In a post on LinkedIn, Akeneo confirmed its Product Information Management (PIM) solution would become “the central backbone” for the fashion retailer, “powering structured product data” and “enabling efficient enrichment.”

Working with River Island, Akeneo also said it would deliver “smoother data operations, faster go-to-market and powerful retail execution.”

The evolving product discovery landscape

The move comes as product information – which powers product search and discovery – is rapidly evolving with the fast adoption of AI search among shoppers.

Akeneo’s recent poll of UK consumers showed seven in ten (67%) now rate AI assistants for accurate and detailed product information – highlighting the rapid impact AI has had on how UK shoppers search and discover products.

The same poll also pointed to the significant impact of poor product experiences on buying decisions; two thirds (65%) abandon purchases due to poor product information.

“High-quality product data is no longer just about driving conversions; it’s the key to being discoverable,” said Romain Fouache, CEO at Akeneo. “Brands need to stay ahead of this evolution [and] ensure their products are not only visible but trusted and preferred, wherever discovery happens.”