Centric Software

Centric Launches Centric AI Studio for Product Creation

Centric Software announced Centric AI Studio, a generative AI platform integrated with Centric PLM that embeds AI into connected product workflows to accelerate concept-to-commercialization for consumer goods brands. The platform connects design, development, merchandising, sourcing and digital commerce workflows to trusted PLM data, enabling rapid generation of sketches, colorways, product variants, early visualizations, and on-model/lifestyle imagery while reducing photoshoot dependency. Centric positions the product as enterprise-ready for operational use across the product lifecycle and cites deployments with brands such as GANT and g-lab across the United States, Germany, Türkiye, Sweden and South Africa. Centric executives Vincent Picou (Chief AI Officer) and Fabrice Canonge (CEO) are quoted describing the platform’s operational focus and business benefits.

Google Merchant Center Rebrands 'Feeds' to Emphasize Data Control

The article notes that Google Merchant Center removed the 'Feeds' tabs from its UI and renamed them 'data sources,' split into 'Provided by you' and 'Found by Google.' Feeds historically referred to merchant-provided data such as product catalogs, but Google now relies more on data it crawls from sites and apps to interpret products. The change signals Google’s push toward its own data collection and algorithms over merchant-provided data. While feeds aren’t completely gone, they’ve been rebranded and relegated to a less prominent location. The piece cites industry observers such as Mike Ryan of Smarter Ecommerce and Kirk Williams of ZATO, who discuss the implications, and notes broader Google shifts—AdWords to Google Ads, Analytics to Insights. It also highlights a cottage industry of feed-management firms such as Feedvisor, Feedonomics, Shoppingfeed, ChannelAdvisor, and VersaFeed.

The Pandemic Ushered In An Era Of Hybrid Work – And Hybrid Shopping

The article examines how the pandemic accelerated a hybrid era of shopping that is likely to persist. It highlights consumer shifts toward online shopping for the holiday season (56%), along with a continued reliance on in-store pickup (over 75%). Forrester notes that about one-third of US online holiday shoppers check online stock availability before visiting a store. The piece attributes stockouts and higher costs to supply-chain bottlenecks and rising raw-material prices, leading retailers to reduce promotions and sell more at full price. Acquco, a startup that acquires and scales third-party Amazon sellers, is cited as part of the evolving landscape, while StyleSage projects softer Black Friday discounts and other promotions are being trimmed. The overall message emphasizes the increasing importance of digital channels to navigate inventory and macroeconomic challenges during the holiday season.