The journey from content creation to checkout is more crucial than ever. As consumers continue to grow online shopping, product experience has become the cornerstone of retail success. Syndigo Connect 2025 helped to set that tone for attendees, using Music City, USA as the backdrop for understanding the evolving rhythms and forms of Product Experience Management (PXM).
Experts in e-commerce, PXM, Tech, Retail and CPG Marketing all converged to learn from their peers and industry experts on how to drive product experiences and consumer engagement in today’s constantly changing omnichannel universe.
Here are a few key highlights and takeaways from Syndigo Connect 2025.
Content & Commerce: The Drumbeat of Growth
In today’s digital age, product content is the lifeblood of retail success. Whether in-store or online, from the moment a product is created, every information detail plays a key in driving growth. And it has to move at the speed of commerce. Complete and precise descriptive data, governed through Master Data Management (MDM), Product Information Management (PIM), syndication and analytics through PXM. Being composable and connected is required to scale for success. Brands and retailers that prioritize data integrity and consistency are better positioned to thrive in a competitive retail environment.
AI & Automation: No Longer “The Future”
While Artificial Intelligence (AI), Large Language Models (LLM) and generative AI continue to dominate news cycles with new innovations, the reality is that automation is a driver for business success, and AI capabilities are now assumed…It’s no longer a luxury. While automation is now a core expectation, AI is becoming one, embedded throughout the entire product lifecycle to drive value. Partnering with leaders who are learning and leading with AI tools can help retailers and brands streamline processes, enhance the customer experience, and make data-driven decisions that lead to better outcomes.
Retail Media: Organic Content Fuels Retail Media Strategy
Retailers, like other businesses, have expanded their capabilities for performance growth, across media, marketplaces and memberships. Retail media networks are becoming a cornerstone of modern marketing strategies, as they offer a unique blend of reach and relevance that is hard to match through traditional channels. Understanding the importance of retail media in your digital shelf strategy is critical to success. By leveraging these networks, brands too can benefit by reaching their customers with greater precision, ensuring that their messages resonate and drive conversions.
Syndigo Connect Top Takeaways
- AI is everywhere – and our customers want it embedded throughout.
- Data quality + automation = commerce at scale.
- Content + personalization – power retail media and product experiences.
- Human connection + collaboration – drive loyalty and action.
Retail & Consumer Shifts: Adapting to Change
The retail landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Marketplaces, memberships, and AI search bots like Rufus are reshaping the way consumers shop. From AI bots like Rufus to new marketplace and membership models, the way consumers shop is evolving fast. In-store experience still matters—and consistency across channels is key. Agile, customer-first strategies are winning. But even with the rise of digital platforms and AI agents, a great majority of purchases—70%—still happen on the shelf, highlighting the importance of consistent product experience online and in stores. Both brands and retailers must be adaptable, responsive, and collaborative to ensure that their strategies are aligned with continuing changes in technology and consumer behavior.
Execution & Innovation: The Path to Success
Within organizations, collaboration is also a driver of success through innovation. Partnerships between commercial and IT organizations have helped accelerate the capabilities within organizations, as well as the connectivity with solution partners. This cross-functional collaboration inside organizations and across partners is critical to driving product experience success. Product discoverability, syndication, and strong Product Detail Page (PDP) storytelling are essential for winning the digital shelf. Retail media and organic search optimization must be considered together, with continuous iteration and A/B testing becoming the new norm. The ability to deliver composable solutions for commerce, with flexible technology that reduces friction and scales loyalty, enables brands to stay ahead of the curve.
Evolving for the Future
Speed and adaptability were the themes that played throughout Syndigo Connect 2025. As the industry evolves, the organizations that embrace high-quality content and connected ecosystems will lead the way. The voices, lessons, and connections forged at this event will help attendees shape the future of product experiences—with confidence, creativity, and clarity.
