Velou reposted this
You’re expecting AI to work magic, and here is why it might be failing you. I’ve worked with ecommerce brands and retailers rolling out top-tier martech stacks—search, personalization, email automation; you name it. And here’s what no one tells you: AI tools don’t invent product knowledge. They optimize what already exists. If your product data is shallow, messy, or outdated… your AI tools can only optimize bad input given to them. Let’s break it down: 1. AI-Powered Search Isn’t Magic—It’s Matching. Best AI search can now understand intent. But, it still needs clean product data to map to. If “crop top with rhinestones” doesn’t exist as searchable attributes for a product… No AI is going to surface the right product. Your product titles can’t carry the weight of discovery. Structured attributes and enriched metadata are the real enablers. 2. Personalization Without Context Is Just Guesswork. You want AI tools to tailor the experience in real-time. But if your catalog can’t distinguish between “loungewear,” “athleisure,” and “office casual”… Personalization becomes a random shuffle. The AI tools aren't dumb. They are data-starved. 3. Marketing Automation Doesn’t Work on Vague Inputs. Most companies use AI email or ad tools that promise 1:1 relevance. But behind the scenes, your product feed is saying: Product A: “T-shirt, Color: Blue” Product B: “Shorts, Material: Unknown” Product C: “SKU 832XJ” You can’t generate high-converting recommendations or email content if your products are barely described. 4. You’re Running AI on a 2015 Catalog Structure. AI tools in 2025 are designed to tap into intent, trends, and nuanced behavior. But your catalog? Still built for dropdown filters and SEO keywords. Zero semantic structure. No seasonal layering. No trend enrichment. You’re asking ChatGPT-level tools to run on Excel-level data. Here’s the truth: AI Martech only performs as well as your product data allows. The winners in AI-powered ecommerce aren’t the ones with the best stack. They’re the ones with the best foundation. Structured, enriched, and intelligent product data isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s the core enabler for every AI-native tool in your ecosystem. So before you upgrade your tech… Upgrade your product catalog.