Retail product development teams are under more pressure than ever to move faster, reduce errors, and respond to constant shifts in consumer demand. Yet one of the most time‑consuming steps in the process—creating production‑ready tech packs—has historically relied on manual, error‑prone work and countless handoffs between teams.
At Retail’s Big Show: NRF 2026, PTC was proud to unveil new AI‑powered capabilities in FlexPLM marking a fundamental shift in Retail product development. By bringing AI directly into tech pack creation, this innovation helps brands accelerate product development within one of the most critical workflows in retail.
Why Tech packs have been a bottleneck
Turning design sketches into detailed, production‑ready specifications has long been a challenge for retail teams. The process often involves manually extracting information, populating bills of materials, measurements, construction details, attributes, and colorways—leaving room for inconsistencies, rework, and delays.
These inefficiencies don’t just slow teams down. They can extend development timelines, increase costs, and make it harder for brands to respond quickly to changing market conditions.
That’s exactly the challenge the new AI‑driven FlexPLM capabilities are designed to address.
Introducing AI-Driven Tech pack generation
The AI‑powered capabilities launched at NRF automate tech pack creation within FlexPLM, reducing manual effort while improving speed and accuracy across the retail product development lifecycle.
With AI‑driven tech pack generation, teams can automatically extract data from design drawings and instantly populate critical product information. By eliminating manual data entry, brands can reduce errors, lower development costs, accelerate sampling and costing, and move faster from concept to sample.
Rather than replacing existing workflows, these capabilities enhance them—helping product development teams focus less on repetitive tasks and more on creativity to deliver great products.
Advancing the Intelligent Product Lifecycle
This launch builds on PTC’s broader Intelligent Product Lifecycle vision, which unifies structured product data with AI to improve decision‑making, streamline workflows, and boost efficiency and productivity across the product lifecycle.
By embedding AI directly into FlexPLM, PTC is extending that vision into retail product development—connecting intelligent automation with trusted product data in a way that supports faster, more confident execution.
“Bringing AI to FlexPLM is about more than automation; it’s a fundamental shift in how product development teams work,” said Kyle Marden, General Manager of PTC’s Retail Business Unit. “By enabling reduced manual effort and an accelerated path from concept to sample, intelligent Retail PLM can help brands move faster and respond with greater confidence.”
Strong momentum on the NRF show floor
The energy around the FlexPLM AI capabilities was unmistakable at NRF. Throughout the event, retail leaders stopped by the PTC booth to see live demonstrations and explore how AI‑powered product development can support end‑to‑end retail transformation.
“NRF was an incredible opportunity to connect with both existing customers and new prospects, and to see firsthand the excitement around what AI can unlock for retail product development teams,” said Blake Simms, Global Retail Marketing Director at PTC. “There was a real buzz at the booth, and it was great to hear how strongly these new FlexPLM capabilities resonated with teams looking to move faster, collaborate more effectively, and drive greater efficiency.”
From AI‑powered product development to supply chain visibility and evolving sustainability and regulatory requirements, the conversations reinforced a shared focus on building more connected, intelligent retail operations.
Learn more
The launch of AI-powered FlexPLM capabilities signals a meaningful step forward for brands looking to modernize their product development processes. These capabilities help retail organizations move beyond manual processes and toward a more intelligent, data-driven product lifecycle—one where AI works alongside teams to improve accuracy, efficiency, and confidence at every stage.
To learn more about FlexPLM and how AI-driven tech pack automation can support your product development teams, explore the solution.
Accelerate Sampling and Costing: AI-Powered FlexPLM Launch at NRF 2026
Discover how AI-driven automation transforms retail PLM
Learn More About AI