BOSTON, MA, Jan 7, 2026 – PTC is adding artificial intelligence (AI) to its FlexPLM retail product lifecycle management (PLM) solution to automate tech pack creation, a critical step in retail product development that often slows release cycles. The new capabilities will debut at the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Retail’s Big Show, Jan. 11–13, in New York City.
Manual conversion of design sketches into production specifications has slowed retail product development and is error-prone. AI-driven tech pack generation in FlexPLM automates data extraction from design drawings and fills bills of materials (BOMs), measurements, construction details, attributes, and colorways. The automated process reduces errors, lowers development costs, accelerates sampling and costing, and improves response time to shifting market demand.
“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.”
PTC applies structured product data and AI to improve decision-making, streamline workflows, and increase productivity across the product lifecycle. The new capabilities extend this approach by strengthening data-driven execution throughout development.
At NRF, PTC will demonstrate how FlexPLM supports retail product development, supply chain visibility, and sustainability compliance using AI-enabled workflows. Live demonstrations will run at Booth #3346, with PTC retail specialists available for discussion.
Source: PTC
About PTC
PTC Inc., founded in 1985 and based in Boston, develops software for digital transformation across industries. Its offerings include product lifecycle management, computer-aided design, the industrial internet of things, and augmented reality. These tools support product design, manufacturing and service operations. PTC serves sectors such as aerospace, automotive, electronics and industrial equipment. Its software is used by more than 30,000 customers globally, including 95% of Fortune 500 discrete manufacturers. With approximately 7,500 employees worldwide, the company continues to grow through a subscription-based model, focusing on enabling digital product innovation.