Centric Software Turns AI Into Faster Fashion Decisions at NRF 2026

AI on the show floor: what Centric announced and why it matters

Centric Software will show new AI features at NRF 2026 that it says speed how quickly products move from idea to store. At the retailer conference in New York, the product lifecycle software maker presented an updated end-to-end platform that uses machine learning to suggest which styles to make, how to price them and when to ship. The company’s pitch is simple: AI can cut the time between concept and commercialization, helping retailers launch collections faster and reduce costly markdowns. For shoppers this could mean fresher assortments and fewer leftover sales; for merchants it promises tighter planning and less waste. Centric frames the move as part of a broader retail tech shift toward data-driven decisions.

How Centric’s platform threads design, sourcing and planning together

At the heart of Centric’s update is a single platform that ties product design, sourcing and planning into one flow. Instead of separate tools for sketching, costing and forecasting, the platform keeps everything connected so data moves with the product from idea to store. The new AI layers sit on top of that flow. They analyze past sales, supplier lead times, fabric availability and customer preferences to recommend which items to make and how many.

Two capabilities stood out in demos. One is assortment optimization: the system models different mixes of sizes, colors and styles to find the combinations most likely to sell in each store or channel. The other is dynamic pricing guidance: the AI suggests starting prices and expected markdown windows so merchants can avoid surprise discounts. Behind the scenes, the models use pattern recognition and scenario simulation — simple ways of saying the software looks for signals in past data and tests “what if” choices before a product ships. What’s notable is the end-to-end scope: Centric is pitching a joined-up workflow rather than a single add-on analytics tool.

Real-world effects: what retailers stand to gain

For retailers the promise is practical. Smarter assortments mean stores and websites stock the right sizes and colors, which lowers the chance items sit unsold. Sharper pricing guidance helps set realistic launch prices and plan limited-time offers so retailers avoid deep last-minute discounts. Together, those outcomes can reduce markdowns, which is a big drag on margins.

Centric said early customers have seen faster time-to-market and fewer surprises in production planning. In examples shared at NRF, teams using the platform cut decision cycles and moved collections to stores sooner — claims that, if borne out, translate to fresher product lines and less clearance inventory. The technology also helps buying teams run “what if” scenarios quickly, so managers can choose the mix that best fits store performance without relying on gut feel alone.

What attendees can expect at Centric’s NRF presence

Centric’s team will be visible on the NRF show floor with product demos and executive briefings. Visitors can expect live demonstrations of the platform’s planning and pricing modules, plus walkthroughs of how AI recommendations appear inside the workflow. Company executives are scheduled for brief sessions at the booth each day, and there are hands-on slots for retailers who want to upload sample data and see tailored results. The exhibit is timed to the main retail conference days in New York; attendees who want a demo should plan to register for a booth briefing in advance through Centric’s events team.

Where Centric sits in the retail software landscape

Centric Software sits in the product lifecycle management and retail planning space, a crowded field that ranges from specialist PLM tools to broader retail analytics and pricing SaaS. What sets Centric apart, it says, is the bundled approach: one platform that spans design, sourcing and assortment planning bolted to AI that recommends concrete actions. Retailers are adopting AI now because margins are tight and inventory mistakes are costly. Vendors that can tie machine-driven recommendations directly into the workflows buying and merchandising teams already use stand a better chance of being adopted.

Next steps, press contact and how to see a demo

For readers who want to see the updates, Centric’s press team is offering booth demos and executive briefings during NRF. The company’s newsroom and events desk can schedule hands-on sessions for retailers. Centric also provided a short company background at the event: it builds PLM and retail planning software to help brands and retailers bring products to market faster and with less waste.