Fashion companies are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) for product planning and quantity decisions. They are automating repetitive tasks such as entering product information and creating orders, while some brands are incorporating demand forecasting results into their purchasing quantities for the next season. A system is also being developed to link the colors, materials, and patterns of new products with the sales performance of similar past items.
According to industry sources on October 26, LF is applying AI demand forecasting results to determine the purchasing quantities for some brands' spring/summer 2027 products. The system automatically classifies styles from product images and predicts sales demand before the season. Plans are also in place to apply this technology to product and inventory distribution during the season.
The business-to-business (B2B) ordering system, which previously required overseas distributors to manually input product numbers and color codes from product guides, has been upgraded. Now, selecting online product catalog images automatically links the order information, allowing for verification of colors, sizes, and order deadlines while checking for omissions and errors.
Sejung Group has automated product information classification. Its internally developed 'AI-based Product Decision-Making System' extracts colors, materials, and patterns from images and converts them into data. According to the company, the introduction of the initial 'automatic attribute extraction' feature has reduced manual tasks by over 90%.
Sejung Group is also developing a feature that analyzes product attributes and image similarities to extract sales performance and purchasing data from similar past products. This three-phase system, which includes a sales volume prediction model, aims to forecast optimal production quantities and reduce inventory burdens.
Outdoor brand Black Yak utilizes AI to analyze sales rates, inventory status, consumer demand, and market trends. They are also working on demand and production volume predictions linked to external data such as weather and temperature.
In the fashion industry, predicting products and quantities ahead of the season is crucial, as the initial volume can lead to either excess inventory or missed sales opportunities due to stockouts. To address this, companies are turning to AI for forecasting. However, they are not yet fully relying on AI to determine production and purchasing quantities; factors such as fabric, materials, and delivery conditions are still reviewed by responsible personnel.
An industry insider stated, "One of the ultimate goals of adopting AI is to predict demand and reduce excess inventory. While we are in the early stages of data accumulation, the use of AI is expected to expand in ways that reduce repetitive tasks and support decision-making by staff."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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