How AI-powered product discovery is reshaping manufacturing sales

At Zoovu, we believe complexity should never be a barrier to conversion, especially in industries where precision matters most. For manufacturers, the ability to quickly and accurately connect buyers to the right parts, products, and configurations is essential. But traditional B2B sales processes haven’t kept up with the pace of digital transformation.

That’s why our CEO, James Novak, joined SME’s Advanced Manufacturing Now podcast to talk about how Zoovu is helping manufacturers digitize and modernize the search and product discovery journey using AI.

Why product discovery is so broken in manufacturing

Manufacturing products are inherently complex. Buyers need confidence that what they purchase is 100% compatible with their systems, specs, and industry requirements. But when they land on most ecommerce sites, they’re met with outdated navigation, limited filters, and search tools that return irrelevant results or no results at all.

As James explained during the podcast, "The difference between the right part and the wrong one isn’t just a minor inconvenience. It could mean the difference between fulfilling a multimillion-dollar order on time or not."

Enter Zoovu: Guided discovery at scale

Zoovu is built to solve this problem.

Our AI-powered product discovery platform integrates with ERP, PIM, and ecommerce systems to provide intelligent, guided experiences for buyers and sellers. We don’t just surface products. We help buyers discover the right solution through guided selling flows, natural language search, and AI assistants trained to interpret intent and deliver context-aware recommendations.

Buyers gain clarity. Sellers gain speed. And organizations gain the data they need to continuously improve the experience.

AI that works where manufacturing needs it most

We take a practical and purposeful approach to AI, focusing on real impact instead of buzzwords:

• We enrich and structure complex product data to make it searchable and compatible.
• We guide buyers through technical configurations and decision-making with dynamic, conversational tools.
• We reduce friction in the sales process, turning clicks and queries into conversions.

And this isn’t just about streamlining transactions. Every interaction with Zoovu captures valuable insights like buyer intent, preferences, and common pain points. These insights feed into better sales strategies, more effective product development, and smarter marketing.

What it means for the future of manufacturing sales

As digital expectations rise and margins tighten, manufacturers need scalable ways to improve how they sell. Product discovery is no longer optional. It is a critical engine for growth.

One of our global manufacturing customers is using Zoovu to support a $5 billion shift to digital sales. The reason is simple. The old model of flying sales reps around with thick catalogs is no longer efficient or sustainable. With Zoovu, customers can configure the right solution online, and the sales team can focus on closing rather than quoting.

It’s time to rethink how buyers buy

We’re proud to be powering a new era of manufacturing commerce, where AI removes friction, complexity becomes a competitive advantage, and discovery drives revenue.

As James shared on the podcast, "It’s not just about smarter machines on the factory floor. It’s about smarter, more intuitive buying experiences. That’s what Zoovu delivers."

🎧 Want to hear the full conversation? Listen to the Advanced Manufacturing Now podcast featuring Zoovu CEO James Novak.

🔎 Learn more about how Zoovu is powering AI-driven product discovery in manufacturing at zoovu.com.