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Substitute products

Product management1/5/2026Basic Level

Substitute products are items that can be used in place of another product, offering similar functionality or satisfying the same customer need. They are crucial for retaining sales when primary products are unavailable.

What is Substitute products? (Definition)

Substitute products are goods or services that a customer can use in place of another to satisfy the same need. In e-commerce, these are the alternatives a shopper might buy if their first choice is out of stock or costs too much. These items usually have similar features, prices, and uses. For example, if a specific laptop is unavailable, a model with similar specs acts as a substitute. Managing these relationships in a PIM system helps businesses keep customers on their site by offering relevant options when a preferred item is missing.

Why Substitute products is Important for E-commerce

Substitute products help e-commerce stores prevent lost sales when a specific item is out of stock. If a shopper finds an unavailable product, they often leave the website to look elsewhere. Showing similar alternatives keeps the customer on your site and leads them toward a different purchase. This practice improves conversion rates and helps keep customers loyal. It ensures you do not lose a sale just because one specific item is missing from your inventory.

Examples of Substitute products

  • 1A store offers a generic painkiller when the name-brand version is sold out.
  • 2A website suggests an Android phone to a shopper looking for an iPhone that is out of stock.
  • 3A shop shows a different brand of coffee beans with a similar taste when the usual choice is unavailable.
  • 4A grocer displays oat or almond milk as an option when dairy milk is out of stock.
  • 5A retailer recommends a similar pair of running shoes from a different brand when the first choice is sold out.

How WISEPIM Helps

  • WISEPIM provides a central place to manage all substitute product data. You can link main products to their alternatives to keep descriptions and images connected. This makes your information easy to organize.
  • WISEPIM automatically suggests alternatives when a product is out of stock or discontinued. These suggestions help you keep customers on your site and prevent lost sales.
  • Linking substitute products creates more internal links in your catalog. This helps search engines find your pages so your products are easier to find online. It also helps customers discover more items while they browse.
  • WISEPIM keeps substitute product information the same across all sales channels. Customers see the same data on your webshop and on marketplaces. This helps build trust and prevents confusion.

Common Mistakes with Substitute products

  • You lose sales when you do not suggest alternatives for out-of-stock items. This frustrates customers and drives them away.
  • Showing items that do not match the customer's needs or budget is a mistake. Irrelevant suggestions confuse shoppers.
  • Do not suggest substitutes that are also out of stock. Recommending items with long shipping times also hurts the user experience.
  • Giving too many choices makes it hard for customers to decide. This often causes them to leave your site without buying.
  • Customers need to know why they see certain items. Always label substitutes clearly so shoppers understand they are looking at alternatives.

Tips for Substitute products

  • Match substitutes by brand, price, and features. This ensures the suggestions actually meet the customer's needs.
  • Link your suggestions to live inventory data. Only show products that are currently in stock and ready to buy.
  • Limit the list to three or five items. Too many choices can confuse shoppers and stop them from making a purchase.
  • Use clear headings like 'Similar Items' or 'Other Options.' These labels help shoppers understand why they see these products.
  • Track how often customers buy these suggested items. Use these results to improve your recommendations over time.

Trends Surrounding Substitute products

  • AI-driven recommendation engines leverage customer behavior and product attributes to dynamically suggest highly personalized substitute products.
  • Increased automation in identifying and linking substitute products based on real-time inventory, pricing changes, and customer search patterns.
  • Integration of sustainability attributes to suggest eco-friendly or ethically sourced substitute products as preferred alternatives.
  • Headless commerce architectures enable businesses to present substitute product recommendations consistently and flexibly across diverse channels (e.g., website, mobile app, in-store kiosks).
  • Predictive analytics for anticipating demand fluctuations and proactively identifying potential substitute product needs before stockouts occur.

Tools for Substitute products

  • WISEPIM: Centralizes and enriches product data, including the definition and management of substitute product relationships and attributes, for efficient syndication across channels.
  • Akeneo: A PIM system that helps manage extensive product attributes and relationships, crucial for accurately identifying and linking substitute products.
  • Shopify/Magento: E-commerce platforms offering built-in features or extensions for displaying related and substitute products on product pages.
  • Salsify: A Product Experience Management (PXM) platform that aids in creating compelling product content and managing substitute product assortments.
  • Algolia/Klevu: Advanced search and merchandising solutions that leverage AI to provide dynamic and personalized substitute product recommendations.

Related Terms

cross sellinginventory managementcategory managementproduct assortmentstock availabilityconversion rate crproduct attributedemand forecasting

Also Known As

Alternative productsReplacement productsSubstitute goodsInterchangeable products