DICK’S Sporting Goods Partners with Adobe to Transform the Athlete Experience with AI

Key Terms

llm interfaces technical

LLM interfaces are the software and layouts that let people or other programs talk to large language models — the advanced AI systems that generate text. Think of them as the dashboard, buttons, and connectors that turn raw AI into a usable tool; they shape speed, cost, accuracy, and user trust. Investors care because better interfaces can drive faster adoption, lower operating costs, enable new products, and affect regulatory or reputational risk.

customer data platform technical

A customer data platform (CDP) is software that collects and combines information about customers from many places—websites, apps, sales and support systems—into a single, organized profile. For investors, a CDP matters because it helps companies understand and target customers more effectively, often boosting sales and marketing efficiency like a well-organized address book that turns scattered contacts into clear, actionable relationships.

adobe experience platform technical

Adobe Experience Platform is a cloud-based system that gathers and organizes customer information from websites, apps, stores and other channels into a single, searchable profile so businesses can deliver consistent, personalized messages and services across touchpoints. For investors, wider use of this kind of platform typically means steadier subscription revenue, stronger client retention and more efficient marketing spend—similar to replacing scattered receipts with a single, organized ledger that reveals opportunities and reduces waste.

real-time customer data platform technical

A real-time customer data platform is a software system that collects and combines live information about customers’ behaviors, purchases, and preferences from multiple sources into a single, up-to-date profile. Investors care because it lets companies act faster and more precisely — like using a live map rather than a static snapshot — improving marketing efficiency, sales conversion and customer retention while also concentrating data, operational costs and privacy risks that can affect revenue and regulatory exposure.

adobe journey optimizer technical

Adobe Journey Optimizer is a cloud-based tool that helps businesses coordinate and personalize customer communications across channels (email, mobile, web, and ads) based on where each person is in their buying or service journey. For investors, it matters because tools that make marketing more targeted can boost customer engagement and sales efficiency, potentially improving revenue growth and lowering the cost of acquiring and retaining customers, much like a GPS that guides each customer down the most effective route to a purchase.

content supply chain technical

The content supply chain is the end-to-end process companies use to create, approve, distribute and track communications such as press releases, regulatory filings, marketing and investor updates. Like a factory line for information, it shows who produces each piece, how quality and compliance are checked, and how quickly content reaches audiences. Investors care because weaknesses or bottlenecks can slow news flow, increase legal or reputational risk, and affect market perception, timing of disclosures and operational costs.

adobe workfront technical

A cloud-based work management platform that helps organizations plan, assign, track and automate projects and team tasks, similar to a digital project manager or shared to-do list for complex workflows. Investors care because tools like this can improve a company's operational efficiency, boost recurring software revenue, and strengthen customer relationships by centralizing work, reducing delays and lowering overhead—factors that can influence profitability and growth prospects.

adobe experience manager technical

A cloud and on-premises software platform for creating, managing and delivering websites, mobile apps and other digital experiences; think of it as a central control room and filing system that organizes content, templates and customer interactions. For investors, it matters because a strong digital platform can boost sales, reduce marketing and IT costs, improve customer retention and scale faster—so adoption or changes can signal impacts on revenue, margins and competitive position.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, at Adobe Summit—the flagship customer experience conference—Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE)—the global technology leader that unleashes creativity, productivity and customer experiences through innovative tools and platforms—announced a major partnership with DICK’S Sporting Goods (NYSE:DKS) to reshape how DICK’S connects with its customers (whom the company refers to as athletes) at every stage of the athlete journey.

Athletes today—no matter if they are active sports participants, weekend warriors, or fans—expect a high level of personalization and guidance that is tailored to their specific goals. DICK’S is partnering with Adobe to respond to this need with AI capabilities that equip every athlete with a digital coach. DICK’S will also leverage a suite of Adobe enterprise solutions, along with its own product, service and sport knowledge, to ensure athlete experiences are tailored and consistent.

“Every athlete’s journey is unique, and it is our job to ensure that every interaction with our brand is focused on helping our athletes achieve their dreams,” said Emily Silver, Chief Marketing, e-Commerce and Athlete Experience Officer, DICK’S. “Our partnership with our technology team and Adobe will help us meet the promise of personalization at scale through AI, with a data and content foundation that enables our teams to deliver the power of our opinion and expert knowledge and create unique experiences for every athlete.”

“With Adobe, we are further differentiating the experiences for our athletes across all parts of their journey,” said Vlad Rak, Chief Technology Officer, DICK’S. “From stores to online, from shopping to performance services, AI capabilities – powered by our deep knowledge of athletes and sport – are becoming the pillar of our strategy.”

“DICK’S Sporting Goods is writing the playbook for the modern athlete experience, moving to immersive and interactive engagements that are highly personalized, in their stores and online,” said Rachel Thornton, Chief Marketing Officer, Adobe Enterprise. “Our partnership speaks to the value that AI can bring when CMOs and CTOs collaborate, building on top of an integrated customer data platform, that makes it easier for marketing teams to understand preferences and deliver experiences that are intuitive, relevant and deepen brand loyalty.”

DICK’S is partnering with Adobe to enable:

• Agent-powered conversational experiences: Consumers are embracing LLM interfaces to discover and engage their favorite brands. Data from Adobe showed that during the 2025 holiday season, AI traffic to retail sites (users clicking a link) jumped 693% year-over-year, as shoppers engaged with AI to locate specific products or find deals. DICK’S will leverage Adobe Brand Concierge to address this shift in consumer preferences, delivering immersive conversational experiences on its mobile app. AI agents (acting as digital coaches) will guide DICK’S athletes in their journey from personalized product recommendations informed by specific athlete needs to tailored training tips. Anchored in timely and relevant data, teams can also ensure that every agent interaction is customized and reacts to athletes’ changing preferences.
• Personalization across every touchpoint: DICK’S is working with Adobe to ensure that a high bar for personalization exists across any athlete touchpoint. With Adobe Experience Platform, DICK’S is bringing together data signals across athlete interactions to more deeply understand athletes’ needs and preferences. Teams can then build relevant audiences through Adobe Real-Time Customer Data Platform and orchestrate cross-channel experiences via Adobe Journey Optimizer. This enables DICK’S to deliver the right content at just the right moment to create impact and boost engagement.
• On-brand content production: Personalization at scale requires a high volume of content, with variations that must be tailored to either individuals or distinct customer cohorts. DICK’S is partnering with Adobe to streamline its content supply chain via Adobe GenStudio, leveraging a suite of best-in-class solutions that make it easier to get from idea to execution and delivery and respond to everchanging consumer trends and needs. This content engine includes Adobe Workfront to support effective cross-team collaboration, Adobe Experience Manager to drive how assets are managed and activated, and Adobe Firefly Services and Custom Models for teams to generate on-brand content and deliver variations for different marketing channels.

About Adobe

Adobe’s mission is to empower everyone to create by building innovative platforms and tools that unleash creativity, productivity and personalized customer experiences. For more visit www.adobe.com.

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Kevin Fu
Adobe
kfu@adobe.com

Source: Adobe