What is Product Information Management?
Product Information Management (PIM) is the centralized organization and content enrichment of product information for commercial purposes in different publishing channels.
Systematic product information management benefits both company employees, dealers as well as current and future customers. Product information is often based on cooperation between different actors. With centralized product information management, the information is up-to-date in one place, from which it can be easily and quickly updated and published on different channels.
Product information management is a challenge in many companies. The problem is that product information is scattered across departments and systems. The same information is maintained in many different places, there are several versions of product information, and some of the information is always obsolete or incorrect. Growth in the number of data, the diversity of different terminals, digitalisation of business, e-commerce and multi-channelity will bring added challenges to information management and utilisation. Without a clear data management model, powerful processes, and functional tools, the organization does not have one view of products and all product information. Acquiring, enriching and distributing product information for different channels is also ineffective.
The centralised product information management (PIM) process and tools can address these challenges.
How do you manage up to thousands of products in a variety of channels?
Step 1. Assemble product information and bring it to your system
Product Information Management starts with product data collection from various sources. Information can be utilised from all existing internal sources, as well as from suppliers.
Product information can be imported into the system in many different ways: REST API interfaces, integrations, download Excel spreadsheets, direct input and various portals.
Step 2. Enrich in Adeona
In Adeona PIM, product information is enriched with images, texts, attributes, and attachments.
At the same time, product selections, categorizations, product connectivity and product structures as well as other commercially important product information are funnelled to all sales and service channels – channel specifically.
Step 3. Publish to channels
Finished products will be published with automation in countless channels in both printed and digital format. When information is published from one source, it is always accurate and up to date.
Additionally, it is easier to make sure that all customer touchpoints provide just the right information in relation to the context.
SEVEN C’S OF PIM
Product information management begins by collecting the product data from various sources – from where-ever it’s found within companies.
Management of product information flows within the IT infrastructure of a company – the efficient transfer from system to system
The roles of product information management – how to improve the collaboration of various operators
Content is the king – what content, where and when?
The primary purpose of product information management is to increase sales – a well defined set of objectives are required
Product content is required in multiple channels – the content varies between channels, but maintaining integrity is important
Product information management is always done for the customer – to ensure better product experience
Product information management has a major impact on a company’s operations, and thus it shouldn’t be perceived too narrowly. To help visualizing the bigger picture (and to remember it!), we composed the idea behind product information management under 7 C letters with our “The 7 C’s of PIM” concept.
Read what PIM and it’s 7 C’s contain from Minna Andersson’s blog post ->
Adeona PIM Product Information Management
Adeona Product Information Management enables the streamlined processing of data in the entire digital product process. All information related to the product is managed in a centralised fashion.
Centralised product information management eliminates the need for unnecessary overlapping work in the following areas:
- managing master data (in other words, the base data)
- adding marketing content (such as images or text)
- managing translations
- Managing product information also provides:
- agile product grouping
- various categorisation options
- management of related products
Find out five good reasons to get a PIM system from our blog ->
Benefits of centralised product information management
- Information is saved and maintained in a singular location
- Building and automatisation of processes grows easier
- Establishing connections grows easier and the number of required integration points is reduced
- Collections management, as well as data quality control improves
- The correct information will be at the reach of everyone in need – easily and quickly
- Product information can be published from a singular source to all required systems and services
Read our blog post related to research data about the benefits of product information management ->
When product data is unified, comprehensive, up-to-date and compelling
- Your products will be found digital services and by search engines
- Your customers, partners and personnel can trust the tangible information
- You’ll remove the obstacles of sales and increase conversion rate
- You’ll reduce quantity of reclamations and unneccessary investigation related labour
- You’ll serve your internal and external clients better in all channels and meeting points
- The digital foundation of your product repertory is ready and you can focus your resources in developing other strategic and operational success factors