PIM Challenges: Overcoming Implementation Obstacles

Without an effective product management system for data, it is nearly impossible to distribute product information with integrity and velocity. Handling product information can provide several issues due to the size of product catalogs, the variety of vendors, and the complexity of product details. Establishing an efficient PIM system that may accelerate a company’s growth and success will make it easier by recognizing and resolving each PIM challenge. Let’s read on to find out more about common PIM challenges and how we can overcome them.

Pat Tully

Pat Tully

Sr. Content Marketing Manager

Challenges with PIM

Brands require meticulous planning to meet and overcome PIM challenges, meaning it is essential to make a thoughtful assessment of your company’s requirements. Making hasty decisions without understanding PIM challenges and a well-defined plan might result in inefficiencies and additional difficulties. It is essential to approach PIM implementation with the appropriate knowledge, tools, and strategy. It enables you to lessen potential risks and optimize PIM’s advantages.

However, why is it important for you to adopt PIM in your business?

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Let’s examine the ramifications of inadequate product information management. Envision a scenario when your clientele searches for details about your merchandise. Without a PIM system, they could get inaccurate product data information about them. Confusion, annoyance, and ultimately a decline in consumer confidence in your brand might result. Establishing and preserving trust with your clients is essential in today’s industry. It is essential to the development and success of your company and its overview.

Additionally, poor handling of product data may lead to a decline in sales. Customers may decide to do business with someone else if they are unable to locate information about your products. This may have a major effect on your earnings and room for expansion.

Let’s examine the possible PIM implementation challenges associated with PIM installation and the reasons behind your concern. Come along as we investigate the realm of potential errors that may occur when misusing a PIM.

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Overestimating Data Quality and Data Migration

As is the case for most SaaS solutions, data drives a PIM solution. Someone has to assume accountability for that information to break down silos and establish one single point of truth for product information. You will need to establish explicit guidelines for the collection, sharing, and distribution of data. This is especially true if you are combining data from many teams or vendors. Human monitoring is still necessary, even if you intend to automate some operations.

Data quality is another significant element that is sometimes disregarded. Overestimating how easy it will be to migrate the amount of data to the new system is a common problem for PIM installation initiatives. The data may have many discrepancies, outdated information, duplications, and errors if it is derived from several legacy systems.

One efficient method is to carry out a thorough data audit close to the project’s start. This will ultimately make your PIM platform installation easier by giving you a clear grasp of the data you are going to be working with.

Inadequate Supplier Communication

You and your supplier must communicate clearly and promptly regarding the introduction of new items, updates to the current ones, and modifications to your rules or specifications. Nonetheless, companies frequently receive inaccurate and insufficient data for product listings. The information may be incomplete, misspelled, or formatted incorrectly due to cluttered digital assets. Verifying and correcting these kinds of mistakes before uploading the product data to an online store requires a significant amount of time and work.

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Your supply chain can be streamlined with the use of a vendor portal by implementing PIM software, which can also help you handle issues and emergencies quickly by effectively managing product information. You can guarantee the validity of the product information while marketing your products on schedule if you have an easy connection with your suppliers.

Delayed Product Launches

Are your product teams frequently experiencing unexpected holdups in your product launches as a result of disorganized product catalogs, overloaded information, or manual tasking? For organizations, departments, and teams to stay high on the development curve, timely and seamless product introductions are essential. To get increased productivity, a corporation needs to have a clear understanding of the final product and total control over the product’s lifespan.

With Product Information Management PIM technology, you can build dashboards that provide you with a comprehensive picture of your products. It facilitates keeping track of all updates and improves your view of the details and completion status of each product. Your teams will be aware of which items are prime for release and which media outlets would be best for presenting them. You may increase sales and improve customer experience by ensuring timely releases and more comprehensive product information with the aid of a PIM system supplier. In addition, you can implement strategies to eliminate these kinds of communication gaps.

Handling Excessive Amount of Data

Both huge firms and mid-sized businesses frequently have to manage enormous volumes of content. The vast array of products, product launches, numerous services, dispersed suppliers and partners, and various sales channels make it easy to understand the volume of data these firms must manage. It can be time-consuming and error-prone to sort content through manual tasks to find correct and relevant information.

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Using product information management solutions to consistently arrange the dispersed data and standardize product information is a workable approach. PIM is essential for giving your product information a central location that makes handling and modifying large amounts of data easier.

Unrealistic PIM Expectations

PIM solutions of today can expedite the distribution of material and product catalogs across numerous platforms and multiple sales channels to automate operations that were previously done by hand. But in all honesty, even the most sophisticated PIM systems are meant for specific tasks and are not cure-alls for your tech stack.

Your PIM may completely transform your internal processes and external outputs because it is a single source of truth, which is a crucial component of a stronger omnichannel approach. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that PIM is mostly focused on your product information.

For example, digital asset management (DAM) technology is a better fit for your needs if you require a solution for all of your marketing visuals or training films to avoid a lack of supplier communication. However, since your PIM may be integrated with your DAM and other technology stack components, you can concentrate on optimizing your PIM solution without sacrificing the performance of any other applications in your stack. Alternatively, you could look at hybrid solutions like Pimberly that have a PIM/DAM architecture.

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Bottom line

If you have implemented a PIM strategy, it has the potential to revolutionize your brand. You obtain control, accuracy, and consistency across all internal processes and external outputs with PIM’s one source of truth. Pimberly is aware of the PIM challenges associated with implementing PIM and the need to do it correctly.

For this reason, we have a global team of Pimberly specialists who are prepared to assist you at any stage of your PIM journey, in addition to working with a worldwide community of reliable implementation partners. We also offer a range of efficient data management tools to help you align your data. Contact us at Pimberly to incorporate the best data management tools in your system.