PIM Integration with Your Existing Workflows

PIM integration: Assessing your current workflow

Product-based businesses must maintain their product information current. To inspire confidence in customers, product information such as technical specs, digital data, etc. ought to be accurate.

Processing all product-related information across all distribution channels is possible with the help of a product information management (PIM) system. A PIM integration has a single hub where all the data is managed, stored, and distributed to the various supply chain management teams.

Better product data management will help businesses grow internationally, support different languages and currencies, and sell on marketplaces and social media platforms. Every company will have unique demands and PIM requirements. Analyzing business requirements, the volume of SKUs, and product suppliers you are presently managing and expect to manage in the future can reveal whether or not you need a PIM DAM integration. Standard methods for determining whether or not a PIM system integration is appropriate for your company’s needs include:

• If you need product information moved around the company’s departments, personnel, and systems.
• If you have several product providers, then managing product data is necessary.
• You often add and remove many product lines.
• If the SKU volume consumes precious resource time used for manual oversight.
• If you market your goods through various channels, such as an eCommerce website, Amazon, eBay, etc..

In the best case scenario, you are proactive and adopt a PIM before your systems strain. In either case, if you find problems, the PIM might be worthwhile.

PIM DAM integration: Selecting the right PIM solution

Product information management focuses on the product itself and how it is sold and shipped while DAM focuses on controlling the brand assets owned by an organization, such as logos, photos, videos, and marketing materials. PIM/DAM provides product details to the customer by handling product attributes and content management, as well as collaboration around those aspects. By integrating the two platforms, brands can increase production and efficiency.

When selecting the suitable PIM/DAM solution for your company, here are the most important factors to consider:

Scalability

The PIM system integration you choose should be scalable to accommodate your needs if your business plans to develop. Numerous options might be appropriate for your company right now, but what will happen in five years?

What will happen in a decade?

Before choosing a solution, consider scalability and growth potential to avoid hassles later.

Integration

PIM integration systems frequently don’t operate independently. Ensure the PIM solution you choose can interface effectively with your existing systems if you intend to use one. Basically, a PIM can be the central location for any of the product’s data spanning systems when adequately implemented,

User Friendly

Multilingual support and organization are some of the most frequent difficulties that brands in the information industry confront. It is crucial to choose a PIM system that supports many languages and can adapt content and data properly. The wrong PIM choice could make it even more challenging to maintain data accuracy across many languages.

Data Governance

You can have a single point of truth for product information when sing just one central database. In fact, this is far simpler and less complicated to do than keeping up with various databases when you are required to perform updates and changes.

Consequently, all sales channels will draw product information from the central location to guarantee that the most recent and up to date product information surfaces. You no longer need to worry about separate data sources providing information. 

PIM system integration with your existing workflows

You need a lot of product related information for the online sales and marketing of the product. These specifics are gathered from many areas, platforms, and sources. Effective PIM workflow management software involves a variety of elements. Basically, each of these elements includes several steps, systems, procedures, and other procedures. PIM integration requires a good deal of planning. Everything functions in concert to streamline the workflow.

The steps to implement the modern PIM into your existing workflows include:

Product Onboarding

You must record and save all data in a PIM system for product onboarding to improve your entire workflow. The information you collect in this one central location can then be applied later. The creative team can prioritize products and create content before they arrive. They can accomplish this once you have accurate projected receipt dates. The goods can be sold immediately when they are received, rather than taking up space in the warehouse.

Content Updates

If you’ve ever produced product content on a large scale, you are aware of the time and difficult procedures needed to locate or produce quality material. For example, your content team may examine and proof content. Preparation allows for quicker, more effective work. In addition, it can result in more accurate and high quality information. Accurate information is essential to avoid product returns and unfavorable consumer evaluations.

 Sales Channels Working Together

One of the most difficult tasks is getting the product in front of many channels. Providing the content that retailers and distributors need for posting on their websites is a crucial task. Essentially, PIM DAM integration makes it easier to develop a single product description that can meet the content needs of numerous channels. As a result, achieving the goals becomes simpler and quicker.

Communication

The workflow’s various processes and effective communication are both necessary for effective product sales and marketing. Depending on the updates, notifications sound off at various points. In effect, these signals assist in initiating the subsequent phase in the workflow or the automated procedure, keeping the data current.

Challenges with implementing PIM: Continuous improvement and ROI

A PIM system integration ought to be a central repository for product data that can be sent to numerous touchpoints. However, there are also some grave challenges associated with PIM DAM integration, as stated below:

Consolidation

It is challenging to determine whether the publicly accessible product data is not duplicated because the product data are maintained in several locations. To establish one single point of truth for every product, it is therefore essential to consolidate the data that has been gathered.

Collection

The product data is typically dispersed throughout several systems, including ERPs, warehouse management systems, supplier management systems, manually input spreadsheets, etc. One of the main PIM integration issues is gathering product data from numerous systems in diverse forms.

Distribution

Launch mapping, export, and distribution of product data to different touch points. Now that you are familiar with the procedure for keeping product data, look for more information on the difficulties that e-commerce companies encounter when it comes to PIM.

Enrichment

You would want the combined data to appear appealing to the customer and be able to be purchased. Another significant step in managing product information is the enlargement of product descriptions by including accurate and sufficient photographs and videos, as well as associated product information like cross sells and up-sells.

Communication

PIMs are frequently used only by teams that work collaboratively to get products posted to an eCommerce site. They are built to hold a sole version of vast quantities of data. These rigid workflow systems, which were created exclusively for technical activities and not for eCommerce, may hurt adoption. Also, the timelines for posting product information can be affected by encouraging the growth of information silos. In these situations, a PXM may provide businesses with a simple workflow architecture that enables in-app communication across several teams.

eCommerce Insights

PIMs may handle product information rather effectively, but they need more resources to gather analytics about the performance of product information. In addition, they need t0 propose improvements that can enhance product performance. So, a PXM combines the three key elements of the consumer online purchasing experience content, ecosystem, and insights to offer actionable insights about products.

Bottom Line

Implementing a modern PIM integration system in your existing workflow is crucial for seamless data management. PIM and DAM integration ensures that efficient communication, eCommerce management, and marketing are carried out with the help of effective data management. Contact Pimberly to learn more if you require top notch product information management solutions for your business.