Being an E-Commerce provider with over 15 years of experience and expertise, we understand how difficult it is to ensure you achieve the highest quality data available in databases and that it’s shared between multiple channels.
It is even more frustrating to realize that an inefficient PIM system (Product Information Management) might be costing you business.
A great PIM system not only boosts sales and reduces the number of order returns, but also improves labor productivity. You already know what PIM system can do and its significance to any online business, but here are the capabilities of a great PIM system that will provide you the most functionality for your buck.
1. Adaptive User Interface (UI)
The interface is the primary way a user interacts with the data and make modifications to it. So, it’s essential that the PIM system not only has a good UI but must also be adaptive with a flexible data model.
The UI must automatically adapt to the underlying data model without the need for manual intervention or additional coding.
A great PIM system provides an adaptive User Interface that lets you add or update attributes among multiple categories and hierarchies. This flexibility to change attributes or add information through an adaptive interface is a common requirement among business users.
2. Modularity
The need for modularity is not limited to just a PIM system and applies to every other software that is available in today’s interconnected technological world.
A good PIM system readily integrates with other platforms and third-party applications. It must also allow you to sync your data with other eCommerce applications or to suppliers’ database.
It’s an open-source system that will allow you to gather data from any source like a simple excel or CSV file to complex ERP systems and export to multiple channels.
3. Digital Asset Management (DAM)
The PIM system must have a Digital Asset Management (DAM) capabilities to accurately associate the product with its unstructured data to store or share it. Digital Asset Management is a system that stores, shares, and organizes digital assets (images, videos, music, documents, and other media) in a central location. It increases the security and easy shareability of digital assets.
It also ensures that the correct data is shared with other channels like the PoS, eCommerce, and WMS, and mobile channels.
4. Multi-Locale Management
A great PIM system has Multi-Locale Management that lets you automatically translate or localize product information. This is extremely important if you have a presence in multiple locations and geographies.
Having the functionality of multiple languages than just one makes adopting the solution more probable. It will also help you stay one step ahead of your competitors and effectively grow to newer markets.
5. Quality standards
Maintaining accurate and up-to-date information on all your channels including the E-Commerce site can be pretty overwhelming. However, a small typo or inconsistency can potentially ruin a sale and cost your business.
A great PIM system holds the integrity and trustworthiness of the data on all of the channels put together. It also ensures its quality before it can export to other sales channels.
The system also enforces quality rules like role-based access management and editing rights per entity to let multiple administrators work at one time.
6. Allow customizations
A PIM system’s unique uses depend on the products and services of a business. In addition to the existing information available, the solution must also be able to accommodate changes in future processes.
When your business grows, huge amounts of product data and information get accumulated and it must be tracked properly.
This data includes everything from price, technical description, SKUs, Digital Assets like images, music, etc., QR codes, and many more.
Therefore, make sure the PIM system you opt for can support your current processes and adapt to the requirements as the business grows. This requires customizability and configurability options to efficiently manage data.
7. Automate repetitive tasks
It is extremely difficult and frustrating to manage large amounts of data manually across each channel.
A great PIM system not only gets the manual work done through automatic schedules to save time but is also intuitive enough to export data that is updated recently instead of exporting the information of all the products.
In addition to eliminating repetitive tasks, it also allows your team to have more time to work on other value-added activities. Now that you are aware of the 7 capabilities of a great PIM system, we believe you have an idea of what to expect before choosing a PIM solution. To get a better idea of the Product Information Management system, it’s time to request a demo.