Product Information Management

Rapid Changes

In today’s Business world product assortments change continuously at a fast rate and to a great extent every year.  It is not unusual that 20-25% of the products are replaced or changed from one year to the other as a consequence of the greater customization in the market place. In certain cased the degree of exchange is even higher with massive work load of scarce resources and, as a consequence, with uncertainties in the product information. Companies with a strong growth rate, business in several countries and acquisitions on the agenda, have also discovered that complex unstructured product information can affect their ability to expand its sales.

All Information in One Place

In many companies the information is gathered in different systems and has been connected by uncertain integration solutions. To maintain product information, produce printed catalogues and other print-outs, and keep the e-Commerce platform up-to-date with current information require more today, but often with less resources than before.  An overall picture around product information and the implementation of modern tools that support all involved processes is necessary to solve the current situation for the company’s future success.

Standard Application Offers the Best Balance

To choose a standard application means, according to our experience, to offer the best balance between ”out-of-the-box”-standard functionality and tools for a fast and smooth company adjustment or alteration. Today vendors of PIM solutions have put great efforts into a fast and easy implementation at the same time as there should be a great depth of functionality that support business growth and integration to internal and external systems.

Communication

Most PIM solutions offer standard communication via a number of well known techniques. Often communication via XML, SQL, text files and API-calls are supported. Transportation of data can for example take place via file systems, http, ftp, scp or queue systems (eg. IBM MQ-Series). Independent of what technique is used, configuration is done in XML-files that can be called based on events (data changes), scheduled runs or interactively by users.

Standard Solutions that Manage Demands

Often there are different ways to success with a PIM project and the answers on how to succeed can have many reasons, both internal and external pre-requisites. To purchase a standardized, common PIM solution, that manages demands and expectations on functionality, future product investments, quality and support, gives a stable ground to succeed. Now it is your turn to take a look at what our solutions can do to improve your product processes.

If you want to know more contact us at Fiwe for an initial discussion.