UI That Works for You: How to Find a PIM Your Team Will Love (And Use)

When it comes to choosing a product information management (PIM) solution, there’s a lot to consider - features, integrations, scalability, price, etc. But one often overlooked factor can make or break the success of your PIM adoption: the user interface (UI). But a good UI isn’t just about looking nice. It’s about making your team's day-to-day work smoother, faster, and more intuitive.

Let’s explore what UI really is, why it matters so much, and why Akeneo PIM consistently stands out as one of the best solutions on the market for usability.

What is User Interface (UI)?

UI (User Interface) refers to the way users interact with a software application, and can include everything from the layout of the screens and the structure of menus, to how information is displayed and how easy it is to find and complete tasks. In short, UI is about how software looks, feels, and functions for the people who use it.

A good UI ensures that users can accomplish what they need to do, whether that’s enriching product data, updating catalogs, or launching new products, with minimal effort and confusion.

Why is UI important?

A strong UI may seem like just a good "nice to have" but when you’re dealing with complex software solutions that touch multiple teams and processes, it's often actually critical for success. Here’s why:

• Ease of adoption: A simple, logical interface reduces the learning curve, making it easier for teams to start using the tool confidently and quickly.
  
• Efficiency: Good UI design minimizes wasted time searching for information or figuring out next steps, making everyday workflows faster.
  
• Reduced training costs: When the system is intuitive, businesses spend less time and money training employees.
  
• Better data quality: A clear interface helps users understand where data gaps exist and what actions they need to take to resolve them.
  
• Higher user satisfaction: If people enjoy using the software, they're more likely to use it consistently and correctly, leading to better business outcomes.

How to Evaluate UI in Business Solutions

When assessing a PIM (or any business-critical software), evaluating the UI carefully is crucial to ensuring long-term success. A polished UI can determine how efficiently users work, how quickly teams adopt the tool, and how reliably your product data can be maintained.

Here are the key elements you should pay close attention to when evaluating UI.

1. Clean, Uncluttered Design

A strong UI starts with clarity. When users log in, they should immediately understand where they are and what they can do next. Screens should not be overwhelmed with buttons, menus, or information. Instead, the design should prioritize focus, presenting only the most relevant tools and content depending on the context.
An uncluttered design reduces cognitive load, making it easier for users to concentrate on the task at hand without being distracted or overwhelmed.

Questions to ask:

• Are the most important actions easy to find without searching?
• Is the layout organized logically, without excessive visual noise?

2. Logical Structure and Navigation

Poor navigation can cause frustration and wasted time. An intuitive structure helps users find what they need quickly and reduces the chances of errors or omissions.

A good UI creates a clear, intuitive map for users to follow. Menus, categories, and workflows should mirror how users naturally think about and organize their work. Navigation paths should feel predictable, consistent, and straightforward whether you're drilling down into a product family, switching between catalogs, or editing product attributes.

Questions to ask:

• Can users easily return to the homepage or dashboard from any page?
• Is there breadcrumb navigation or a logical menu hierarchy?

3. Helpful Guidance

Even with great design, new users may need a helping hand. Look for solutions that offer built-in guidance, such as tooltips, pop-up hints, onboarding tours, or contextual assistants. Features like this often go a step further by actively suggesting the next best action based on workflows and priorities.

Guidance tools empower users to get up to speed quickly and work independently, reducing reliance on support teams and minimizing errors.

Questions to ask:

• Does the system offer contextual help or embedded instructions?
• Are workflows clearly explained or supported by step-by-step assistance?

4. Responsiveness

Responsiveness refers to both speed and adaptability. Actions like clicking, filtering, editing, and saving should happen quickly and seamlessly. Additionally, the interface should adapt smoothly across different devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) without losing functionality or clarity.

Slow, clunky interfaces frustrate users and discourage adoption. In fast-paced environments, every second counts, and sluggish systems can slow down enrichment efforts or cause users to abandon tasks.

Questions to ask:

• Are page loads and saves quick and smooth?
• Is the interface fully functional on different screen sizes or browsers?

5. Accessibility

Not every PIM user will be tech-savvy. An accessible, user-friendly design ensures that marketers, product managers, and seasonal staff can all contribute effectively without needing specialized training.

A truly great UI is usable by everyone regardless of technical skill level, experience, or even accessibility needs.Interfaces should avoid jargon, use clear language, and maintain high visual contrast for readability. Keyboard shortcuts, screen reader compatibility, and adjustable settings are important for ensuring inclusivity.

Questions to ask:

• Is the UI intuitive enough for a non-technical user?
• Are accessibility best practices, like contrast and keyboard navigation, supported?

6. Visual Feedback

Visual feedback keeps users informed about system status, next steps, and errors without requiring them to dig through logs or reports, which boosts productivity and minimizes confusion.

Effective UIs communicate with users clearly through visual feedback. For example, when an action is completed, the system should confirm it visually (e.g., a checkmark or notification). When data is missing or needs improvement, visual indicators — like Akeneo’s Data Quality Score — should highlight the issue in an easily recognizable way.

Questions to ask:

• Does the system provide real-time alerts, success confirmations, or warnings?
• Are areas requiring action clearly highlighted?

Akeneo PIM: Best in Class UI 

We may be a bit biased, but analysts and customers alike have long recognized Akeneo PIM for outstanding user interface and usability. 

Here’s a few specifics on why we stand out from the crowd:

• Clean, intuitive, and modern UI: Akeneo’s interface is praised for being user-friendly and approachable, especially by non-technical users. The modern design creates a welcoming environment that reduces the intimidation factor often associated with enterprise software.
  
• Clear navigation and structure: Core elements like the product grid, product edit page, and data quality insights are logically organized, making it easy to browse, search, and edit product information. Everything is right where you expect it to be.
  
• Guided processes with Teamwork Assistant (Enterprise Edition): This feature helps guide users through complex workflows, suggesting what tasks to complete next. It reduces guesswork and makes collaboration across teams easier and more efficient.
  
• Visual data quality insights: Akeneo’s Data Quality Score surfaces areas where product information is incomplete or could be improved. The scoring system is easy to understand at a glance, helping users prioritize enrichment efforts without needing to dig into reports.

Akeneo PIM is ideal for teams who want an easy-to-learn, fast-to-navigate system that minimizes training time. It empowers business users, marketers, and product managers to work independently without heavy reliance on IT support, making it a favorite among organizations that value autonomy and speed.

UI: The Bridge Between Technology and Productivity

UI is all about making complex work simpler, faster, and more accessible. In a world where digital tools are central to daily operations, a strong UI can mean the difference between a tool that empowers your team and one that creates bottlenecks and frustration.

When evaluating a PIM solution — or any business software — the quality of the user interface should be a top priority for all businesses. An intuitive UI accelerates adoption, minimizes training needs, improves accuracy, and boosts the overall productivity of your teams, all while ensuring that users of all technical skill levels can navigate the system with confidence, focus on enriching and maintaining high-quality product data, and adapt quickly to changing business demands.

Good UI design also has a compounding effect:

• Higher usage rates mean better maintained product information.
• Reduced friction leads to faster time-to-market for new products.
• Improved satisfaction reduces employee turnover and reliance on technical support.

Ultimately, the tools you invest in should work for your people — not the other way around.

If you're looking for a PIM that offers one of the most user-friendly experiences in the market today, reach out to an Akeneo expert today to learn more about how our clean design, intuitive navigation, guided workflows, and helpful visual cues sets us apart as a leader in usability and helps your team get more done with less frustration.