{"id":46792,"date":"2019-04-08T12:45:17","date_gmt":"2019-04-08T12:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.akeneo.com\/blog\/pim-must-have-features-2\/"},"modified":"2024-07-04T06:52:04","modified_gmt":"2024-07-04T06:52:04","slug":"pim-must-have-features","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.akeneo.com\/de\/blog\/pim-must-have-features\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Must-Have PIM Features"},"content":{"rendered":" \n \n
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\n Product Experience<\/span>\n <\/div>\n

6 Must-Have PIM Features<\/h1>\n
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What do customers care about most? These days, the answer seems to be compelling and exciting experiences. According to recently released research, 86…<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n \"\" <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n \n What do customers care about most? These days, the answer seems to be compelling and exciting experiences. <\/span>
According to recently released research, <\/span>86 percent<\/span><\/a> of buyers say they are willing to pay more for great customer experiences. In order to provide shoppers with these enhanced experiences, however, companies must make sure their product experiences are up to par. That means using a Product Information Management solution to serve as the foundation needed to control product information and a cornerstone of eCommerce and omnichannel operations.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBut there are plenty of PIM solutions on the market, and just like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike. Each platform has its own strengths, weaknesses and unique capabilities, making it crucial that you find a solution that can meet both your current <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> future needs. <\/span>\r\n\r\nWith that in mind, here are six of the most important features we think you should consider when selecting a PIM solution:<\/span>\r\n

1. Integrate and Connect with Everything<\/b><\/h3>\r\nPerhaps the most critical factor when selecting a \u00a0PIM is the solution\u2019s ability to <\/span>integrate with your current technical stack<\/span><\/a>, as well as information resources you plan to implement down the road. If you can\u2019t easily connect your PIM to your internal ERP system data, supplier\u2019s product data, online storefronts, mobile apps, POS systems, print catalogs, or other systems, you\u2019re missing out on some of the primary benefits of implementing a PIM solution in the first place. The best PIM software for your organization will include connectors that facilitate interoperability among your systems and streamline operations.<\/span>\r\n\r\nWhat\u2019s more, just like current interoperability offerings, the size and strength of a PIM\u2019s <\/span>existing ecosystem<\/span><\/a> is a <\/span>huge<\/span><\/i> factor in the long-term viability of the solution. PIM systems are not one-off projects \u2014 they are constantly growing and evolving to support more connected systems and technologies. Finding a PIM with a <\/span>healthy and substantial community<\/span><\/a> of integrators, technical partners, and developers will help support your evolving, long-term efforts.<\/span>\r\n
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Some changes are unplanned, so pick a solution with a long list of supported systems.<\/span><\/i><\/h4>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

2. Be Easy to Use<\/b><\/h3>\r\nPIM shouldn\u2019t only play nicely with your technical stack, but with your team as well. <\/span>\r\n\r\nPIM is a system that you and your team, along with outside users, must adopt and use every day. Just like any other system within your organization, the best interfaces are those that are so intuitive they are nearly invisible, so look for a solution with an intuitive interface that doesn\u2019t require your team to sit through hours of training.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOn the flip side, the sheer amount of product data alone can be overwhelming to face. Therefore, the best PIM interfaces will <\/span>provide a clear path<\/span><\/a> to managing and enriching products and give a clear overview of the entire product catalog\u2019s status.<\/span>\r\n
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If your team feels like they need a separate product management tool for data enhancement, then your PIM has failed you.<\/span><\/i><\/h4>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

3. Automate Repetitive Tasks<\/b><\/h3>\r\nDo the PIM platforms you are considering simply provide a different place to enrich data and fill in missing fields, rather than give you dedicated features to improve product data? <\/span>\r\n\r\nThis is a table-stakes requirement. The best PIM software will also include features designed to automate and eliminate repetitive tasks and streamline processes. Find a solution that can do some of the work for you by performing bulk actions and tracking completeness before publishing and validating work. Automating manual, repetitive tasks frees up your team and lets them focus on value-add activities.<\/span>\r\n
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The best PIM software will optimize your product information management processes and unleash your team\u2019s creativity.<\/span><\/i><\/h4>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

4. Offer Customization<\/b><\/h3>\r\nAs we mentioned, your PIM needs to be both able to support your current processes and capable of changing to adapt to future processes including the structure of your catalog. The best solutions conform to the way <\/span>you<\/span><\/i> do things \u2013 not the other way around. This typically requires some customization in terms of importing, exporting, structuring and managing data as well as personalizing UIs \u2014 make sure your PIM offers these and other customization options before you make your investment.<\/span>\r\n
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A good PIM solution adapts to meet the needs and goals of your business and products \u2014 not the other way around.<\/span><\/i><\/h4>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

5. Support cross-border commerce<\/b><\/h3>\r\nIf you do business in multiple countries and manage information in several languages, \u00a0you don\u2019t want to have to duplicate everything just to <\/span>translate and localize it<\/span><\/a>. The best PIM software will accelerate your go to market and help you manage product data requirements including different metrics and cultural norms for your different locales, without a bunch of tedious manual work.<\/span>\r\n
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A good PIM will help you localize product information to speak your customer\u2019s language.<\/span><\/i><\/h4>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

6. Have Flexible Deployment Options<\/b><\/h3>\r\nDo you want to be able to run your PIM in your own data center, or via the cloud? Depending on your own internal IT strategy, you may want a solution that can support a variety of options to transition as your landscape evolves. Here are a few of the most common deployment types:<\/span>\r\n