As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integral to how we do business, one thing has become abundantly clear: AI is only as good as the data it works with. AI systems, particularly those based on machine learning, rely on vast amounts of data to learn, make decisions, and provide insights by extracting patterns and knowledge from the data they are fed. If the input data is flawed—be it incomplete, biased, inaccurate, or poorly structured—the output will inevitably suffer. This can ultimately manifest in AI models that perform inconsistently, deliver erroneous predictions, or fail to provide actionable insights, ultimately compromising decision-making processes and business outcomes. But how do you know if your data is ready for AI? Let’s take a look at 6 crucial factors that can be used to determine how strong your foundation is to support AI implementation.  

1. Stability of Data Structure

AI algorithms develop their understanding and make predictions based on the patterns they detect in the data they are trained on. Consistent data formats across time ensure that once an AI system is trained, it can continue to apply its learned patterns to new data without errors or the need for reconfiguration.  Changes in data formats—such as altering column names, changing data types, or reorganizing the database schema—can confuse AI models. This may lead to incorrect outputs or require additional time and resources to retrain the model with the new structure. In order to maintain a stable data structure conducive to effective AI analysis, it’s important to remember to:

• Plan with the future in mind: When designing your data architecture, anticipate future needs and potential expansions. Design a scalable and adaptable structure that can accommodate foreseeable changes without fundamental overhauls.
• Implement version control and documentation: Version control systems for your databases and comprehensive documentation of any changes ensure smooth transitions and support the integrity and traceability of data modifications.
• Establish change management protocols: Create a protocol for assessing and implementing changes in the data structure. This should include steps for impact assessment, testing the changes for compatibility with existing AI systems, and provisions for updating the AI models if necessary.
• Create a system for auditing: Conduct regular audits to ensure that the data remains consistent with the expected formats and to verify that no unauthorized or unintended changes have occurred.

 

2. Diversity and Accuracy of Data Sources

AI algorithms benefit from a broad spectrum of data inputs as diverse data sources aid in minimizing biases and improving the accuracy of insights.  Data can come from a variety of sources, including different suppliers, customer demographics, sales channels, eCommerce sites, and third-party marketplaces. This diversity is vital for a few key reasons:

• Reduction of bias: AI systems can develop biases based on the data they are trained on. By integrating data from a wide array of sources, you can mitigate the risk of these biases, as the AI solution will have a more balanced view that reflects varied perspectives and conditions.
• Enhanced robustness: Diverse data sources make AI models less sensitive to anomalies in any single source, which is crucial in dynamic market environments.
• Improved predictive power: With data coming from a comprehensive mix of inputs, AI algorithms can better predict behaviors and outcomes across different customer segments and market conditions.

It’s important to note here that data accuracy is just as crucial as data variety. Before integrating a new data source, verify its credibility and track record and ensure that your suppliers and data providers adhere to industry standards and best practices in data collection and management.  

3. Volume of Data

The volume of data is critical for the effectiveness of AI algorithms. More data points allow AI systems to train more comprehensively, leading to more accurate and reliable outputs.  A large dataset is fundamental for training AI models because it provides a comprehensive basis from which the system can learn and recognize patterns. More data points increase the likelihood of capturing all variations and nuances of the behavior or trends being analyzed, which is crucial for accurate pattern recognition. Plus, with limited data, there’s a higher risk that an AI model will overfit, meaning it performs well on training data but poorly on unseen data. A substantial volume of data not only mitigates this risk as the model can be validated and tested across a more diverse set of data points, but also increases the statistical power of the analyses, meaning findings and predictions are more likely to be valid and not due to random chance.

4. Data Structuring for AI Comprehension

AI algorithms require data in formats that they can readily process. This typically means structured data that refers to any data that adheres to a strict format, enabling easy access, search, and analysis, and would typically include:

• Defined data models: Structured data operates within a defined schema—like tables with rows and columns—where each data element is clearly delineated.
• Uniform data entry: Each entry follows the same format. For example, in a CSV file, every row represents a record and each column a specific attribute of that record.
• Direct usability in AI models: Structured data can be directly fed into most AI models without requiring preliminary processing steps, facilitating smoother and more efficient data analysis.

Unstructured data, such as text documents, images, videos, or even emails, often requires extensive cleaning and transformation processes (like natural language processing for text or image tagging for visuals) to convert it into a structured form suitable for AI analysis. If your data requires extensive human intervention to decode or reformat, it may not be ready for efficient AI integration.  Ensuring that your data is AI-friendly from the outset saves time and resources and reduces the likelihood of errors during data processing.  

5. Richness of Data Fields

The content of your data fields plays a significant role in the effectiveness of AI analysis. When data fields are populated with comprehensive, detailed information, AI systems can perform deeper and more nuanced analysis and more personalized recommendations. Data fields should go beyond basic identifiers like name or price to include detailed product descriptions, comprehensive titles, and extensive categorizations to enrich the dataset.  Why? It’s simple; a product description that includes specifications, materials used, intended use cases, and unique features provides a robust dataset for AI to analyze, providing a better foundation for these solutions to accurately classify products, recommend similar items, and even identify market trends. Pro-tip: Your data fields should be in rich text format to get the most out of AI. Rich text formats allow for the inclusion of formatting and structural elements such as headings, lists, and bold or italicized text, which can not only help highlight important features within the data, but also allow the AI solution to leverage these elements to better understand the emphasis and hierarchy of information, improving its ability to extract relevant features and insights from textual data.  

6. Structuring of Input Files

The physical structure of your data files impacts the ease with which AI can process them. Tabular data formats, like CSV or excel files, provide a clear and organized way to present data where each row typically represents a single record (such as a product) and each column represents a specific attribute of that record (like price, SKU, description). This arrangement offers several advantages, including ease of access, data consistency, and increased efficiency when it comes to larger datasets. Unstructured formats such as Word documents or PDFs often contain a mix of text, images, and other elements that do not follow a predictable structure. To maximize the effectiveness of AI applications, consider these best practices for structuring data files:

• Standardize data collection: Implement standardized procedures for data collection to ensure that all data is captured in a consistent format from the outset. 
• Utilize data centralization technologies: Employing technologies such as a PIM for centralizing your product record can help organize and manage large chunks of information, and create a structured dataset for AI.
• Implement regular data structuring audits: Regularly review and update the structure of your data files to ensure compatibility with evolving AI technologies, including revising data schemas, updating table formats, and ensuring that all data fields are accurately and consistently captured.
• Invest in training and tools: Invest in training for your team on best practices in data management and provide them with tools that facilitate the maintenance of structured data formats.

 

Preparing Your Data for AI Integration

Ensuring your data is ready for AI integration involves meticulous planning and management across multiple dimensions.  From maintaining a stable data structure and accumulating a sufficient volume of data to ensuring data source diversity and structuring data for optimal AI comprehension, each factor contributes significantly to the success of AI applications.  By adhering to best practices in data management—such as standardizing data collection, verifying source accuracy, and enriching data fields—you can build a robust foundation for AI to not only function effectively but also drive insightful, data-driven decisions that propel your business forward.  This preparation not only streamlines the integration process but also maximizes the potential benefits of AI, ensuring that your investment in this cutting-edge technology yields tangible, valuable results. Do you know if your organization has the right framework in place to support AI technology integration? Take our AI Readiness Assessment today to get your personalized readiness score, and receive actionable tips and tricks on how to get started!

Ever clicked that “Buy Now” button on your favorite online store and marveled at how effortlessly the product arrives at your doorstep just a few days later? From a customer’s perspective, the ordering process seems pretty straightforward: select, pay, confirm, wait for delivery. Yet that seemingly simple click triggers a domino effect of tasks, checks, and movements that span multiple technologies and organizations.  

What is eCommerce Order Management?

eCommerce order management is exactly what it sounds like – the process of managing, fulfilling, and shipping all orders completed on eCommerce channels, whether that’s through your own website or a third-party marketplace, such as Amazon. The average order fulfillment process looks a little something like this:

1. 1. Order placement: The customer places an order on an eCommerce platform, and kicks off the order management process.
   2. Order confirmation: Once the order is place, an order confirmation is sent to the customer to acknowledge receipt of the order and should include important details such as items purchased, prices, order number, and expected delivery details.
   3. Order processing: The order is then processed internally by the company, and includes verifying payment, checking the availability of items purchased, and routing the order information to the nearest warehouse or fulfillment center.
   4. Order picking, packing, and shipping: The ordered items are picked and packed for shipping in the warehouse or fulfillment center, and a shipping label will be printed and attached to the packaging before it is dispatched from the facility.
   5. Order tracking: Once the order has left the warehouse or fulfillment center, the customer should be provided with a tracking number that allows them to monitor the shipment’s progress.
   6. Delivery: The package has arrived! A delivery confirmation should be sent to the customer.
   7. Returns Management: The order fulfillment process should also account for reverse logistics, including receiving the returned items, inspecting them for compliance with return policies, processing refunds or exchanges, and restocking items when appropriate.

This process can be complex for even a small business, and can quickly become overwhelming and unmanageable when you start to manage thousands of orders across multiple channels and distribution centers. Traditionally, and still in many cases today, order management involves a combination of manual and automated processes designed to streamline operations from the point of sale to delivery to the customer. In the early days of eCommerce, processes such as order entry, inventory checks, and communication with customers were all manually handled in spreadsheets or basic software and database solutions. These tools helped businesses to organize and visualize data, but still required a lot of manual input and lacked in-depth integrations with other systems. So, the technology market responded – specialized Order Management Systems (OMS) emerged to offer more sophisticated features for handling complex order processes, including omnichannel selling, backorder management, and returns processing.   

What is an Order Management System (OMS)?

An Order Management System (OMS) is simply a platform that helps businesses manage this complex order process, from start to finish.  Here’s a breakdown of core functionality for an OMS:

• Order entry and processing: An OMS provides a centralized platform for entering and processing orders from various channels, ensuring accuracy in capturing order details and customer information.
• Inventory management: An OMS should monitor stock levels across multiple locations in real-time and send alerts when stock levels are low, enabling businesses to forecast demand and manage their inventory efficiently.
• Warehouse management: Within the broader order fulfillment process, an OMS can offer insights into the most efficient ways to pick and pack orders.
• Shipping and logistics: An OMS tracks orders through the delivery process,often integrating with shipping carriers and logistics services to offer real-time tracking information to both the business and the customer.
• Customer service: An OMS enhances customer service by providing a complete view of an order’s status, history, and any issues that may arise, enabling support representatives to offer informed support and solutions to customers.
• Returns and exchanges management: The reverse logistics process should also be handled by your OMS, as it should update inventory levels, and ensure customer refunds or replacements are processed efficiently.
• Cross-channel integration: An OMS integrates with various sales channels, including eCommerce platforms, brick-and-mortar operations, and marketplaces, to provide a seamless shopping experience for customers and a unified view for the business.
• Analytics and reporting: An OMS should offer analytics and reporting capabilities, providing insights into sales trends, order volume, customer behavior, and operational efficiency.

 

How an OMS Can Improve Operations

An OMS provides a single location to centralize the entire order management process, which enables:

• Efficiency across order processing, fulfillment, and shipping: Automation and data centralization reduces manual intervention and speeds up the entire order-to-delivery cycle.
• Higher data accuracy: Data is the lifeblood of decision-making in today’s business environment; an OMS ensures that the data across sales channels and touchpoints is synchronized and updated in real-time, supporting better inventory management, forecasting, and planning to minimize stockouts or excess inventory.
• More scalability: As businesses grow, their order management requirements become more complex. An OMS provides the scalability needed to handle increasing order volumes without a corresponding increase in chaos or overhead costs, ensuring that businesses can grow without being hamstrung by their operational capacities.
• Expansion to new markets and geographies: Entering new markets or expanding geographically can be daunting due to the complexities involved in managing orders across different regions, but an OMS can simplify this process by managing orders from multiple markets in one system, enabling businesses to adapt their operations to local requirements and preferences.
• Enhanced supplier and vendor relationships: By providing real-time data on inventory levels, order statuses, and forecasts, an OMS can improve collaboration, leading to better relationships with vendors and suppliers.
• Better employee experience: The automation and efficiency provided by an OMS reduce the burden on employees, freeing them from repetitive and error-prone tasks which only improves productivity but also enhances overall work experience.
• Improved customer service: With faster order processing, accurate fulfillment, and timely shipping, customers receive their orders when expected, leading to higher satisfaction levels. Plus, the ability to provide accurate and timely information to customers about their orders enhances the overall experience.

 

PIM & OMS in the Ecosystem

A Product Information Management (PIM) system houses crucial information such as product descriptions, titles, specifications, images and pricing that the OMS relies on, and the OMS tends to hold important order information such as order status, tracking information, and inventory adjustments that the PIM may need, so it’s crucial to ensure these systems are integrated and communicating efficiently.   Integrating a PIM system with an OMS ensures real-time data exchange, where the PIM provides up-to-date product information to the OMS for accurate order processing, while inventory levels and order status updates from the OMS keep product availability current across all sales channels.  Plus, this integration facilitates more personalized shopping experiences, offering product recommendations tailored to individual customer preferences and purchase history. Overall, the integration of an OMS with a PIM not only optimizes operational efficiencies but also plays a crucial role in building and maintaining positive customer relationships through a superior shopping experience.  

How to Choose the Right OMS For You

Choosing the right Order Management System (OMS) for your organization involves a thorough evaluation of your business needs, technical requirements, and growth plans.  Here are key considerations to help you select the right OMS:

1. Understand your business needs

Order volume and complexity: Consider the volume of orders you process and the complexity of your order management needs, including multi-channel sales, international orders, and custom product configurations. Customer experience goals: Identify the aspects of the customer experience you want to improve, such as delivery times, order accuracy, or return processes.  

2. Evaluate the system capabilities

Integration with existing systems: Look for an OMS that can easily integrate with your existing eCommerce platform, CRM, PIM, and ERP systems to ensure seamless data flow and minimize disruptions. Automation features: Check for automation capabilities that can streamline order processing, fulfillment, and returns, reducing manual errors and operational costs. Inventory management and forecasting: Ensure the OMS offers robust inventory management features, including real-time inventory tracking across multiple locations and channels. Analytics and reporting: Access to detailed analytics and reporting can help you make informed decisions about inventory management, sales strategies, and customer service improvements.  

3. Consider the technical aspects

Cloud-based vs. on-premise: Decide whether a cloud-based OMS, which offers flexibility and lower upfront costs, or an on-premise solution, which may offer more control and customization, is right for your business. User interface and ease of use: The system should be intuitive for your team to use, with minimal training required. A good user interface can improve efficiency and reduce errors. Security and compliance: Ensure the OMS meets industry standards for data security and privacy, especially if you handle sensitive customer information.  

4. Assess the vendor

Support and training: Evaluate the level of support and training the vendor provides, including the availability of resources, response times for support requests, and ongoing training opportunities. Vendor reputation and reliability: Research the vendor’s reputation in the market. Look for reviews, case studies, and testimonials from businesses similar to yours. Cost: Consider not only the initial cost but also the total cost of ownership, including any ongoing fees for support, updates, and additional features.  

5. Plan for the future

Flexibility and customization: Choose an OMS that offers flexibility and customization options to adapt to future business needs, such as launching new products or entering new markets. Innovation and updates: Consider whether the vendor regularly updates the software with new features and stays on top of industry trends to support your business’s growth over time.  

OMS for eCommerce

Selecting the right OMS requires careful consideration of how the system will fit with your current operations and support your future goals. It’s beneficial to request demos, free trials, and to discuss your specific needs with vendors to ensure you find a solution that aligns with your organizational objectives and enhances your operational efficiency. As the digital marketplace continues to evolve, the selection and integration of an OMS become crucial for businesses aiming to streamline their operations, enhance customer experiences, and scale in a competitive landscape.  Ultimately, the success of eCommerce hinges not just on what the customer sees on the screen, but on the sophisticated, behind-the-scenes orchestration of technology, logistics, and strategy that transforms a simple click into a seamless delivery experience.

Historically, B2B transactions have been characterized by complex, relationship-driven processes that often require extensive negotiation and personalized service from sales representatives.  But the digital era has ushered in a new generation of efficiency-oriented, tech-savvy buyers who expect many of the same luxuries and seamless buying experiences in a B2B commerce setting as they do with B2C. Think about it – B2B may stand for “business to business”, but who is actually clicking that “buy” button for the business? A human being, who expects to find comprehensive product information, transparent pricing, and straightforward ordering processes wherever they’re purchasing. This level of efficiency and personalization in B2B has become a standard, not an exception.  

The Shift in B2B Buying Dynamics

From adopting advanced technologies for streamlined processes to leveraging data analytics for informed decision-making, B2B brands embracing the digital transformation will experience heightened agility, enhanced operational efficiency, and increased market relevance, as well as be able to engage with customers in new and innovative ways. In an era where convenience is king, B2B buyers expect the purchasing process to be as smooth and effortless as possible, including intuitive navigation and filtering on digital platforms, and access to up-to-date and accurate product information.  Transparency is another cornerstone of the expectations of the modern B2B buyer. This includes clear communication about product details and compatibility, along with upfront pricing models, shipping and stock availability, and environmental policies or relevant supply chain information. Lastly, the B2B buyers of today value streamlined operations and processes that save them time, resources, and effort, whether that’s through faster website performance, quick response times to inquiries, or efficient problem and query resolution.   

Managing the Evolution of the B2B Buying Experience

So how do B2B businesses keep up with these new demands and expectations? That’s where eCommerce platforms come into play. eCommerce platforms for B2B are specialized digital solutions designed to cater to the unique needs of these businesses, such as accommodating complex sales cycles, bulk orders, customized pricing agreements, and intricate product configurations.  The hallmark of a robust B2B eCommerce platform is its ability to provide a seamless, intuitive interface for both buyers and sellers.  For buyers, it should offer a convenient, straightforward shopping experience that mimics the experience of B2C platforms, with features like personalized product recommendations and detailed product information. For sellers, it should provide powerful tools for customer management, data analytics, and inventory control, and should integrate seamlessly with other business systems, such as CRM, ERP, or PIM solutions, allowing for a high degree of automation and customization.   

Salesforce B2B Commerce: A Leading Solution

Salesforce B2B Commerce is designed with the unique needs of business buyers in mind, and offers a low-maintenance but high-impact solution that revolutionizes how B2B businesses engage in online sales.  At the core of Salesforce B2B Commerce is the capability to craft personalized eCommerce experiences tailored to support large-volume and bulk purchases, with an easy interface and quick setup time that lends itself well to supporting a seamless, self-managing customer experience. As it’s part of the expansive Salesforce suite, Salesforce for B2B automatically integrates with Salesforce CRM, creating a cohesive, 360-degree view of the customer experience. Learn more about Salesforce B2B Commerce.  

Product Information Management and Salesforce B2B Commerce

Salesforce B2B Commerce also integrates seamlessly with other pieces in your tech stack. This is particularly important for systems that handle crucial product data, like your PIM.

What is Product Information Management (PIM)? 

Product Information Management (PIM) is both a systematic approach and a toolset that centralizes, organizes, and enriches product data, making it accessible to all stakeholders and distribution channels. A PIM solution itself serves as the backbone for managing the entire product record, including detailed product descriptions, titles, pricing, imagery, ingredients, sustainability information, multimedia content, and more.  The true importance of a PIM solution lies in its ability to:

• Enhance efficiency and collaboration: By centralizing product information, companies can avoid the pitfalls of data silos and inconsistent information as a PIM facilitates better collaboration among teams.
• Improve accuracy: PIM systems ensure that all product information is accurate, up-to-date, and consistent, reducing errors and enhancing customer trust.
• Speed time-to-market: Streamlined processes for managing product data can significantly accelerate the introduction of new products and updates to existing ones.
• Boost sales and customer satisfaction: Accurate, detailed, and easily accessible product information helps customers make informed buying decisions, leading to improved satisfaction and increased sales.
• Create a consistent experience across channels: A centralized product record  ensures that all sales and marketing channels are aligned with consistent and accurate product information, crucial for maintaining brand integrity and coherence.
• Provide scalability: As businesses grow and their product ranges expand, a PIM system can scale to accommodate increased data complexity and volume, ensuring that the management of product information remains seamless and efficient.
• Enrich data quality: Beyond mere storage, PIM systems often come equipped with AI-powered tools for data quality management and enrichment, allowing businesses to enhance their product data with additional information, translations, and optimized content for different markets and channels.

 

Integrating a PIM with Salesforce B2B Commerce

Integrating a PIM with Salesforce B2B Commerce as a B2B organization creates the required foundation for providing those high-quality, consistent, and omnichannel experiences that modern-day B2B buyers demand.  By acting as a central source of truth for all product data, the PIM solution ensures that all information displayed in the Salesforce B2B Commerce platform is accurate and up-to-date. Any changes or updates made in the PIM are then automatically reflected in the Salesforce platform. What does this mean in practice? New products can be introduced more swiftly and efficiently, as new product information is centralized, standardized, and enriched in the PIM before disseminating through Salesforce B2B Commerce. This also helps to establish clear data governance processes over product information, ensuring compliance with industry standards and cross-channel consistency.  This integration of a PIM system and Salesforce B2B Commerce has a measurable impact on B2B businesses primarily through:

• Seamless product discovery: Enhanced product information and easy navigation facilitate smoother discovery processes for B2B customers.
• Enhanced customer trust: Detailed, accurate product data enables customers to make well-informed purchase decisions that help create a sense of loyalty and trust, reducing the likelihood of returns and dissatisfaction.
• Reduced data errors: With automated data syncing and centralized management, the chances of errors in product information are drastically lowered.
• Improved operational efficiency: The streamlined processes for managing product information reduces manual efforts and operational costs while also enabling quicker responses to market demands.

 

The Right PIM for Salesforce B2B eCommerce

The B2B landscape is transitioning away from a traditional, complex buying process towards an approach more focused on efficiency and personalization that mirrors the B2C experience. Today’s tech-savvy B2B buyers demand seamless, tailored buying experiences characterized by easy access to detailed product information, transparent pricing, and simple order processes.  In order to meet these demands, B2B organizations need a scalable and flexible centralized product record that can easily integrate with eCommerce platforms like Salesforce B2B.    That’s where Akeneo PIM comes in. As a MACH-Certified PIM, integration with Salesforce, along with any ERP, DAM, or MDM solutions that are already included in your tech stack is simple and intuitive,  With a single source of truth for organized and optimized product data, Akeneo PIM enables your B2B organization to provide B2C-like experiences to customers for years to come.

Hello Akeneo Community, Today, I’m excited to talk about a natural progression in our journey at Akeneo. Our SaaS offering, Serenity, has grown into our most capable and fastest-evolving product, and in order to invest our resources efficiently, we will not be releasing any new versions of our PaaS (Flexibility) and on-premise offerings. This decision is a reflection of both the evolution of our customer needs and the advancements in our technology. Let me walk you through our journey, enriched with key insights and data points.  

A Little Bit of History 

Back in 2017, with an entirely on-premise customer base, we stepped into the cloud space. Our PaaS offering, Flexibility, was a bridge connecting our legacy of customization with the emerging cloud technology. It was an exciting time, with 45% of our customer base embracing PaaS by the end of 2018. However, as we continued our journey, we noticed a shift.   As you can see above, the landscape has changed over the years By the end of 2023, SaaS adoption soared to 80% of our customer base, a clear indicator of changing preferences and needs. We listened to our customers and acted accordingly – popular custom features from PaaS such as table attributes and import/export mapping were seamlessly integrated into Serenity, and the Akeneo App Store grew into an expansive, customizable network of expert partners that reduces the need for a dedicated PaaS solution. At Akeneo, we firmly believe in the importance of adaptability and responding quickly to market changes, and so these reasons and more support our focus on delivering SaaS capabilities in the future. Plus, transitioning to a SaaS only offering will result in:

• Operational Efficiency: Migrating between PaaS versions, while straightforward, consumed resources. We observed that our clients’ time and effort could be more impactful in areas other than technical upgrades.
• Exclusive Features for SaaS Users: Our newest innovations, including Activation and emerging AI capabilities are designed for SaaS, offering cutting-edge tools that were not possible with PaaS.
• Reduced Carbon Footprint: A SaaS model is more resource-efficient, aligning with our goal to minimize environmental impact. We estimate the carbon footprint of a PaaS instance to be about twice that of a SaaS instance.
• Focus on Innovation: Freeing our resources from PaaS development allows us to expedite new features and products, fostering a culture of rapid innovation.

 

Comprehensive Support for PaaS Customers

Though we’re excited for the future, I’d like to take a second and acknowledge the importance of a seamless transition and continued support for our PaaS customers, which is why we’re investing nearly $5 million in resources designed to mitigate concerns, address potential challenges, and enhance the overall migration experience. This includes:

• Dedicated Professional Services Team: To ensure a smooth transition to SaaS, we have assembled a dedicated team of 13 individuals, comprised of both Product and Professional Services team members, at your service. This team is specifically tasked with assisting our PaaS customers in migrating to SaaS over the next 2.5 years, providing tailored support and expertise every step of the way.
• Focused Product Team: Understanding that feature parity is crucial, we have a dedicated product team identifying and addressing any major feature gaps that could hinder migration. This team is committed to ensuring that all critical functionalities available in PaaS are seamlessly transitioned or adapted to the SaaS environment.
• Extended Support Period: We’re extending support for the last PaaS version, V7, until September 2026, giving ample time for our customers to plan and execute their migration with our full support.
• Investment in App Engine: We’re also enhancing our App Engine to offer more SDK-like capabilities, providing more flexibility and customization options in the SaaS environment.

 

A Migration to Serenity 

This shift towards SaaS is a logical step in our growth trajectory, driven by data, customer feedback, and our commitment to innovation and sustainability. It’s a testament to our adaptability and dedication to providing the best solutions for our community.  If you have any questions or concerns about this migration, please do not hesitate to reach out to your point of contact at Akeneo. We’re excited about this new phase and grateful for your continued support!

Akeneo was highlighted as a leader in optimizing omnichannel product experiences and featured among the top 15 technology companies in the latest equity funding round. 

 

 

About Viva Technology

VivaTech accelerates innovation by connecting startups, tech leaders, major companies, and investors responding to our world’s biggest challenges. Each year, over four exciting days in Paris, VivaTech creates Europe’s biggest technology and startup event, exploring the most disruptive topics in tech with world-premiere demos, launches, and conferences in a collaborative ecosystem. This is where business meets innovation. Join us for the eighth edition of VivaTech 22-25 May 2024. For more information go to our website at https://vivatechnology.com/media and follow us on social media @VivaTech. 

 

About GP Bullhound

GP Bullhound is a leading technology advisory and investment firm, providing transaction advice and capital to the world’s best entrepreneurs and founders. Founded in 1999 in London and Menlo Park, the firm today has 13 offices spanning Europe and the US. For more information, please visit www.gpbullhound.com.

 

About Akeneo

Akeneo is the product experience (PX) company and global leader in Product Information Management (PIM); creating a world where every product interaction is an experience that guides consumers and professionals to the best purchase, anytime, anywhere. Akeneo empowers business leaders with software, education, and an engaged community all focused on the practice of product experience management.

Leading global brands, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, including Chico’s, CarParts.com, TaylorMade Golf, Rail Europe, Kering, and more trust Akeneo to scale and customize their omnichannel commerce initiatives. Using Akeneo’s intelligent Product Cloud, companies can create elevated product experiences with user-friendly and AI-powered product data enrichment, management, syndication, and supplier data onboarding; as well as a comprehensive app marketplace and partner network to meet business and buyer needs.

For more information: akeneo.com

Spring has always been a season of renewal and innovation, and this year, it’s brought something truly special for the Product Experience (PX) Community. In case you missed it, the team at Akeneo announced some pretty exciting updates during the Spring Release keynote at Unlock Boston. From a sleek new Salesforce App to new sales channels available in Akeneo Activation, there are a slew of developments that we’re buzzing for, but there is one area that we’re particularly excited about: AI. In a world where technology continually shapes and reshapes how we interact and shop, staying ahead of the curve is not just an advantage – it’s a necessity. That’s why we’re so excited to unveil some of the newest native AI capabilities within the Akeneo Product Cloud. But first . . .  

What’s a Product Cloud?

A product cloud is a composable SaaS-based technology suite designed to orchestrate, activate, and optimize the entire product story across all owned and unowned channels. The modular nature of a product cloud means that your team is able to personalize your tech stack to fit the exact needs of your organization.  Plus, a product cloud should be able to support the entire product record, including both hot (dynamic) and cold (static) data. From pricing to digital assets to size dimensions to user-generated content, the product cloud acts as a single system of record to house all of this data that is scattered across different technologies. The last defining feature of a product cloud is its usability; any number of users, managers, administrators, developers, or integrators should be able to hop in at any point and understand what product information lives where, how to access it, and how to syndicate it to the right channels in the right way. Technologies that require extensive IT knowledge, or rely on individual employees who know how to operate the system, simply aren’t scalable.  

The Intelligent Product Cloud

After acquiring the AI platform Unifai in September 2023 and announcing over 20 AI apps in the Akeneo App Store, the team here at Akeneo has invested heavily in AI, even assembling a team of experts with deep knowledge in the field of AI who will serve as the foundation for all future AI innovations in the Akeneo Product Cloud. But before we get too ahead of ourselves, let’s take a look at some of the new and improved AI capabilities within the Akeneo Product Cloud that were announced in our 2024 Spring Release.

1. Native GenAI in Akeneo PIM

In the fast-paced nature of today’s market, the ability to quickly generate and adapt content is crucial. Harnessing the power of generative AI, Akeneo PIM now enables your business to create bulk product content in minutes that not only resonates with your target audience but also aligns with your brand voice and product specifics. Expanding into global markets requires content that speaks the language of your customers – literally. New functionality in Akeneo PIM also offers the ability to translate product data and romance copy into more than 50 languages, enabling your organization to easily adapt content to meet regional market expectations and personalize the customer experience. Not only do these updates amplify productivity, accuracy, and scalability in the content creation, translation, and localization process, but they also help to streamline the entire product content creation and translation process as you’ll be working within the product edit form that you’ve already been working in in Akeneo PIM – no additional tools or AI expertise needed.  

2. Native GenAI in Akeneo Supplier Data Manager

Akeneo Supplier Data Manager is also now equipped with native AI capabilities to onboard suppliers faster and more efficiently.  By automating critical processes such mapping and normalizing supplier data to PIM attributes, categorizing products according to PIM families and categories, and enriching product records with unstructured product data, and by simplifying the complexities involved in handling vast amounts of supplier information, Akeneo SDM is creating a more streamlined and efficient supplier onboarding process for all. How you manage your supplier relations has a direct impact on the customer: faster onboarding means businesses can bring their products to market more quickly, and streamlined operations can result in less data errors and inconsistencies. Overall, Akeneo’s AI-powered Supplier Data Manager enables your organization to:

• Automate some of your more manual grunt work, ensuring data consistency for product experiences across all channels
• Improve time-to-market
• Increase the accuracy and completeness of your entire product data record
• Foster a more efficient, mutually beneficial collaboration between your organization and your suppliers

3. AI for PX in the Akeneo App Marketplace

The Akeneo App Marketplace is the third exciting area of AI investment announced in Spring Release 2024. With over 200 apps and integrations, including 37 new additions in 2023 alone, the Akeneo App Marketplace offers an unparalleled array of technologies that leverage the power of AI to transform the quality, accuracy, and relevance of product information across all channels and markets. Though not an exhaustive list, a few noteworthy additions to the Marketplace are:

• Grand Shooting – Catalog Sync App: This is an AI-powered solution which facilitates image quality control by retouching non-compliant images in real time. This real-time correction ensures that product images are always of the highest quality, enhancing the visual appeal of online catalogs and improving the overall product experience for customers.
• Copysmith AI App: Recognizing the importance of compelling and accurate product descriptions in eCommerce, the Copysmith AI App empowers users to generate engaging product narratives effortlessly, simplifying the creation of product descriptions and conveying key product features effectively.
• Smartling App: This application supports seamless automation and management of product descriptions and other content across different languages, facilitating a truly global reach for businesses. By automating the translation and localization process, this app ensures that product information is accurate, culturally relevant, and resonant with international audiences, thereby enhancing the global product experience.

Our ever-growing selection of AI apps in the Akeneo App Store supports the flexibility of a composable commerce tech stack, while enabling customers to take advantage of AI innovation from trusted business partners.  

The Future of the Intelligent Product Cloud

AI is changing the name of the game, and those organizations who embrace the future of technology will be the ones to stand the test of time as AI only promises to become more and more prominent in our everyday lives. These native GenAI enhancements to the Akeneo Product Cloud are designed to empower businesses to streamline workflows and elevate the overall quality of product experiences across the globe. But this is just the beginning! With our team of AI experts on board, we are only getting started with our AI journey, so make sure you stay tuned to see what’s coming next. For those keen to explore these advancements further, we invite you to discover the full details of our 2024 Spring Release. Learn more here!

As we commemorate International Women’s Day, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on the ongoing journey towards gender equality within the tech sector. As of late 2023, women made up about 35% of the tech workforce, but that number starts to dip as you climb up the corporate ladder. In C-suite leadership roles, women make up only 25%, and that dwindles to a measly 5% for women of color.  The tech industry continues to be a hotbed of innovation and transformation, influencing virtually every aspect of our lives – women have to have a seat at that table of discussion, not just as participants but as leaders shaping the future of technology.  In light of this, we’d like to highlight the voices of a few great women leaders in our industry. At NRF this year, the Women of MACH recorded an episode on emerging trends to come in this year and beyond.  Hosted by Amanda Cole, Chief Marketing Officer at Bloomreach, the episode featured insightful discussions with Kristin Naragon, Chief Strategy Officer at Akeneo; Casey Gannon, VP of Marketing & Technology Partnerships at Bold Commerce; and Isabell Aakervik, Chief Expansion Officer at Sitoo.  Together, they shared their expertise on a variety of interesting topics, including generative AI, omnichannel experiences, strategies for reducing returns, and the future of sustainability initiatives. Plus, these women share their advice on how to not only navigate a male-dominated industry, but how to bring your fellow women along. You can watch the full video here or check out the 5 key takeaways we’ve distilled for you below.

1. The rising prevalence of genAI

“I think a lot of our technology companies are learning how to respond to AI and make sure that we focus on the customer experience.” – Amanda Cole, Chief Marketing Officer, Bloomreach Throughout 2023 and into 2024, the conversation around AI and large language models gained significant momentum. The women in the panel shared how their individual companies are navigating this new wave of technology, and how they incorporated AI-powered solutions to enhance operations across various instances. While the potential of AI can often be hyperbolized and oversold, the panel focused on the practical use cases that companies could employ AI technology today, such as:

• Generating and enriching product content
• Cleansing data for reduced inaccuracies
• Enhancing work automation
• Supporting customer service roles
• Automating content translation

2. The importance of omnichannel experiences

The “shop anywhere” concept has been gaining traction for a while now, underlining the need for brands and retailers to offer seamless experiences across every customer touchpoint. The women of the panel touched on innovative strategies for merging the digital and physical realms of customer engagement, and highlighted the consequences of incomplete, poor product experiences; the dreaded return. To meet these growing customer expectations, brands and retailers are increasingly adopting new technologies that blur the lines between online and offline experiences, be it unified customer profiles, integrated inventory management systems, or advanced analytics platforms to personalize customer interactions regardless of the touchpoint. The goal is to create a shopping experience that is not only convenient but also consistent, allowing consumers to switch between channels and touchpoints effortlessly. The panel also delved into the specific challenges and opportunities presented by returns that occur from poor product experiences. They highlighted that returns are an integral part of the shopping experience but often come with significant logistical challenges and environmental impacts, and even shared their tips on how to minimize the impact of these returns, particularly through new technologies.

3. Flexible, adaptable tech stacks to prepare for Digital Product Passport legislation

As environmental and social consciousness continues to influence consumer choices, the ability to offer insight into product supply chains and manufacturing processes is a key differentiating factor. As the panelists highlight, although consumers are increasingly seeking out brands that can demonstrate responsibility and transparency, these factors will soon not just be suggested improvements to the customer experience but a global regulation. The European Digital Product Passport (DPP) initiative, part of the broader European Green Deal approved in 2020, is setting a new precedent for transparency in supply chains. The DPP aims to consolidate data regarding a product’s lifecycle, including its environmental impact and supply chain details, into a single, accessible format. This initiative mandates a level of openness that requires retailers to rethink their approach to data management and sharing across the value chain, including manufacturers, repairers, and consumers. Enter MACH architecture (Microservices-based, API-first, Cloud-native SaaS, and Headless) – a technological framework that offers the agility and flexibility retailers need to navigate these evolving demands and regulations. MACH architecture enables retailers to decouple their digital platforms into manageable, interchangeable components, which can be updated or replaced without disrupting the entire system. This modularity is particularly advantageous for adapting to requirements like those introduced by the DPP, as it allows for rapid integration of new functionalities or adjustments to existing processes.

4. Mitigating product returns through product information

In a retail landscape where efficiency and sustainability are increasingly paramount, the discussion of the NRF panelists shed light on a trend with substantial impact: mitigating product returns through enhanced product information.

A strategic approach to product returns can lead to more efficient customer acquisition, higher conversion rates, and strengthened customer loyalty, among others. The first step? Identify the critical details that customers may need at any point in their journey. By anticipating the questions and concerns that customers may have, you can ensure that your product information addresses their needs proactively. Once you’ve identified the essential product information, gather and enrich the data to create compelling product content (this is where genAI, once again, plays a big role, as highlighted by our panelists!). It’s also crucial to localize the product content for different regions and channels to ensure relevance and resonance with diverse audiences and channels. By ensuring consistency and accessibility across all channels, you can empower customers to make informed purchasing decisions without the need for returns.  

5. The importance of mentorship and networking for women in tech

As the discussion on emerging retail trends drew to a close, the panelists shifted focus towards fostering inclusivity and empowerment for women and diverse groups within the tech industry. Their conversation underscored the crucial roles of mentorship, self-belief, and the embrace of vulnerability as a strength in navigating the path to representation in technology and leadership roles. Below are just a few of our favorite quotes: Casey Gannon: “I have two really simple pieces of advice. The first is to find a mentor who is where you want to be  in 5 to 10 years – particularly, if you’re a woman, try to find a woman mentor {in that position}. The second is just to prioritize your network and particularly with other women in your industry.” Kristin Naragon: “If you’re a woman in a position of some influence or power, I think it’s really important not only to find and seek out females who you can lift up with you but also to really mentor the men who are coming up the ranks. I take the time on a very regular basis to work with men because it’s important for them to see our styles and how we lead, and to make sure that they feel, when they rise into those positions of power, that they understand how women lead in similar and different ways.” Isabell Aakervik: Believe in yourself – we women are very good at not believing in ourselves, so I would say stay strong!  Amanda Cole: This panel is four powerhouse professionals who just all happen to be women in MACH. There’s access to experienced professionals who also represent diverse groups and hopefully we continue to see growth in that. My advice would be, do not be a loud negative voice very similar to what Isabelle was saying! Don’t be your worst critic, and definitely take moments to celebrate yourself.  

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  International Women’s Day acts as a reminder for us all that the journey towards gender equity and diversity in tech is a collective effort. It requires the engagement of individuals and organizations alike to create environments where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and contribute to the technological advancements shaping our world. Championing inclusivity, mentorship, and support enables more voices to be heard and more talents to shine within the tech industry, and if we can continue to foster an environment where innovation thrives and diverse perspectives are valued, we can look forward to a future where the tech industry is as rich and varied as the world it aims to serve.

We are thrilled to share the winners of the annual Akeneo Partner Awards recognizing top-performing solution and technology partners for their innovative and extraordinary work for our customers.  Award recipients are selected based on demonstrating exceptional performance in either implementing Akeneo’s Product Information Management (PIM) solution for their clients or developing a joint technology solution that meets unique customer needs.  In both cases, partners have contributed significantly to the growth and development of the Akeneo ecosystem by acting as advocates for our joint solutions in the broader community and by collaborating to ensure the best customer outcomes and product experience (PX) excellence. 

Global Awards

Global Growth Award Solution Partner 2023

Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments, and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth, and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale. They are a talent- and innovation-led company with approximately 743,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and they are one of the world’s leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. Accenture combines its strength in technology and leadership in cloud, data, and AI with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise, and global delivery capability. They are uniquely able to deliver tangible outcomes because of our broad range of services, solutions, and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X, and Song. These capabilities, together with their culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360° value, enable them to help their clients reinvent and build trusted, lasting relationships. They measure success by the 360° value they create for their clients, one another, shareholders, partners, and communities.  

Rising Star Award Solution Partner 2023 

Start with Data

Start with Data are the Product Information Management (PIM) experts, trusted by retailers, manufacturers, and distributors like RS Group, Pets at Home, Pernod Ricard, and Big W to get their product data into the shape customers expect. Throughout the UK and Australia, Start with Data delivers PIM Selection & Implementation, Product Content Sourcing, AI Product Content Creation, as well as Taxonomy & Attribution services. If you need independent PIM advice, help with data preparation and migration or you’re looking to fuel your eCommerce growth with complete, consistent & accurate product data – they’ve got you covered.  

Impact Award Solution Partner 2023 

Bounteous

Founded in 2003 in Chicago, Bounteous is a leading digital experience consultancy that co-innovates with the world’s most ambitious brands to create transformative digital experiences. With services in Strategy, Experience Design, Technology, Analytics and Insight, and Marketing, Bounteous elevates brand experiences and drives superior client outcomes.  

Impact Award Technology Partner 2023 

commercetools

commercetools is the leading composable commerce platform, allowing companies to dynamically tailor and scale shopping experiences across markets. We equip some of the world’s largest businesses with tools to future-proof digital offerings, reduce risks and costs, and build outstanding experiences that drive revenue growth.  

Hero Award Solution Partner 2023 

Avvale

Avvale is a Global Digital Business Transformation Company on a mission to evolve innovative business through the circular economy, enabled by technology. They truly believe that digital innovation and circular economy represent the most effective means to achieve a profitable and sustainable future. Availing of the right technologies, they can bend the traditional linear economic model, based on consumption, into a circular ecosystem, where products and materials circulate at their highest value, as long as possible, and at scale.   

Hero Award Technology Partner 2023 

Bynder

Bynder is a global leader in digital asset management (DAM). Bynder’s powerful, intuitive, and deeply integrated DAM platform unifies and transforms the creation, management, and distribution of marketing assets – this includes video content, images, brand guidelines and much more.   

Accelerator Award Technology Partner 2023

SAP

At SAP, their purpose is to help the world run better and improve people’s lives. Their promise is to innovate to help our customers run at their best. SAP is committed to helping every customer become a best-run business. They engineer solutions to fuel innovation, foster equality, and spread opportunity across borders and cultures. Together, with their customers and partners, they can transform industries, grow economies, lift societies, and sustain the environment.   

MACH Partner Award 2023 

Contentstack

Contentstack – the leading Composable Digital Experience Platform (DXP) provider – empowers marketers and developers to deliver digital experiences at the speed of their imagination. Companies such as ASICS, Chase, Express, Holiday Inn, Icelandair, Mattel, Mitsubishi, Riot Games and Shell trust Contentstack to power their most critical content experiences with uncompromising scale and dependability. Famous for its Care without Compromise™, Contentstack has achieved the industry’s highest customer satisfaction rating. Contentstack is also a founding member of the MACH Alliance, setting the industry agenda for open and composable technology that is Microservices-based, API-first, Cloud-native SaaS, and Headless.   

Integration Award 2023 

Priint

Founded in 2003, priint Group | Werk II is the global leader in solutions that bring Product Data to life. Driven by the strong belief that timely and relevant Marketing materials, digital and printed, are key to delivering an engaging customer experience, priint Group enables organizations to create their marketing publications up to 80% more efficiently through its priint:suite platform, cloud services and integration into virtually any data system.  Whether pre-planned or on-demand, generic or personalized, in one language or fifty, priint brings digital transformation and automation to the creative lifecycle.

Regional Awards

Growth Award North America 2023 

Sitation

Sitation is a key implementation and innovation partner to industry leaders in PIM technology. Focused on working with brands, manufacturers, retailers, and distributors, to provide services aimed at growth acceleration and winning customers on the digital shelf, Sitation specializes in the three pillars of PIM: strategy, data quality, and technology. Sitation also offers a custom suite of software solutions, including middleware, SEO, and AI platforms.    

Growth Award Central Europe 2023 

Vanilla Reply

Reply [EXM, STAR: REY] specializes in the design and implementation of solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. Reply is a network of highly specialized companies supporting key European industrial groups operating in the telecom and media, industry and services, banking, insurance, and public administration sectors in the definition and development of business models enabled for the new paradigms of big data, cloud computing, digital media and the Internet of Things. Reply services include: Consulting, System Integration, and Digital Services.  

Growth Award Western Europe 2023 

Vaimo

Vaimo is one of the world’s most respected experts in digital commerce and customer experiences. For them, experience is everything. It is at the heart of all they do, and they are leading the way in delivering on it in the fields of digital commerce, content management, data management, and insights and activation. As a full-service digital experience agency, they deliver consulting, design, development, support, and analytics services within all four fields. They are a global partner with a local presence, focused on cultivating close, long-term relationships with their clients.   

Growth Award UK/I 2023 

Tryzens

Tryzens is a leading international digital commerce consultancy that takes a holistic approach to understanding and growing their your business, no matter how or where customers choose to buy. Their team of trading specialists, strategists, analysts, UX and technology experts are passionate about helping you achieve your goals by implementing solutions that optimise performance across all channels.   

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  Congratulations to our winners! Our phenomenal network of partners has been instrumental in our journey. We’ve fostered a tight-knit community over the years, and it’s been a pleasure to evolve and expand alongside these remarkable organizations. With 2023 marking a milestone, we eagerly anticipate the boundless opportunities that 2024 and beyond hold for us all. Learn more about the Akeneo Partner Ecosystem and discover how to get involved in the partner community today. We’ll see you next year for the 2024 Awards!

Today, we’re raising our glass to the innovators, the leaders, and the product experience champions who are setting new standards and driving remarkable growth in their respective industries. Join us in celebrating the winners of the Unlock 2024 PXM Champions Awards!  The Unlock 2024 PXM Champions Awards is our way of recognizing the trailblazers who have harnessed the power of product experience strategies with Akeneo to thrive in the dynamic omnichannel environment.  This year, we honor winners across six distinguished categories, each representing a unique facet of product experience mastery. Though the selection process was anything but easy, each of our award winners proved they’re changing the game by tapping into the magic of product experiences powered by Akeneo.  Let’s dive in and explore what makes these winners, winners!  

The Expansion Award: Fossil

The Expansion Award recognizes those who are creating better experiences in their current channels, introducing impactful new channels, and connecting with new audiences, all to drive meaningful business results.  A powerhouse in the lifestyle accessories industry, Fossil is known for its diverse portfolio of fashion watches, jewelry, handbags, and small leather goods. With a presence in 140 countries and 30,000 points of distribution, including 400 company-owned retail locations, Fossil brings each brand’s story to life on a global scale. Fossil’s journey from relying on Excel spreadsheets to adopting Akeneo’s cloud-based PIM solution showcases their commitment to creating seamless product experiences across the globe. This strategic move has not only centralized their product data management but also scaled operations efficiently across 140 countries without the need to expand their team. Fossil’s success story is a testament to the power of embracing flexible, business-driven solutions to drive meaningful growth.  

The Accelerator Award: Drawer 

The Acceleration Award recognizes those who have significantly reduced the time-to-market of their products, decreased the number of steps, and cut back on manual work to accelerate growth.  Drawer, an online furniture seller operating in the French market, faced numerous challenges before implementing Akeneo PIM. They source products from various providers and sell through their website and 10 marketplaces. With a catalog of 4500 SKUs, Drawer sought a solution to efficiently manage their product data and drive business growth. The implementation of Akeneo PIM and Supplier Data Manager catalyzed their transition to an automated system, drastically cutting down product creation time and boosting efficiency. In their journey with Akeneo, Drawer transitioned from a manual, multi-actor process to a nearly automated system, empowering their team and boosting efficiency. They’ve surpassed their own records by creating 200 new references in just one month, demonstrating an unprecedented pace in product launches.  

The Global Award: Insight 

The Global Award recognizes those who are expanding their business outside of their HQ country, flourishing in new territories, and working with local teams to connect with new audiences.  Insight Enterprises, a publicly traded global technology company leverages its technical expertise, broad solutions portfolio, and supply chain capabilities to help businesses achieve ambitious goals as a systems integrator. With a focus on cloud and data center transformation, connected workforce, and digital innovation, Insight empowers organizations worldwide to navigate the complexities of the digital age and drive meaningful business outcomes. Before adopting Akeneo, Insight faced challenges related to a lack of control over data/content, limited business ability for enhancements and new functionality, and a heavy reliance on IT involvement. However, with Akeneo’s user-friendly interface and robust features, Insight has autonomously maintained and expanded a vast catalog of 1.4 million products, significantly reducing reliance on IT resources. The implementation has not only improved catalog content completeness but also propelled eCommerce revenue, marking a significant leap towards achieving their global ambitions. With Akeneo’s implementation in North America proving successful, Insight is now poised to extend its capabilities to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), targeting expansion across 11 new countries in the region.  

The Leadership Award: Peavey Industries

The Leadership Award recognizes those who are improving the lives of their teams through more efficient workflows, creating opportunities to be less operational and more strategic, and empowering their teams to grow.  The parent company of Peavey Mart and MainStreet Hardware, Peavey Industries has been proudly serving loyal customers across Canada since 1967. With a focus on essential products and services for the rural lifestyle, Peavey Mart has established itself as a trusted destination for quality goods and personalized customer service.  Facing the complexities of a vast product catalog and the need for a sustainable technology infrastructure, Peavey Mart found its solution in Akeneo’s PIM. Akeneo’s intuitive user interface, robust API, and seamless integration capabilities aligned perfectly with Peavey Mart’s vision to build a solid and sustainable technology infrastructure that can support optimal product experiences. The results? A 73% increase in productivity and enhanced strategic focus on product experiences, enhanced personalization options for consumers, and improved forecasting abilities. Peavey Industries’ journey underscores the importance of empowering teams with efficient workflows to drive growth and innovation. With a focus on driving innovation and delivering concrete business results, Peavey Mart remains committed to leveraging technology to enhance the retail experience for their customers.  

The Experience Award: Mobili Fiver

The Experience Award recognizes those who provide exceptional product experiences, creates content for the right audience at the right place, and is cutting edge in how they represent it to their consumers. Mobili Fiver, a dynamic eCommerce enterprise committed to delivering high-quality, self-manufactured furniture that resonates with modern lifestyles and refined tastes, exemplifies excellence in providing exceptional product experiences. With it’s product range spanning a diverse array of meticulously designed furniture, Mobili Fiver has established itself as a leader in the furniture industry. Mobili Fiver’s previous product information platform lacked the flexibility required for a comprehensive presentation of furniture products, hindering their ability to communicate the richness of their offerings to customers.  Manual and time-consuming processes hindered their agility in introducing new products to the market, responding to trends, and meeting customer demands in a timely manner. Since adopting Akeneo, Mobili Fiver has been able to address their previous challenges, allowing them to create, configure, and present furniture products with unprecedented ease and speed. The result has been a more informed and satisfied customer base, coupled with an agile and efficient internal workflow that positions Mobili Fiver for continued success in the furniture ecommerce landscape. Leveraging Akeneo’s PIM solution to overcome flexibility and agility challenges, Mobili Fiver is now able to showcase their craftsmanship and innovation through detailed product presentations.  

Ambassador: Assa Abloy

In addition to the five PXM Champion Awards above, Akeneo granted an Ambassador Honor for exceptional use of the Akeneo product and to recognize those who represent, advocate, and contribute to the product experience community. Renowned worldwide for their comprehensive range of access solutions, spanning door and entrance solutions, secure identification solutions, and hotel security, Assa Abloy boasts an extensive product portfolio, including locks, access control systems, and door closers that serve diverse industries, including residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Like many others, Assa Abloy’s struggled with scattered product data and knowledge bases, leading to inconsistent data across sales channels. With a goal to create a single source of truth for all their products, enhance product manager resources, foster collaboration among brands, and streamline product distribution across channels, Assa Abloy turned to Akeneo. With over 30 users across the business, Assa Abloy maximizes every aspect of Akeneo PIM to ensure operational success and empowers their product managers, marketing teams, and customer service teams to provide accurate and up-to-date product information to customers. They can now create datasheets within minutes, push new products live within 24 hours, and amend SKU information online within hours, significantly reducing turnaround times and enhancing customer satisfaction.  

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  Join us in applauding the achievements of these outstanding brands. Their stories not only celebrate success but also inspire innovation and excellence in the product experience domain. Congratulations to all the winners of the 2024 PXM Champions Awards, and we look forward to seeing everybody at the next PXM Champion Awards! Not sure where exactly you are on your path towards product experience excellence? Take our PXM Self Assessment to find out!

If you have been in or around Boston these past few days, you may have noticed a brilliant purple flame spreading through the city. And did it seem to be burning a bit brighter earlier this morning? That might be because the Akeneo team released the details included in our Spring Release just a few hours ago live at Unlock, the premiere Product Experience (PX) conference happening right in the heart of – you guessed it – Boston. Our Spring Release is packed with exciting, innovative features designed to enable your company to showcase your products better, faster and across all platforms.  While we can’t cover every new addition in detail here, we’re excited to share some of the highlights and how these advancements can elevate your product experience (PX).  

Showcase your Products Better

Automate supplier data onboarding in Akeneo Supplier Data Manager

Now equipped with native AI capabilities, Supplier Data Manager automates the mapping, normalization, categorization, and enrichment of supplier data, enabling your team to maintain smoother supplier relations and transform the data onboarding process. In particular, this updated version of Supplier Data Manager can support:

• Automated efficiency: Eliminate manual tasks, reduce errors and discrepancies, and ensure consistency across all your experience offerings.
• Faster time-to-market: Speed the process of getting products in front of customers, and in new markets or channels.
• Increased data quality: Improve the accuracy and completeness of your product data for better product experiences and build trust with your customers.

 

Showcase Your Products Faster

Generate and translate product content across 50 languages in minutes

Supplier Data Manager wasn’t the only Akeneo solution that received the AI treatment – Akeneo PIM is now equipped with native AI capabilities! Customers will now be able to leverage customizable generative AI to create bulk product descriptions and romance copy across the entire product catalog in minutes, and translate those descriptions into more than 50 languages.  Not only does this feature enhance productivity, accuracy, and scalability in content creation and translation, but it also enables businesses to quickly adapt content to meet regional market expectations without the need for additional tools or expertise.

Business Analytics in Akeneo PIM

Business Analytics within Akeneo PIM offer operational market metrics and KPIs that track how products or product ranges perform on different markets and sales channels.  Included in the Spring Release is a whole slew of updates to our business analytics functionality that will ultimately provide your organization with the foundation to build a PX Strategy based on content impact. These enhanced business analytics enable:

• Increased visibility into the product content impact on business
• Teams to work smarter by providing the right data to make informed decisions
• Faster, more nibble reactions to market trends
• Data-driven support for prioritizing a PX Strategy within your organization

Showcase Your Products Anywhere

New Channels Added to Akeneo Activation

Last year, during Unlock 2023, we announced a new solution as part of the Akeneo Product Cloud: Activation for Retail, which brought our best-in-class product experience technology to product listing pages on retailers like Amazon, Macy’s, Zappos, Nordstrom, and more. This year, we’re back at it again, welcoming Wayfair and Grainger (among others) to our 250+ activation channels. Brands and manufacturers will now have the ability to deliver consistent product experiences on these new channels while easily customizing product information to align with shopper expectations and channel requirements

Customizable Akeneo PIM App for Salesforce

One of the most highly-anticipated parts of this release – a shiny new Akeneo PIM App for Salesforce Appexchange!  This customizable app brings high-quality product information and assets into Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Experience Cloud, driving greater efficiency, higher sales volumes, and better customer service by giving customer-facing teams instant access to product information that drives more meaningful engagement with the people who are buying and using their products and powering digital commerce.  Deployed together, the Akeneo PIM connects people to products in the Salesforce system where they work, every day. Resulting in:

• Higher sales on B2B and D2C Commerce sites with accurate, up-to-date, and localized product information.
• Sales reps that sell more products, more efficiently, by accessing product descriptions and assets while building quotes and working in Salesforce CRM.
• Customer service reps that deliver better support by leveraging accurate, complete, and up-to-date product information when resolving cases in Salesforce Service Cloud.

Showcase Your Products Better, Faster, & Anywhere with Spring Release

All of the exciting features included in Akeneo’s Spring Release are a testament to our commitment to bringing innovation and excellence to product experiences. By automating data onboarding, enhancing content generation with AI, and integrating seamlessly with sales and service platforms like Salesforce, we’re setting a new standard for product information management and product experiences.  These features not only streamline internal processes but also ensure that businesses can showcase their products better, faster, and anywhere, ultimately leading to a better customer experience. We’ve had a wonderful time celebrating and spreading that purple fire with our PX community of customers, partners, and PX experts at Unlock Boston, and we look forward to seeing what we can create and build together in the future! Couldn’t make it to Unlock Boston? The premiere PX event may be coming to a city near you! Register for Unlock on Tour now, making stops at Cologne, London, and Paris.