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How a Product Experience Strategy Drives Cost Efficiencies

Posted on by Virginie Blot
Product Experience

How a Product Experience Strategy Drives Cost Efficiencies

Discover the challenges of delivering consistent product experiences across diverse touchpoints and reveal how a well-crafted PX Strategy not only minimizes costs but also enhances agility, sustainability, and competitiveness. Explore the benefits of unified processes, smarter technology deployment, and improved employee satisfaction, and embark on a journey toward cost-efficiency and enhanced customer engagement.

Bringing a product record to life consistently across every customer touchpoint you sell on can be a complex, expensive, and time consuming endeavor. It requires integrating multiple IT systems, streamlining product enrichment processes, and a lot of cooperation between cross-functional teams.  Further compounding these challenges is the constant shift in consumer demand for things like personalization, sustainability information, and shopping experiences on the latest digital channels.  The most effective way to address the complexity of delivering product experiences is by developing a comprehensive Product Experience (PX) Strategy that considers the entire scope of the problem.  Unfortunately, many organizations don’t have a strategy and find themselves working in silos to manage each component of the product experience process independently. This decoupled approach leads to a lot of expensive “duct-tape” solutions that can include developing cumbersome homegrown solutions, relying on external resources for content generation, maintaining multiple sources of truth, or dedicating entire teams of employees to mind numbing revision and validation work. This disjointed solutioning adds a significant amount of cost to an organization that can sometimes be difficult to identify and even harder to eliminate.  Identifying and reducing costs is a critical part of any Product Experience Strategy. Below we’ve broken down the different costs that a Product Experience Strategy can help reduce and the key performance indicators (KPIs) you can use to track them.  Each business and industry is unique, so what works for one organization might not be relevant for another. Identify the costs that apply to your business and incorporate them into your own strategy, before considering how a PX Strategy can help drive profitable sales.  Content creation and maintenance costs: Reduce the cost in time and resources of developing, onboarding, and enriching news products through use of technologies like PLM, PIM, DAM, and AI. A centralized single source of truth with clear workflows and automation capabilities eliminates repetitive low value tasks and duplicative efforts and error fixing. AI and Supplier onboarding solutions are also important tools for reducing product costs.  
PX Strategy Reduces Cost of Content Management
Reduce technology deployment costs: Many organizations manage product experiences by developing homegrown systems, repurposing other software solutions to manage product data (e.g. ERP, MDM, eCommerce), or run duplicate solutions across brands or regions within the same company.  Investments in technology solutions for PIM, PLM, Syndication, DAM, AI, and Analytics allow you to create a single source of truth where you can build, manage, deliver, distribute, and track the performance of your product catalog in an efficient and scalable way. This means it’s cheaper to scale your catalog, onboard new users, add new channels, manage infrastructure costs, and integrate with other systems. Best-of-breed solutions follow MACH infrastructure principals (Microservices, API-first,Cloud-native, Headless) which provides the flexibility to be at the cutting edge of innovation. 
PX Strategy Reduces Cost of Technology Deployment
Customer Support: Enhancing product experiences means providing accurate and detailed product information that aligns with customer expectations and reduces product returns. It also reduces inquiries about product specifications and functionality. These two factors combined can lead to significant decrease in customer support calls and costs.  Supply Chain Forecasting: A Product Experience Strategy helps facilitate accurate supply chain predictions by centralizing and standardizing important product data that can be incorporated into planning and forecasting. Accurate forecasting can reduce a number of costs including spoilage, overstock or understock situations, carrying costs, and even labor costs.    Employee Experience and Productivity: A Product Experience Strategy typically means redeploying employees from low value to high value tasks and an improvement in employee satisfaction and retention. A 2022 Total Economic Impact (TEI) report done by Forrester on Akeneo PIM even found an employee retention benefit of $53.7k over 3 years. In conclusion, a robust PX Strategy is crucial for driving cost efficiencies in today’s dynamic market. By unifying processes, systems, and teams, this approach addresses costs related to content creation, technology deployment, customer support, supply chain forecasting, and even employee experience. Beyond cost reduction, it ensures agile operations, sustainable growth, and competitive advantage amid evolving consumer demands. 

PX Self-Assessment

Discover where you are on the path to Product Experience excellence and learn how our customer platform can help you succeed in your omnichannel strategy.

Adam Beatty, Community Evangelist

Akeneo

Introducing Supplier Data Manager

Posted on by Virginie Blot
Akeneo News

Introducing Supplier Data Manager

Discover the features of Akeneo’s recently announced Supplier Data Manager, a simple and scalable portal that streamlines the collection, management, and enrichment of supplier-provided information and assets, ensuring efficiency and accuracy across the entire supply chain.

For retailers and distributors, one of the most formidable challenges faced is the need to gather vast amounts of data and assets from a number of different suppliers. It’s a complex puzzle of data points, visual media, and spreadsheets, exacerbated by the fact that each supplier has its own unique way of organizing and communicating data.

That’s why we here at Akeneo recently launched Supplier Data Manager: a simple, scalable, and collaborative way to collect product data from all your suppliers. Akeneo’s Supplier Data Manager streamlines the collection, management, and enrichment of supplier-provided information and assets, ensuring efficiency and accuracy in this critical process.

If you want to learn more about the announcement, you can read the formal press release here, or continue on to learn more about why we built Supplier Data Manager, what it does, and how you can learn more.

 

Supplier Data: The Problem

Retailers and distributors need to collect information and assets on thousands of products from hundreds of suppliers. That’s an operational and logistical challenge because:

    1. Those suppliers all organize their data in their own way.
    2. Retailers and distributors have varying degrees of influence over their suppliers.

 

The Supplier Data Onboarding Challenge

 

The Impact

Without an efficient way to collect supplier-provided product data, companies often experience the following pain points:

Slow time-to-market – New product launches and updates to existing product content are delayed because the process of collecting information and assets is inefficient.  

  • What’s the impact? Missed revenue.

Low quality data & lack of governance – Without proper guardrails in place, retailers may be stuck dealing with massive spreadsheets full of low quality, unstructured data.  

  • What’s the impact? Manual effort and a poor customer experience with missing or incomplete data.

Inefficient communication – Retailers and suppliers often struggle to communicate effectively to share requirements and/or request additional information. 

  • What’s the impact? Poor supplier experience.

 

The Workarounds

Without a solution like Supplier Data Manager, retailers are most likely to rely on inefficient workarounds including:

  • Manual effort: Teams of individuals are subjected to the arduous task of manually reviewing and keying in product content from spreadsheets, and spend thousands of hours emailing and calling suppliers to complete missing attributes. This leads to a lack of visibility or traceability on both sides. 
  • Home-grown solutions: Some larger organizations attempt to build their own bespoke solutions to collect data from suppliers. Not only is this an expensive and time-consuming investment, but these home-grown solutions often fall short of delivering desired results for both suppliers and retailers.

 

The Solution: Akeneo Supplier Data Manager

Akeneo Supplier Data Manager provides an easy-to-use portal that enables retailers and distributors to collect, manage, and enrich supplier-provided product information and assets.

Akeneo Supplier Data Manager is available as an add-on module within Akeneo PIM, and helps simplify supplier data onboarding, driving measurable benefits and efficient communication.

Supplier Data Manager

Key Capabilities

Supplier Data Manager makes it easy for you to configure your suppliers, have them upload product files or fill out a template, and map the data to Akeneo PIM for easy import.

Manage your suppliers at scale

Easily add suppliers directly within the PIM UI, either manually or via bulk import. Empower designated contributors with secure, dedicated portal access via email invitations.

Collect the latest product data from suppliers

Enable your suppliers to easily upload their most up-to-date product data spreadsheets using a simple drag-and-drop user interface.

Enrich products with assets

Suppliers can share media files to enrich the product information already collected. Retailers can convert media into assets and link them to PIM products with a single click.

Request specific content via templates

Provide suppliers with templates to ensure you receive precisely the data you need. Avoid back and forth with suppliers by leveraging guidelines and mandatory attributes from the start, reducing excess back-and-forth communication.

Comment directly in the portal

Collaborate more efficiently with suppliers directly in the portal by giving them visibility into file history and status updates, and leaving them comments about specific products, attributes, or images. 

Import supplier data into the PIM

After collecting product data and collaborating with suppliers to get what you need, it’s simple to map everything to your PIM data structure, leverage basic rules to clean and normalize the data, and import everything with just the click of a button.

 

The Benefits

A simple, scalable, and collaborative way to collect product data from all your suppliers drives measurable benefits such as:

  • Improved collaboration with suppliers: Retailers can centrally manage all supplier interactions and build stronger relationships with improved visibility and effortless communication directly in the portal.
  • Accurate and complete product content: Retailers can efficiently collect the most up-to-date content from suppliers and request specific information via templates.
  • Faster time-to market: With supplier-provided data readily available in Akeneo PIM, retailers can expedite product launches and updates.

 

Want to see it in action?

Are you ready to witness Supplier Data Manager in action?  If you’re a current Akeneo customer, Join us for Supplier Data Manager in Action or reach out to your Customer Success Manager to learn more.  If you’re not yet an Akeneo customer, you can request a demo and an Akeneo expert will walk you through the solution.

Supplier Data Manager

Reach out to an Akeneo expert today to see how we can help you improve your supplier relations and streamline your product information processes to provide stellar customer experiences.

Tom Bennett, Senior Product Marketing Manager

Akeneo

Seamless Product Experiences: The Integration of AI

Posted on by Virginie Blot
Artificial Intelligence

Seamless Product Experiences: The Integration of AI

Explore the transformative power of AI in creating seamless, consistent product experiences across all channels in this guest post by Unifai CEO and founder, Jesse Creange. Discover how AI is reshaping marketing excellence and team efficiency in today’s retail landscape.

In today’s ever-evolving digital landscape, the quest to create seamless product experiences has become an undeniable imperative. As consumers traverse a multitude of channels, demanding consistency and excellence, businesses find themselves at a crossroads. While online channels have grown in popularity, physical stores still drive the majority of sales. Even when buyers don’t make their purchases in brick-and-mortar stores, they expect in-person salespeople to be knowledgeable about online offerings. Print, despite the digital advancements, remains relevant, as do the vital roles of social media in all fields. Support channels play a central role, and there’s nothing more frustrating for a customer than dealing with a support agent who is not up to date on product information. In summary, the era of selling products with just a barcode, a price, and an image is over; consumers are demanding more. In this article, we will explore the inevitable importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the world of creating compelling product experiences for consumers across all channels. We will demonstrate how AI is becoming an indispensable player in fulfilling the requirements for PX consistency, team efficiency, and overall marketing excellence in this complex and ever-changing landscape.  

I. The Challenges of Omnichannel

Businesses are increasingly turning to omnichannel strategies to reach their customers. However, behind this seemingly promising strategy lies numerous challenges. According to recent research, a striking statistic has emerged: 87% of customers will no longer make a purchase at a store where they encounter inaccurate information.  Let’s delve into the world of omnichannel challenges that many businesses seeking a successful customer experience face.

1. Customer Consistency

One of the first challenges of an omnichannel strategy is creating a consistent customer experience across all of these distinct channels. In today’s interconnected world, consumers have come to expect a seamless and unified experience when engaging with a company, irrespective of the channel through which they choose to interact. Whether it’s browsing a website, using a mobile app, engaging on social media platforms, or visiting a brick-and-mortar store, customers desire a harmonious journey. Here are five crucial facets that underscore the importance of customer consistency in an omnichannel environment:
  • Unified Brand Image: Maintaining a cohesive and consistent brand identity across all channels is crucial for building trust and confidence among customers.
  • Personalization without Disruption: Effective personalization should enhance the customer experience without feeling intrusive or disruptive. Striking the right balance is essential.
  • Inventory and Stock Availability: Real-time inventory management is necessary to meet customer expectations of product availability, whether shopping online or in-store.
  • Omnichannel Customer Support: Seamless customer support that bridges digital and physical channels is vital. AI-powered solutions can help deliver a consistent support experience.
  • Streamlined Checkout and Payment: A smooth, secure, and consistent checkout and payment process is essential for customer satisfaction, regardless of the channel they choose.

2. Tailoring Descriptions for Each Channel

One of the other core elements that demand special attention is the art of tailoring product descriptions to fit the unique characteristics and nuances of each channel. As indicated by a recent study, “88% of respondents said that accurate, complete, and relevant product data is very important to create the best product experience.” PXM Is The Key To Delivering Best-In-Class CX, Forrester Report With the emergence of various channels, customers seek consistency across the entire experience offered by the seller. Consistency in the product experience isn’t limited to your main website or flagship store; customers expect it everywhere. It’s not about creating a one-size-fits-all product description for every channel; rather, it’s about crafting the perfect description tailored to the unique characteristics of each channel. The practice of customizing descriptions for each channel underscores the understanding that every aspect of your omnichannel strategy possesses distinct nuances and requirements. Adapting product descriptions to suit these variations not only elevates the customer experience but also enhances the likelihood of resonating with your audience, fostering engagement, and ultimately driving sales. 

3. International Presence

When a company aspires to expand internationally while offering a consistent product experience, it faces a significant challenge. This challenge primarily manifests through the necessity to adapt its approach to each market while overcoming obstacles related to cultural differences, languages, and purchasing habits. Language Barrier and Standardization of Product Information One of the initial challenges is linguistic diversity. Each country has its own language, which means that product information must be accurately translated to reach the target audience. However, translation isn’t limited to mere word conversion; it must also consider cultural differences, units of measurement, wordplay, and local expressions to avoid misunderstandings and ensure the message is well understood. Adapting the Product Experience to Each Market Each international market has its unique characteristics concerning buying habits, preferences, and consumer behavior. For example, what works in a Western market may not be effective in Asia. It’s essential to adapt the product experience to each market to meet local needs and expectations. The question remains, what tools and methods are required to succeed in addressing the omnichannel challenges while maintaining a respected customer experience?  

II. Technology Follows the Trend in the Shadows

As businesses embrace the omnichannel approach, their technology infrastructure has undergone a rapid and substantial transformation. A multitude of software solutions, each catering to specific facets of the omnichannel experience, has been integrated into the ecosystem. These include Product Information Management (PIM) systems, eCommerce platforms, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, search engines, support platforms, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems, and the marketplaces they operate, to name just a few. The consequence of this tech proliferation is that the number of Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions consuming data for brands and retailers has surged exponentially, sometimes multiplying by factors as high as 14.  The work involved in managing this extensive tech stack often becomes a daunting challenge. Traditional individual systems, designed to centralize product information, sometimes struggle to cope with the sheer complexity imposed by the multitude of operations required.  As an example, let’s consider just one aspect: Product attribute enrichment. Within the “collect” phase, which is just a fraction of the overall process, you might have to deal with 5,000 SKUs per month, each with 100 attributes per family across 78 different families. The result is a staggering 39 million possible operations, illustrating the immense intricacies involved in managing product data.
Product attribute enrichment example
  In this environment, the efficiency and effectiveness of your technology stack become paramount. Navigating this tech landscape requires a strategic approach that balances specialization with integration, streamlining workflows, and harnessing the power of AI and automation to manage the complexity efficiently. In the pursuit of seamless product experiences, technology becomes not just a supporting actor but a central player in shaping the omnichannel narrative.  

III. Where Does AI Come In to Achieve PX Maturity?

Artificial intelligence, when rigorously trained and closely monitored, can transform into well-trained experts specializing in managing and enhancing product data. These AI systems, whether based on advanced language models like LLM (Large Language Models) or other AI technologies, become instrumental in ensuring consistency across channels, software platforms, languages, and more. Here’s how AI emerges as a game-changer in enhancing the product experience:

1. Collecting and Cleaning Product Data

One of the ongoing challenges faced by companies is the collection, categorization, cleansing, and completion of basic product data. Without clean and accurate data as the foundation, it becomes nearly impossible to execute a robust product experience strategy. This process is often time-consuming and prone to errors when handled manually. AI applications, driven by deep learning algorithms, step in to automate and streamline this crucial phase. These AI systems can efficiently collect data from various sources, categorize products accurately, clean and normalize the data, and ensure that it meets the required standards. This not only saves time and reduces errors but also allows businesses to maintain a consistent and up-to-date product database. The role of clean data as the bedrock of a successful product experience strategy cannot be overstated, and AI plays a pivotal role in achieving this fundamental prerequisite.

2. Enriching Product Information

Companies that use a modern PIM to centralize comprehensive, accurate, and properly categorized product data are well-positioned to leverage Gen-AI applications to help them generate compelling and channel-tailored product descriptions. These AI systems can generate compelling and well-formatted product descriptions based on the available data. They can also be fine-tuned to be SEO-driven, ensuring that product descriptions are not only appealing to customers but also optimized for search engines. This dual benefit enables businesses to not only capture the attention of their target audience but also enhance their online visibility and discoverability, further boosting the effectiveness of their product experience strategy.

3. Translating Product Content

Once companies have cleaned and enriched product data in their PIM, they can leverage AI-driven translation tools to efficiently translate and adapt their content for different markets and languages. This not only accelerates the localization process but also ensures that product information remains consistent and culturally relevant across regions.  
  In conclusion, AI emerges as a driving force in achieving PX maturity by automating and optimizing critical aspects of managing product data. From data collection and cleansing to content generation and translation, AI technologies empower businesses to deliver a consistent, engaging, and localized product experience across diverse channels and markets. Embracing AI in these areas not only enhances efficiency but also contributes to the overall success and growth of an omnichannel strategy. This article was written as a guest blog for Akeneo by Unifai CEO, Jesse Creange.

Akeneo Acquires Unifai!

Jesse Creange, CEO & Founder

Unifai

What Makes a Good Product Experience?

Posted on by Virginie Blot
Product Experience

What Makes a Good Product Experience?

Because digital channels rob folks of the ability to feel and see the product in person, it’s almost more important to ensure compelling and strong product experiences online than in-store. Discover the factors that make up a good product experience, and how you can provide your customers with all the information they need to make a confident purchase without stepping foot in a store.

Brands have a blind spot when it comes to customer experience. Nothing demonstrates this better than an Apple Store.

Have you ever walked into an Apple Store? If you’re being honest with yourself, it surpasses all other retail experiences. Everything is organized and immaculate. Every detail of the consumer’s interaction is meticulously designed to engage you and subtly convey the value of Apple and the products they sell. There’s no cluttered mess of inventory crammed into every nook and cranny. 

Apple understands the importance of allowing customers to become fully immersed in what they sell. Products are displayed invitingly with ample space, and potential buyers are given everything they could want. They can touch products, operate them, and understand every feature and technical specification they can think of. 

If a customer shows the slightest look of confusion or doubt, they are promptly pounced upon by one of the many Apple specialists waiting patiently to offer assistance. The result of this investment in experience speaks for itself; Apple has the highest retail sales per square foot of any brand worldwide.

Apple Store

If you talk to corporate marketers about the in-store Apple experience, they’ll roll their eyes at you. It’s been analyzed every which way by MBA programs everywhere and is considered old news. There are no new or profound insights to be found. Give customers a good experience, especially around your products, and they’ll buy more. Isn’t it obvious? 

But for some reason, this acknowledgment of the importance of product experience hasn’t fully translated to digital channels. Scrutinize almost any brand’s product pages, and you’ll quickly find errors. These problems could include missing images, sparse filtering options, indifference to regulatory compliance, or my pet peeve, uninspired short-form product descriptions that have bubbled up from the depths of an ERP system. 

 

This online shopping experience is the antithesis of the Apple store experience; this is the blind spot. 

 

Many brands don’t appreciate that good product experiences are critical wherever you sell. This oversight can be costly, with over 63% of consumers saying they would abandon a brand they trusted following a negative product experience. 

Brands selling on digital channels need to realize that the consumers who have been so thoroughly convinced by Apple’s in-store experiences over the last 10 years are the same consumers they’re trying to win over every day online. Before investing in the latest and greatest technology, SEO optimization, new sales channels, or more extensive catalogs, brands need to take a step back and think about the product experiences they provide their customers. These experiences need to be the foundation of their digital commerce strategy.

In fact, these organizations should have their own Product Experience (PX) Strategy, one that considers every interaction a customer, partner, or employee has with a product. 

So, how can brands ensure they’re providing a good product experience? By implementing a PX Strategy that ensures their product experience offering across all channels is:

 

1. Accurate

Product experiences must properly convey the correct information to customers. This means being free of formatting errors, inaccurate information, missing or incomplete information, and even translation errors. Every brand needs clearly defined data governance for its product data. If you fail to provide accurate information, every other component of your product experience will be compromised. 

 

2. Comprehensive 

How many times have you scanned a product listing looking for one specific piece of information, like the maximum resolution of a monitor or the washing instructions of a new blouse, only to realize it isn’t there? If a critical piece of information you need to make a purchase doesn’t exist, you’ll probably buy elsewhere. The more information you can provide your customers, the more likely they are to actually buy a product from you. Take things to the next level by also telling buyers how they can use your product, preferably in conjunction with another product or service you sell. 

 

 3. Discoverable

Products need to be easy to find for customers. The products you sell must be easy to discover in search engines, 3rd party marketplaces or retailers, and your own digital solutions. The two previous steps play a critical role in helping to support search; even the most sophisticated SEO solution is hampered without correct and comprehensive product information. Discoverability is also supported by things like facets on a website, metadata, and compatibility with other products and services you sell. 

 

4. Consistent 

Consumers today bounce between mobile apps, marketplaces, social media, and even traditional print and in-store buying experiences. Your product experiences need to be consistent and high-quality across every interaction you have with a customer. Just because your customers tend to buy on your eCommerce site doesn’t mean they aren’t engaging with your products elsewhere. With over 70% of consumers saying they research multiple touchpoints to gather more information to make a purchase decision, brands today can’t afford to have a single weak link in their omnichannel product experiences. 

It’s also essential to adapt your content consistently to every region and language you sell to. This doesn’t just mean translation; it also means considering cultural and regulatory expectations such as Natasha’s Law in the UK, which requires allergen information be place prominently on pre-packaged food, or Digital Product Passports that are set to be a requirement for certain businesses that sell in the EU by 2026. 

 

 5. Personalized

Personalization is a hot topic in commerce. Consumers increasingly expect a personalized shopping experience. This includes product recommendations based on website interactions, purchase history, loyalty clubs, gamification, or product compatibility. This could also include analyzing the purchase or browsing behavior of similar customers and recommending products or services that were also purchased by those customers.

 

6. Compelling 

A product experience is about more than just product information. It’s an opportunity to help sell a product, convey brand values, and build customer loyalty. (Hint: If your ERP system is the source of truth for your product descriptions, you’re failing at this step.) Compelling product experiences are created by providing rich visual assets and marketing copy, telling brand stories, and meeting customers’ expectations around regulations and sustainability standards. User-generated content is also compelling for buyers. 

It may be impossible to replicate the Apple in-store experience online. Even the most innovative AR technologies or creative UX designers can’t replace the sensory experience of a physical retail location. But this doesn’t mean product experiences are less important in the digital world. 

Consumers browsing your websites still visualize themselves holding a product, consider how a product makes them look, or strategize about how a product can solve a problem they have. 

People always want to engage with the products they’re about to buy, even if it’s behind a keyboard. Don’t be blind to this crucial component of customer experience, and build a good product experience that has its foundation in accurate, up-to-date product information.

Akeneo Product Cloud

Start building your PX Strategy today to deliver world-class customer experiences with Akeneo.

Adam Beatty, Community Evangelist

Akeneo

Beyond Borders: How AI Enhances Content Translation and Localization

Posted on by Virginie Blot
Artificial Intelligence

Beyond Borders: How AI Enhances Content Translation and Localization

Don’t get lost in translation as you expand into new markets and geographies. Discover how your organization can harness AI technology to power localized and translated content that resonates at a personal level with a global audience.

In a world where communication knows no borders, reaching audiences around the globe has become the dream of every business, big or small. But here’s the twist: to truly connect with these diverse markets, you need to speak their language—literally! 

Harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become the ultimate key to unlocking global success. Whether you’re a multinational corporation or a budding startup, the ability to seamlessly translate and localize your content for diverse audiences can make all the difference.

But harnessing this ground-breaking technology is not as easy as some AI enthusiasts would have you believe. So let’s dive into five practical use cases of utilizing AI technology as a trusty sidekick to reaching new markets and making the world a smaller place, one language at a time.

 

5 Use Cases for AI-Driven Translation & Localization

1. Translating Product Descriptions

Imagine you’re a fashion retailer based in New York, and you want to expand your reach to Paris, Tokyo, and São Paulo. The advent of the Internet means that it’s much easier to access these international markets than ever before, but access doesn’t always equate to genuine connection. The language barrier is a significant hurdle that many brands and retailers face, and historically, translation agencies or services have not been cheap, with many charging fees per word count or charging extra for complex translations or edits. 

AI-powered language translation tools can open the floodgates of communication by providing accurate, SEO-friendly translations of your product descriptions, titles, search filters, and back-end keywords into any number of languages almost instantaneously. While these tools still require a decent amount of human oversight to ensure that grammar is correct and certain phrases are translated correctly (a witty product description in English won’t directly translate to something as witty in French or Japanese), these tools can provide a foundation of translated and localized content to work from that ensures a consistency and accuracy that enhances the shopping experience for global customers.

 

2. Converting Sizing or Units of Measurement

Global retailers face the challenge of different sizing standards and units of measurement in various regions. This inconsistency can create confusion and inconvenience for customers when they are trying to understand the specifications of a product; if you can’t understand the scale of the measurement that’s being provided to you, you aren’t going to be inclined to purchase. 

Whether it’s inches to centimeters or pounds to kilograms, AI steps in to simplify this complexity by seamlessly converting measurements. Shoppers in different parts of the world don’t need to perform manual conversions or struggle to understand unfamiliar units of measurement. They can easily comprehend the product’s size and weight in their preferred measurement system, making the shopping experience more straightforward and user-friendly. 

 

3. Connecting with Global Audiences on Social Media

Social media platforms have become central to modern marketing strategies. They provide a direct and interactive channel for brands to engage with their audience, gather feedback, and build brand loyalty. However, effective engagement on social media requires understanding how your brand and products are perceived by users in different markets.

AI-driven sentiment analysis is a sophisticated tool that enables brands to decipher the emotions, opinions, and attitudes expressed by social media users regarding their products or services. This analysis goes beyond simple metrics like likes and shares; it delves into the sentiments behind comments, reviews, and mentions. Armed with sentiment analysis data, retailers can craft messaging and campaigns that align with the cultural nuances, preferences, and values of specific regions. By tailoring content in this manner, brands can demonstrate a genuine understanding and respect for local audiences, which fosters a stronger connection.

 

4. Providing Multilingual, 24/7 Customer Support or Service

As businesses expand their operations globally, providing efficient and effective customer support becomes increasingly complex. Customers may be spread across different time zones and regions, each with its own language and cultural nuances. One of the most popular applications of AI today are customer support chatbots, and for a good reason; AI-powered chatbots have a general satisfaction rate of 90%, and can reduce customer operation costs by as much as 30%.

Equipped with natural language processing (NLP) capabilities, these bots are able to provide round-the-clock, multilingual assistance for common technical issues or simple troubleshooting requests, freeing up human customer support reps to focus on complex customer questions.

 

5. Complying with Local Regulations

Navigating local regulations is a crucial aspect of global retail operations; AI technology can be equipped to ensure that brands stay compliant with regional laws and standards. Whether it’s adhering to regulations like Natasha’s Law in the UK, which mandates detailed allergen information on food products, or data privacy laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), AI helps brands navigate complex regulatory landscapes efficiently.

AI technology can ingest vast amounts of data at speed, meaning that it can continuously monitor changes and updates in local regulations across different regions, reducing the risk of non-compliance due to outdated information. This technology can also perform automated audits of product labels, data handling procedures, and other compliance-related aspects to identify discrepancies or areas where adjustments are needed, reducing the need for manual, time-consuming audits.

 

AI In Retail: Opening Global Doors

As the retail industry continues to evolve, embracing AI-driven content translation and localization is not just an option; it’s a necessity for global brands and retailers looking to thrive in today’s diverse and interconnected world. Though it’s no magic wand, AI technology can help enhance internal customer support and product data processes to ensure all your content is translated, localized, and optimized for any market.

Interested in harnessing AI technology to improve your global presence? Reach out to an Akeneo expert today to learn more, or check out our comprehensive AI Center of Excellence for more resources.

Akeneo Product Cloud

Harness AI technology today to streamline translation and localization processes, offering better product experiences.

Casey Paxton, Content Marketing Manager

Akeneo

We’re Thrilled to Announce: 4 Years as a G2 Leader in PIM!

Posted on by Virginie Blot
Akeneo News

We’re Thrilled to Announce: 4 Years as a G2 Leader in PIM!

As the leading PIM platform for four years running, the Akeneo team is dedicated to building product experiences that drive growth and scalability. We’re honored to be validated by our customers’ trust and the evolving market’s demand for innovative, intelligent solutions.

We’ve done it again! Akeneo has been named a leader in Product Information Management (PIM) by G2 for the fourth consecutive year, reaffirming our commitment to excellence in delivering top-notch PIM solutions.
PIM G2 Crowd Leader Badge
What sets us apart? As the leading PIM platform for four years running, we’re dedicated to building product experiences that drive growth and scalability. We’re honored to be validated by our customers’ trust and the evolving market’s demand for innovative, intelligent  solutions. G2, one of the largest software marketplaces, represents the voice of real software users. Our rankings are a testament to our close partnership with our customers and our focus on enabling omnichannel customer experiences through amazing product experiences. We’re deeply thankful to our customers for their support, and we’d like to express our gratitude to the entire Akeneo team for their dedication to delivering exceptional outcomes. Here’s what some of our customers have to say: “We have been able to bring all the required product data into one centralized place, originating these in Akeneo PIM, and this then communicates with  our ERP. This significantly speeds up the effort it takes to list a product and get it through the various enrichment phases.” “Akeneo has driven improved data governance which benefits us with consistency in values and improves the quality of filters on our websites, making for a better customer experience. It also helped us create more efficient processes for loading new and updated product data. This saves hours and lets us reinvest that time in enhancing the data. Akeneo has also helped us reduce time to train new team members by making processes easier and more efficient.” Thank you, customers, for making us a leader once again. We’re excited to continue our journey as leaders in the PIM industry, and we look forward to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in product experience management.  Thanks for being a part of this incredible journey with us! If you’re a customer and you haven’t yet let us know how you feel, you can leave a review today.Not a customer yet? Schedule your custom Akeneo demo today.

Samira McDonald, Senior Manager, Community Program

Akeneo

Accelerating AI Innovation: Q&A with Unifai CEO, Jesse Creange

Posted on by Virginie Blot
Akeneo News

Accelerating AI Innovation: Q&A with Unifai CEO, Jesse Creange

Learn more about Akeneo’s acquisition of Unifai in this interview with Unifai CEO to discover how our shared vision and commitment pushes technological boundaries, contributing to the evolution of AI and enhancing customer experiences.

In a groundbreaking move that promises to reshape the AI landscape, Unifai, an AI company with a track record of innovation, has joined forces with Akeneo. We had the privilege of sitting down with Unifai CEO Jesse Creange to delve into the driving factors, strategic vision, and exciting future prospects behind this monumental acquisition. Let’s explore how this partnership is set to accelerate AI innovation and revolutionize the retail industry.  
  Question: Congratulations on the recent acquisition! Can you share with us the driving factors and strategic vision behind this decision to merge your AI company with Akeneo? How do you see our two organizations collaborating? Answer: From the very beginning, Akeneo caught our attention due to its unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology. They share our passion for AI-driven innovation and understand the potential it holds for reshaping industries, transforming customer and product experiences, and accelerating progress. This alignment of vision and company culture made the decision to join forces a natural evolution.   Question: The integration of AI technologies into various industries is rapidly reshaping business landscapes. How do you see the acquisition accelerating the advancement and application of AI solutions, not only within your industry but across the broader market? Answer: Fueling Innovation Together. What excites me the most about this acquisition is the synergistic power we bring to the table. As we combine our AI expertise with Akeneo’s vast resources and market reach, we create a dynamic force that can drive innovation at an accelerated pace. This means that our existing solutions will evolve, new horizons will open, and we’ll have even more opportunities to make a positive impact on businesses and society.   Question: In the context of the acquisition, how do you envision the evolution of your company’s products/offerings? Are there specific AI-driven innovations or enhancements that you’re excited to bring to your existing customers and new markets? Answer: This is where the magic truly begins — embedding our solutions. We will be continuing this pragmatic approach to infusing AI into Akeneo’s Product Cloud offering. The first use case that we have the most joint customer success with is in helping retailers/distributors/wholesalers to onboard their supplier’s data into their PIM. It’s a really difficult task and our AI automates and streamlines that process of data collection, cleansing and enrichment. Therefore the natural first step will be to even more tightly embed our technology with Akeneo’s offering for supplier data onboarding. Keep an eye out in the Spring Release for more information on that.  After that, from a product perspective, we will be prioritizing the many different areas that we can infuse AI into the product experience management process. We are looking at all the different steps — from data onboarding, to data enrichment and content creation, to data syndication, to performance analytics, to just generally improving the overall product experience.There’s no shortage of ideas and we will be taking the same pragmatic approach to identifying the largest, most difficult pain and resolving it with a useful, friendly accelerator to resolve that pain.   Question: Customers often look for seamless transitions and continued value during acquisitions. How will your company ensure that existing customers experience minimal disruption, and what plans are in place to enhance the overall customer experience as a result of this acquisition? Answer: We’re a customer-centric company; our commitment to our customers remains steadfast. We understand that our journey is intimately tied to the success of our clients. Rest assured, the transition will be seamless, and our focus on delivering value and exceptional service will only intensify. Our goal is to enhance customer experience, offer our customers even more enriched AI solutions, and support your product experience strategy every step of the way.   Question: What are you most excited about in the next phase of this journey for Unifai?  Answer: As we step into this new chapter, our excitement is matched only by our gratitude. None of this would have been possible without the support of our incredible team, our partners, and our clients. Your trust has been the driving force behind our accomplishments, and we are dedicated to continuing to earn it.  
  The acquisition of Unifai by Akeneo marks a pivotal moment in the AI industry’s evolution. With shared vision, a pragmatic approach to innovation, and a deep commitment to customers, this partnership is set to accelerate AI solutions and bring transformative changes to industries worldwide. The future holds promise, and both Akeneo and Unifai are excited to embark on this journey with partners and clients by their side. To learn more about the Akeneo & Unifai acquisition, you can read the full press release, or explore Akeneo’s AI Center of Excellence.

Casey Paxton, Content Marketing Manager

Akeneo

How Intersport Reduced Time-to-Market By 50%

Posted on by Virginie Blot

 

Akeneo News

How Intersport Reduced Time-to-Market By 50%

Discover how a global sports retailer utilized Akeneo Supplier Data Manager (SDM) to improve efficiency, reduce time-to-market, and create a better customer experience.

In the ever-evolving world of retail, staying ahead of the competition requires innovation and efficiency. INTERSPORT, a global sporting goods retailer with a presence in 44 countries and a history dating back to 1968, knows this all too well. Their journey into the realm of artificial intelligence with Akeneo’s Supplier Data Manager (SDM) has not only streamlined their operations but also set a remarkable example of how AI can transform the retail landscape.

 

The Challenge: Manual Product Classification

INTERSPORT, like many other retailers, faced a formidable challenge in the mundane, repetitive, and time-consuming task of manually classifying new products. With over 700 hundred stores in France and over 1.5 million products processed every year, the need for a faster, more accurate solution for managing, optimizing, and sharing product information across scattered teams and technologies quickly became imperative.  

The Solution: Akeneo’s AI-powered Supplier Data Manager Classification

INTERSPORT’s quest for data efficiency led them to Akeneo’s Supplier Data Manager for an AI-powered product classification solution, and Akeneo for a centralized source of truth powered by a comprehensive Product Experience (PX) Strategy.  Unifai seamlessly automated the classification of new products, slashing the time required by this arduous task by an impressive 50% and without compromising any accuracy. In fact, it improved product classification accuracy by 95%, ensuring that Intersport’s data remained reliable. This newfound efficiency wasn’t just about saving time and improving the quality of data; it was also about freeing up employees to focus on more complex and value-add work.

Supplier Data Manager categorizes the new products with the same accuracy as our teams while reducing our catalog processing time by 50%. This frees up time for the data integration team and buyers who have more time to source new products and optimize the product mix.

Olivier Robert Responsible for Organization & Reference Systems

INTERSPORT

The Tangible Benefits of Akeneo’s Supplier Data Manager

  1. 50% Reduction in Classification Time: INTERSPORT cut the time it took to classify new products in half, allowing their teams to focus on more strategic tasks.
  2. 95% Improved Classification Accuracy: Supplier Data Manager plus AI technology provided unmatched precision, ensuring that INTERSPORT’s product data was as accurate and up-to-date as ever.
  3. 18 Hours Saved Per Week: The freed-up time equated to 18 extra hours per week for the data integration team and buyers to dedicate to higher-value activities.
  4. 30% Efficiency Boost: The product classification process became 30% more efficient, leading to faster decision-making and product placement.
  5. Data Accuracy for Business Operations: Accurate data is the backbone of any retail operation, particularly for budget tracking and sell-out/stock tracking. The accuracy of Supplier Data Manager’s AI model ensured Intersport’s business ran smoothly.

AI for Retailers

For many retailers facing the challenge of manual product classification, artificial intelligence emerges as a game-changing solution that enables enhanced efficiency, data accuracy, and stronger customer experiences. But these benefits all require a foundation of product information to support the AI technology; if your team can’t provide the data needed to train the model, then the model will have nothing to produce.  In an industry where time, accuracy, and efficiency are paramount, combining a centralized record of product information with AI-powered product classification is your gateway to a brighter, more profitable future. To learn more about INTERSPORT’s journey to product excellence, you can download the full case study. Check out the AI Center of Excellence to learn more about harnessing these powerful technologies for a better product experience.

It used to take a repository manager a week to process a catalog of 8000 products. With Supplier Data Manager, we spend only 2 or 3 days to process the same volume, and some catalogs are categorized in 1 hour!

Audrey Gomes Head of Supplier Catalogue Integration

INTERSPORT

Casey Paxton, Content Marketing Manager

Akeneo

Prime Your Product Experience: Unleash the Power of Amazon

Posted on by Virginie Blot
eCommerce

Prime Your Product Experience: Unleash the Power of Amazon

Unlock the secrets to Amazon and discover how to craft captivating listings that stand out in the world’s largest online marketplace. From mastering keywords to staying up-to-date with trends and creating unforgettable shopping experiences, learn how to navigate the Amazon ecosystem like a pro and make your products shine on Prime Day and beyond.

From the look and feel of your website to crucial product information like photos, descriptions, and user generated reviews to the searchability of your products on your site, product experiences in the digital realm can encompass a lot of different aspects. The full product experience, however, goes beyond just your owned and managed areas; in fact, suffice to say that’s only a fraction of the entire product experience.  So what are the other pieces? Well for one, not everyone purchases your products directly from your website. While your website undoubtedly offers a stellar product experience, there’s a vast array of marketplaces and touchpoints where customers engage with your offerings, and there’s one behemoth that should come to mind when it comes to eCommerce, the OG, the Trillion Dollar Juggernaut: Amazon.  So just how important is it to be listed on Amazon? Well let’s just say that, in the United States, Amazon accounts for 50% of all eCommerce sales That’s 50% of every sale made online happening through Amazon; if percentages aren’t your thing, that’s half. For comparison, eBay, Apple, and Walmart, which have only 6.6, 3.9, and 3.7 of the request share, independently. And, as far as traffic goes, Amazon ranks as the 4th most visited site in ComScore’s list of the entire internet.  I think it’s fair to say that it’s important to be listed on Amazon. But with over 353 million unique products sold by the powerhouse, how do you offer the best experience that stands out in the myriad of this giant online marketplace? Let’s take a look at three of our favorite ways to optimize your product experience offering on Amazon, ahead of the Prime Day 2023 sequel in October.
 

1. Information about your product matters, and it matters a lot. 

Much like SEO on your website, Amazon SEO likes structured data about your products. The seven important information factors to consider in each one of your product listings are:
  • Keywords:  Choose keywords that are highly relevant to your product. Think about what potential customers might type into the Amazon search bar when looking for your item.
  • Product images: Use high-resolution images that showcase your product from various angles, with various models, or in various sizes.
  • Product titles: Craft clear and concise titles that convey what your product is, but also incorporates important keywords.
  • Product pricing: Consider shipping costs when setting your price, and research competitor pricing or offer promotional codes to encourage brand loyalty.
  • Product descriptions: Explain the benefits of your product and provide detailed, informative descriptions that are easily readable.
  • Key features: Emphasize what sets your product apart from competitors, and include specifications or technical information
  • Backend search keywords: Use the backend search keywords field to include additional relevant keywords that may not fit naturally into the product listing .Don’t repeat keywords you’ve already used in other fields, and include synonyms or alternative phrasings to capture a broader audience.
Instead of trying to “game” the system, make sure the products are in the accurate categories and the keywords are appropriate for products. Descriptions should be written about direct use cases for the products. Remember, you are trying to capture direct search terms, not deliver fluff with products.   

2. Keep everything up to date. Refresh and manage your product listings regularly.

Amazon is not just a “set it and forget it” type of marketplace. It requires products to be updated, changed, and managed in a way that keeps up with ever-evolving buyer behavior and demand.  For example, if you’re selling pickles, and there’s a new trend on TikTok about delicious Chamoy pickles, you’ll want to ensure that you’re updating the titles of your pickle listings to address what someone might be searching for; instead of a restaurant looking for some deli pickles, you might suddenly find yourself with a flood of Gen Z buyers looking to try the most sour candy pickle known to man, and you want to make sure you still capture their searches. Keep your descriptions up to date with the times, and have the ability to address trends in the market to capture more demand.  

3. Create an EXPERIENCE. 

I know, it’s cliche, but focusing on creating an actual experience with your Amazon listing is probably the most important thing you can do, mostly because of the Amazon Sales Rank. What is Amazon Sales Rank? It’s a numerical ranking system that Amazon uses to indicate a product’s popularity and sales performance, similar to Google’s quality rank. However Unlike Google’s quality rank and authority score which is somewhat shrouded in secrecy, Amazon’s Sales Rank is easy to find and how it’s calculated; it’s based on all-time sales of an ASIN/Product where recent sales are weighted more than older sales. So how do you get a better Amazon Sales rank? Creating a true product experience that considers how shoppers actually shop. With Amazon in particular, it’s often a price-related.  Think about it; how many times have you walked into a brick-and-mortar store, found a product you were looking for, but noticed the outrageous price and instantly pulled out your phone to order it on Amazon instead? And while you’re browsing the Amazon listing, you check out the user reviews, product photos, FAQs, and realize you actually needed a different product anyway and purchased the right item on the spot. While the main driving factor behind the Amazon purchase was price, there are so many other aspects that affect the shopping experience that need to be taken into account. In order to coordinate all of these facets, a comprehensive Product Experience (PX) Strategy is necessary.  

Strong Product Experiences on Amazon

Your product experience offering is not just about your owned website, but includes all the various touchpoints that a shopper could interact with your product. Amazon’s influence in the eCommerce space is undeniable, so ensuring that your Amazon presence is optimized can go a long way to making sure your product experience strategy is optimized. If you’re interested in learning more about how to activate and optimize your Amazon product experience offering, you can reach out to an Akeneo expert today to learn more about Activation for Retail.

Akeneo Product Cloud

Optimize your presence on Amazon and beyond with a Product Experience Strategy and Akeneo.

Casey Paxton, Content Marketing Manager

Akeneo

From Technical Service & Development Manager to Digital Product Experience Manager

Posted on by Virginie Blot
Akeneo News

From Technical Service & Development Manager to Digital Product Experience Manager

As the first PX Manager at Arkema, Liza Marasinghe understands the value a strong product experience can provide to customers. Discover her journey towards becoming a PX expert, and discover how a successful PIM implementation helped Liza take the next step in her career.

In every career journey, there are individuals who exhibit exceptional drive, adaptability, and a passion for growth. Today, we have the pleasure of highlighting one such extraordinary professional: Liza Marasinghe, who has experienced a significant evolution in her career at Arkema. Through her unwavering dedication, continuous learning, and willingness to embrace new challenges, Liza exemplifies the true spirit of an Arkema rising star.  

Starting Point and Title Change

Liza began her journey at Arkema six years ago as a Technical Service & Development Manager. With a Ph.D. in material science, Liza possessed a scientific background that contributed to her initial role. She was responsible for managing a small team in the lab, engaging with clients, resolving product-related issues, and specializing in UV rays and curing processes. However, Liza’s career path took an exciting turn when she was offered a new role as a Digital Product Experience (PX) Manager by her supervisor, Isabelle. Recognizing the importance of digital tools in driving business success, Liza embraced the challenge and embarked on a groundbreaking journey as the first PX Manager at Arkema.  

The Role of a Digital Product Experience Manager

Liza’s role as a PX Manager at Arkema is pivotal in transforming the company’s approach to product management. Previously Arkema did have a role dedicated to PIM (Product Information Management) data management, and that person played a crucial role in building the foundation of the PIM system. However, as the organization evolved, the need for a PX Manager became apparent. It is now Liza’s focus on enhancing the overall digital product experience, transcending the boundaries of traditional PIM management. Liza’s expertise lies in leveraging Akeneo to achieve more than just managing product information, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, gathering diverse perspectives, and unlocking infinite possibilities. Supported by a dedicated digital IT team and a robust print solution, Liza and her teams’ efforts extend to automating processes, such as Technical Datasheet (TDS) creation, which has resulted in significant time and cost savings for Arkema.  

Professional Growth and Impact

Liza’s growth in her current role has been gradual yet transformational. She has embraced daily practice, gradually building her confidence and expanding her skill set. Her journey has been influenced by mentors and supervisors who have provided inspiration, guidance, and the necessary knowledge to excel in her position. Arkema, as an organization, has experienced significant changes and digital advancements. Liza’s adaptability and eagerness to learn have allowed them to navigate these shifts successfully. They have honed their skills in agile management, learned to utilize various tools and technologies, and continuously seek opportunities for professional growth. Through platforms like Akeneo Akademy, Help Center, and the Arkema learning training center, Liza has acquired essential knowledge and expertise to excel in her role.  

Advice for Success and Looking Ahead

Reflecting on her journey, Liza offers advice to individuals aspiring to succeed in a similar role. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining strong relationships with project leaders and effectively communicating with responsive individuals within the organization. Liza also encourages understanding one’s strengths, feeling motivated, being part of a team, and continuously improving daily work practices. As Liza continues her career at Arkema, she envisions a future where she contributes to even more business units, supports her colleagues, and leverages her technical expertise. The support from Akeneo, particularly from Ronan Guilloux Systems Integrator and their Customer Success Managers (CSM), Alice Bouvier & Lauranne Gestin-Hamonic, has been instrumental in facilitating successful change assessments, project follow-ups, and implementing solutions aligned with business objectives.  

Conclusion

Liza’s journey from a Technical Service & Development Manager to a Digital Product Experience Manager at Arkema showcases the power of adaptability, continuous learning, and embracing new challenges. Her evolution exemplifies the career growth potential within organizations that prioritize digital transformation and innovation. We celebrate Liza’s achievements, applaud her dedication, and look forward to witnessing her continued success as she shapes the future of digital product experiences at Arkema. Her journey serves as an inspiration to professionals seeking to excel in their roles and make a significant impact within their organizations.

Akeneo Product Cloud

Discover how Akeneo technology can help your organization revolutionize your product experience with a comprehensive strategy.

Samira McDonald, Senior Manager, Community Program

Akeneo