For digitally-minded marketers at fast-paced product companies, implementing a Product Information Management system is at the top of the bucket list.
The promise of PIM is obvious: you can streamline product data and content management, improve customer experience, and give your team the tools to handle the increasing demands of eCommerce and multi-channel sales all with one platform.
But as you can imagine, balancing all of these new processes while also ensuring a frictionless transition can get tricky.
Let’s break down some common PIM implementation challenges and how to overcome them.
Common PIM Implementation Pitfalls
Data Migration Mayhem
Migrating your product data from spreadsheets or other legacy systems into your shiny new PIM platform is often harder than it sounds. The risk of duplicates, incomplete records, or incorrect formatting can derail the process.
Solution: Have a solid data migration plan that includes thorough data quality checks and validation. Select a PIM provider with a knowledgeable team that can walk you through the process and give you advice for handling any unique business needs.
Disconnected Systems
A major challenge for many companies is integrating the PIM system with existing systems such as PLM, QMS, PDM, ERP, or content delivery channels such as eCommerce platforms, and marketplaces. Different systems have different data structures, causing friction and inefficiencies.
Solution: Choose a PIM solution that offers robust connectivity options, including API integrations. Propel Software’s PIM, for instance, integrates seamlessly with Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, and eCommerce channels and marketplaces, ensuring all touchpoints work in harmony. Plus, Propel is built on a single platform with product lifecycle management (PLM) and quality management (QMS) solutions, ensuring all product information is always accurate for content development and channel dissemination.
Workflows and Business Processes
You’ve got the technology in place, but if your team isn’t using it properly, it’s all for nothing. Disjointed workflows can cause delays, especially when multiple stakeholders are involved.
Solution: Develop a streamlined workflow with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Leverage automation to ensure that product data flows smoothly through each stage of the product lifecycle. Propel's PIM provides customizable workflows that fit into your business processes without disrupting your operations.
Data Governance and Validation
If your data isn’t accurate, your product catalog suffers. Inconsistent naming conventions, poor taxonomy, and lack of a single source of truth can undermine your customer experience.
Solution: Implement strict data governance policies and use the PIM to enforce them. Propel's PIM offers real-time data validation and governance tools that ensure your product catalog stays clean and consistent.
Consistency Across Channels
With eCommerce, marketplaces, and multi-channel sales, your product data must be tailored to different formats and requirements. Failing to meet these varying needs can result in poor product listings, missed sales, and frustrated customers.
Solution: Opt for a PIM solution that supports information variances like language and metric conversions across multiple sales channels with ease. Propel’s omnichannel capabilities allow you to manage product data in one place and deliver it across every relevant platform, ensuring consistency and accuracy in every listing.
Training the Team
Even the best system is only as good as the people using it. Inadequate user training can prevent your team from maximizing the benefits of your PIM.
Solution: Prioritize ongoing user training as part of your PIM project. Ensure that all team members are comfortable with the PIM interfaces, workflows, and data management tasks. Propel is known for its intuitive user experience, making onboarding simpler. Plus, it offers configurable and trackable training modules so you can keep tabs on your team’s progress as they learn the system.
Step-by-Step Guide to a Successful PIM Implementation
- Define Business Goals: Start by understanding your business needs and objectives for implementing a PIM system. Is it to streamline your product content management? Access to data for content enrichment? Enhance eCommerce performance? Create more efficiency across your organization?
- Data Audit and Cleanup: Review your current product data for accuracy and completeness. Set up an efficient data model and eliminate errors or duplicates that could carry over during the implementation process.
- Choose the Right PIM Vendor: Selecting the right PIM vendor is key. Propel’s PIM software offers integrated PLM and QMS functionality, making it uniquely positioned to handle not only product data but also its lifecycle and quality management in real time.
- Engage Stakeholders Early: Identify key stakeholders across departments—sales, marketing, IT, and product management—and bring them into the process early. Their input is vital in shaping the PIM implementation to align with actual business requirements.
- Create an Implementation Plan: Build a clear, phased implementation plan that includes milestones like data migration, system integration, and user training. Don’t forget to include room for unforeseen issues—no implementation is 100% smooth!
- Rollout and Testing: Once your PIM is set up, roll it out in stages, testing each data structure, workflow, and interface. Use real-time feedback from users to fine-tune processes and catch any snags early.
- Continuous Improvement: Successful PIM implementation is an ongoing process. Continually monitor the system’s performance, collect feedback from users, and refine your workflows as your business evolves.
Propel PIM: The Right Choice for Your Business Needs
Implementing a PIM can be a daunting project, but with the right strategy—and the right PIM platform—you can set your business up for long-term success.
Propel’s PIM solution goes beyond traditional PIM systems, offering direct single-platform connection with PLM and QMS to create a deeper, richer digital thread—from concept to customer.
Propel PIM is designed natively on Salesforce and therefore offers built-in data governance, automation, and end-to-end connectivity that makes managing product data easier and more effective. Whether you’re managing a multi-channel product launch or improving data quality across your sales channels, Propel ensures your data flows seamlessly between teams and systems.
It’s time to ditch the spreadsheets and scattered catalogs. Give yourself the chance to create easier, more effective content delivery with the power of Propel PIM to streamline your business processes, improve customer experience, and achieve your business goals.
