What is the value of PIM software if you use it right?

“A product information management (PIM) solution can streamline all your product data and digital assets,” they said. “It can put your data updates on the fast track to every channel where you advertise or sell.”

With added tools built into new PIMs (like data scoring for smarter optimizations and channel-by-channel exports), it's easy to get sold on the possibilities.

The implementation and day-to-day use of your PIM, however, have to be on-point for you to get the most out of your investment.

Are you learning your product management flow the hard way?

No matter how shiny the new product, the value of PIM software will ultimately come down to how you use it. Some antiquated PIMs (in this world, anything built more than a few years ago) have such a steep learning curve that you hardly feel like you've gotten anywhere after months of setup.

In contrast, a next-gen PIM is not complex or resource-consuming, but getting the most out of it still takes some thought. Don't you want to go back to your company leadership and show off all the initiatives that you built atop the new PIM platform?

Keep reading to learn the top five ways to get the most out of your PIM software. Put these five together, and you’re looking at a shorter time to market and maybe even shorter workdays; you're looking at bigger ROI, and you're looking at a major pat on the back the next time you review your e-commerce engagement with the bigwigs.

1.Outline your product process

You probably already have many processes on paper. Now’s the time to get down into the nitty-gritty of who hands what to whom and when in your product data flow.

Then ask: are all of those players on the PIM? Are they PIM-savvy and using the platform to collaborate?

They need to be.

Use your PIM to hand off data as soon as it's created. Load new product data to the PIM immediately, because that’s where other collaborators can access it. Organize and control who sees what in static or dynamic lists.

Even if entering product data into the PIM that early in the process feels premature, a next-gen PIM allows for in-PIM editing of data, meaning there are no "versions" of data floating around before it's finally added to your product catalog. So get that data into the PIM where it does you the greatest service.

2.Know all your channels

Map out every channel you've used product data on.

The sales channels come naturally. The marketing and client engagement channels, however, are just as important.

Stop and ask, do your customer service reps access product data as they serve customers and answer questions? That customer service is a channel, too.

Improving your customer engagement starts by identifying all the channels you interact with customers on. Your PIM, as it turns out, can be used to better engage on each. Here's how:

Deliberate PIM access with specific user controls (e.g., view only, limited lists, only certain attributes available to view, etc.) can be granted to customer service
Your PIM can also be used to improve your product data for marketing channels (including social media)
The technical product information for all collaborators and resellers can be consolidated and organized on your PIM as well

3.Use your PIM for images and videos

If you aren't using your PIM to organize absolutely all of your product data (including video and photos), you're missing out on some of the biggest value of PIM software today.

The next-gen PIM was built to organize product images and video along with text-rich product data.

All your 3D renderings, "look inside" images, video content and more has no business living in shared folders anymore. Those organizational schemes that don't even match how your products are built into your PIM, and linking each file to the right product are error-ridden and excruciatingly laborious.

Use a next-gen PIM to organize your enriched product data (and even to improve enriched data) and you’ll get a significantly higher ROI, starting with greater data accuracy and completeness and ending with massively improved efficiencies.

4.Clean up your existing data in a big way

This is the core essence of a PIM. It's the gooey center of the fresh chocolate chip cookie. It's the cheesy filling to the burrito. It's the biggest first bite of that hot slice of pizza.

A great PIM solution is measured on how well it helps you clean up your data. That means:

More easily completing and filling data in
Thoroughly correcting data discrepancies
Efficiently correcting data inaccuracies
Skillfully improving your data for each channel
Improving your data in a smarter way (by focusing on the right stuff in the right order)
Quickly organizing your data for easy export to every channel you need

You know you've used your PIM to its greatest capacity if you can honestly say: "I trust all my product data."

If your PIM doesn't make data clean-up as effortless and streamlined (and fast) as possible, even though you know you're using every clean-up function as aggressively as you can, then it's not you—it's the PIM.

5.Discover what's new in product information management

Regularly embrace new technology made available to you in product information management. That doesn't mean you have to go shopping for a new PIM every six months. It does mean you have to be aware of what's possible with the PIM you have, though.

For example, new trends like a PIM using AI to optimize your listings is worth reading about, don't you think? We think so, too. This is why we've been writing a lot about Amber AI.

To stay informed of what's new, start with an occasional Google search or a conversation with your PIM developer. Reach out to your representative or even to the owner (if your PIM is hip enough to connect you with their thought leadership). Ask what's new. Stay up-to-date with the occasional bug tweaks or new features, especially.

Then look at each new opportunity and take it right back to your product data management process. Does the new feature soothe one of your remaining pain points?

Getting the maximum value out of your PIM by taking these steps is the only way to get your greatest return on investment. Just look at the 10X ROI from optimal use that Amber Enginer’s client AutoExec is positioned for, or the 19X ROI calculated for Legacy Furniture. These examples and more can be found in this transformative case study for PIM use.

Boost the value of your PIM software in your organization now. Reach out and start a conversation today.

The Top 5 Ways to Get Maximum Value from Your PIM