Does your PIM system have flaws in its software architecture?
You are not satisfied with your PIM system, but why is this really the case? Did different problems arise later, did you not have the right updates, or was it not set up properly in the first place? That last point is what we cover in this insight. Indeed, this point is very important because without a good foundation, a house is never completely stable.
Do you also recognise this with your PIM system?
Lack of knowledge
High costs unfortunately do not always equal high quality - this is something almost every company recognises. In the case of PIM, the implementation partner initially seems professional, but more and more problems come to light with time. For example, we know a company that realised something was wrong even during implementation. In fact, during the process they came to new insights, realising that things should have been different from the start. Unfortunately, at that point, it is often already too late to change direction.
What causes these problems?
That may vary, but we certainly don't think unwillingness on the part of the chosen partner has anything to do with it. Still, it is almost impossible that the partner did not spend enough time on the preliminary process. After all, this is the phase where you thoroughly establish all the requirements and wishes of the project, examine the current process and define the scope of the project. With a good, comprehensive preliminary phase, you will never get as many new insights during implementation. After all, these have then already been established beforehand.
In addition, the partner often lacks knowledge of the chosen PIM system. In the case of the client we spoke to, it was about an incorrectly set-up Akeneo environment that they could not use - even though they had invested two tonnes in it. This had nothing to do with the PIM system itself; Akeneo is known as a good and user-friendly system. No, it was the foundation that was wrong: it was not properly designed and set up.
How can you prevent or solve a wrong setup?
The solution to both situations mainly comes down to one point: a good preliminary process. In any case, make sure that your company is analysed extensively beforehand. For companies dealing with a dysfunctional PIM, this means a new analysis. Be critical and don't leave any gaps. You want to take into account not only your current situation and requirements, but also your company's growth potential.
If you have chosen a good partner for the requirements analysis and implementation, there are five points you should definitely give sufficient attention to:
- Linking with other systems, or import and export. This must be set up properly from the start.
- Setting up product and attribute groups. Consider different layouts for multiple webshops or multiple countries.
- Good use of data concepts, such as concept families and master/variant structures. These are not always properly understood and applied. When this is done incorrectly, you often have to (partially) start over with the entire implementation.
- Workflow and automation rules. These can automate some of the data work, but this can only be set up optimally if the process of the chosen PIM system is taken into account - and not just the company's current process.
- Setting up multiple languages. This can save a lot of time in the future, as you won't have to enter the translation for each product.