Benefits of Product Information Management
A product information management system offers a clear advantage to growing organizations. It is well understood that once an organization exceeds a certain item count, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage product content. In this article we will explore how a PIM software can help.
Product information includes structured as well as unstructured content. Most organizations have an inventory control system that works is used to store structured content such as Item Number, Short description, Unit of Measure, Pricing, and logistical data. The product information stored in such inventory control systems is sufficient to accept and process orders. However, it falls short to drive product demand, convince prospects with marketing, to sell products in a variety of touch points and service them once they become customers.
As organizations continue to grow, the lack of a system to manage such content holds the organization back in the above noted disciplines. A product information system such as ONEsource, allows linking of unstructured content such as marketing copy, technical specifications, product images, vendor logos, videos and PDFs with the intent of making this content a strategic corporate asset. Initially it is easy to use a word document for copy, a directory for images and excel for sales. But these simple methods fall short as the number of users seeking this content increases, or the product count rises. A product information system not only allows you to store this content, it also allows you to organize this content into taxonomy trees, publish catalogs, improve search ability, and hence positively impacts merchandising, marketing, creative, sales, print & web catalogs, online search, and customer service areas.
Merchandising & Product Management
A PIM system allows you to research and store items that you get from your vendors, allowing you to create a product database that you can refer to. You can also store product specs and attach vendor provided images.
Marketing
A PIM system allows you to create marketing programs such as catalogs and flyers, while giving you the ability to better organize your catalog content for online use and offline use. It also allows you to enrich your content with product videos and dynamically linking these images and videos for influencing prospects.
Creative
Your copywriters, and designers can easily create compelling catalogs and online demonstrations because they have a database of products and their copy, vendor logos, and technical specifications to rely on. Without a system to provide them this accurate data, publishing this content can be tedious with the danger of it becoming outdate or irrelevant.
Sales
Your sales team can have access to published products as well as unpublished products at your finger tips to create quotes or help prospects.
Print & Web Catalogs
Creating catalogs is big undertaking without a product database. With a PIM system, you can simplify catalog management and publishing in print and web, and keep content consistent. The ease of print and web catalog creation alone justifies the need for a PIM system in many organizations.
Online Search
One thing google has succeeded is bringing search into our culture. This implies that your prospects are search literate. And your site search has to be sharp. Product information system such as Catsy, has relentless focus on search, and hence making it easy for you to benefit from this user behavior.
Customer Service
Acquiring customers is expensive. Losing them is prohibitively expensive. Many organizations know this, and the difference is in creating an impeccable customer service department with helpful content. If you are selling products, your customer service department is better equipped to serve your customers.
Request a free demo of Catsy PIM Solution today.
