The industrial manufacturing industry comes with many challenges and issues to be mindful of regarding Product Information Management.
Not only do businesses have several product sheets that need to be kept updated, but they also need to ensure everyone in the organisation is using the correct information.
Every department from operations to marketing needs to be aware of all the latest product changes.
A Product Information Management (PIM) system can ensure all your product data remains accurate, as well as save your teams time and money.
In this article, we will look at PIM and manufacturing in more detail and how PIM systems can be used in the manufacturing industry.
Why use PIM systems in industrial manufacturing?
Whether you are manufacturing electronics, chemicals, tools or heavy machinery, efficient Product Information Management will help streamline your processes and drive value for your customers.
Here are some of the ways PIM can benefit your manufacturing business.
1. Fast and easy creation of product sheets
When you manufacture several different products, often with multiple variations, it is critical that data sheets are kept accurate. An incorrect measurement or out of date price can cause significant problems for both you and your clients.
Manually updating product info through spreadsheets can cause several inaccuracies. For example, it’s estimated that nine out of ten spreadsheets contain at least one error.
A PIM system lets your team create and update product sheets quickly and effortlessly through a central database. All the latest data is stored in the PIM system, meaning the entire company will always be able to access the most recent version.
One press of a button and your latest product sheet with real-time data will be sent directly to a prospective client. You can even customise each product sheet with client logos, translated content and specific prices. This means if you have clients in other countries or different industries, you can create specialised product sheets customised to their needs.
Given that 77% of customers will recommend or pay more for a business that provides a personalised experience, this can lead to more profit and improved customer loyalty.
Handling product information in a PIM solution can free your team’s schedules and boost morale as they are not spending time on repetitive and redundant tasks. This is because all product data is maintained in the PIM system and from here seamlessly pushed to all publications, apps and websites
With more time, they can spend their time working on what they do best… helping your manufacturing business to grow.
Find out more about creating product and data sheets with PIM
2. Product data centralization and consistency
As well as ensuring dimensions and materials are accurate, it’s vital to ensure that terminology used when referring to multiple products is consistent.
For example, let’s say one employee is entering the weight of products in pounds and another is entering them in kilograms. This can lead to confusion and the risk of products not appearing when searched for in your database.
PIM for the manufacturing industry makes it easier to ensure all descriptions and product categories are uniform, making products easier to find and list.
3. A quicker time to market
If you want to manufacture a new product, time can be of the essence. You want to move quickly, so a competitor doesn’t get there before you do.
PIM can help employees across different departments work on the product simultaneously, ensuring that everyone always has access to the most recent data.
For example, your marketing team can get to work on the brochure and eCommerce pages while production is still determining dimensions. Then, the finalised measurements can be dropped into the marketing materials when ready.
Example: PIM for pump and valve manufacturers
In the pump and valve manufacturing industry, precision is essential. Inaccurate measurements can lead to a wide range of issues for clients.
There are many parts and configurations that need to be accounted for and as a result, product management can be a complex process.
With Product Information Management for manufacturers, you can amend your pump and valve product data in one place, ensuring accuracy and effectively streamlining the cataloguing process.
Find out more about how PIM solutions help pump and valve manufacturers worldwide.
Case study:
AVK and PIM for the manufacturing industry
Valves and fittings manufacturer AVK has a vast catalogue of products, with over 50,000 SKUs. These products need to be managed across 20 different websites and 28 different languages.
Before using the Perfion PIM solution for its Product Information Management requirements, AVK stored product data in a hard-to-use database and stored marketing content in the CMS system. This made it difficult to maintain, import and export data.
Now that a comprehensive Product Information Management system is in place, all information can be found in one location. Website and eCommerce product information is easier to keep up to date, and staff can update information themselves without relying on third parties.
Read more about how manufacturer AVK publishes product data effortlessly on various channels
In summary: PIM is a must-have solution for manufacturers
One of the critical challenges of the global manufacturing industry at this moment in time is that of competition. Globalisation, government policies, changing customer preferences as well as the pandemic have all made the industry much more competitive.
If you want to get one step ahead of your nearest competitors, a PIM solution can be a great way to do this. Not only are you speeding up your time to market, but creating added value for clients and freeing up employee resources.
If you would like to know more about PIM and how it can improve your presence in the manufacturing industry, contact the team at Perfion to find out more.
How to publish catalogues, datasheets and price lists in a flash – download your guide
If you are considering using a PIM solution to enhance your datasheets, price lists and product sheets, we have put together a comprehensive guide.
This guide will go into detail as to how you can efficiently manage your in-house assets, and how much time you could potentially save.
