Is your product launch always behind schedule? Would you rather focus on managing your business than copying product data from one place to another? It's a good idea for your company to explore using a product information management system like Akeneo.
It’s often seen in organizations that each department has its own version of product data, causing inconsistencies that frustrate the sales team and confuse customers. If you find yourself drowning in spreadsheets, chasing down product information from various departments, now is the perfect moment to look for a tech firm to implement Akeneo for your needs. Switching to Akeneo means turning chaos into order for your product data.
What does Akeneo do? Let’s explain it in an easy-to-understand way, even if you’re new to PIM systems.
What is Akeneo used for?
Centralized data management
Akeneo PIM is a system that helps you keep all your product information together in one place. Think of it as a central hub where you can store, update, and distribute all the data related to your products – ranging from technical specifications and usage data to emotional stories and multimedia.
WITHOUT a PIM system like Akeneo, the marketing team might have one version of the product description, while the technical team has another. This mismatch can confuse customers and result in mistakes. Keeping track of technical details, marketing content, images and usage instructions for each product can quickly become a nightmare, especially as your catalog gets larger.
WITH Akeneo, every stakeholder can access the same, up-to-date information, so product details are correct across all platforms. No more endless searching for product information.
What are the key features of Akeneo PIM?
Akeneo’s features simplify the management of product information, making it a valuable tool for any company looking to optimize their processes and enhance customer satisfaction. Let’s explore the key features:
Data quality control
Data quality control is the process of verifying and maintaining the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of data. In the context of product information, it ensures that all details about your products are correct, up-to-date, and free from errors.
Data quality control is an integral feature of Akeneo that helps businesses maintain high standards for their product information. It includes:
- Validation rules
What they are: These rules check if data meets specific criteria before it is accepted into the system. For example, making sure all necessary information fields for a product are filled out (data completeness) or that product details match across all entries and platforms (data consistency).
How they work: You can set a rule that requires all product listings to include image and description. If a product entry lacks this information, Akeneo will flag and highlight missing information for review, so that you can address these gaps promptly.
Similarly, if a product is listed as "red" in one place, it should not be listed as "purple" elsewhere. Akeneo helps standardize terms and data formats.
- Automated workflows
What they are: Pre-defined processes that automate data entry, validation, and correction.
How they work: Akeneo can automatically import data from different sources, apply validation rules, and flag any discrepancies for human review. This automation speeds up data management and reduces the chance of mistakes, which can be very costly for businesses.
- Data governance
What it is: The management of data availability, usability, integrity, and security within an organization.
How it works: Using Akeneo, you control who can change product data by assigning different user roles and permissions. This helps maintain data integrity and prevents unauthorized modifications.
Customizable attributes
You can define attributes that are specific to your product range. This means you can tailor the information to fit different product types, ensuring all relevant details are captured.
Want a practical example? Picture you own an online furniture store. Akeneo PIM lets you create custom attributes for every type of furniture you sell:
Sofas: material, seating capacity, dimensions, and upholstery type.
Dining tables: shape, seating capacity, dimensions, and material.
Beds: size (king, queen, etc.), material, dimensions, and storage options.
For electronics, you might set technical attributes such as screen size, battery life, and operating system. Items can be also organized by brand or collection. You can even set attributes that help in marketing the product.
Integration capabilities
Integration refers to how well Akeneo can connect and work with other software systems you already use, such as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), e-commerce platforms, and DAM (Digital Asset Management). This ensures a smooth flow of data across your entire business ecosystem.
Akeneo PIM comes with built-in connectors for major eCommerce platforms like Magento, Shopify, and WooCommerce. When a connector is missing, Akeneo API enables different systems to communicate with each other, ensuring real-time data exchange. For enterprises with specialized software, Akeneo’s adaptable architecture allows for custom integrations.
By integrating Akeneo with your existing systems, you avoid duplicating efforts. For instance, once product data is entered into this PIM platform, it doesn’t need to be re-entered into your ERP system.
Localization and translation
Akeneo allows you to manage product information in multiple languages within a single system. You can create and store translations for each product attribute. PIM provides dashboards and reports that show which product attributes have been translated and which still need attention, ensuring that no important information is overlooked.
Besides language translation, Akeneo helps adapt other content elements like images, colors, and descriptions to align with local culture and preferences. For example, a product marketed with summer imagery in one country might use winter imagery in another. By localizing content, your products become more relevant and appealing to local customers.
Akeneo’s localization and translation capabilities not only improve operational efficiency but also enhance the customer experience by providing relevant and culturally appropriate content.
Multichannel distribution
With Akeneo, you can manage and distribute product information across multiple sales channels.
For instance, when a new treadmill is launched, the product description, specifications and promotional content are pushed to every channel. Customers will see the same whether they are shopping online, browsing a catalog, or visiting a physical store.
Providing accurate and consistent product information across all touchpoints enhances the customer experience as it builds loyalty with buyers and prevents confusion. They can trust that the information they receive is reliable, no matter where they find it.
Worth noting! Any changes made in Akeneo are automatically reflected across all channels, ensuring that customers always have access to the most current information.
Top reasons your organization needs Akeneo
Why Akeneo? If you're a business looking to optimize your processes and manage your product information more effectively, Akeneo can have a significant impact. Discover the various ways this PIM software can benefit your organization:
#1 You streamline routine and time-consuming tasks with automation
Akeneo excels at automating repetitive tasks involved in managing product information that would otherwise take a lot of time. Updates to product descriptions, data synchronization across platforms, and data quality validation happen automatically. This automation lowers manual effort and human errors, increasing operational efficiency and allowing your team to focus on strategic business growth.
#2 You improve the quality of your data
One of the most significant outcomes of PIM implementation in your business is the improvement in data quality. Data quality refers to the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of the product information you provide.
By centralizing data management, Akeneo makes it easier to maintain high-quality information across all your sales channels. This is crucial for building customer trust, as accurate and detailed product information helps customers make informed purchasing decisions, decreasing the number of returns and complaints.
#3 You speed up product launches
Implementing Akeneo can significantly speed up your time-to-market, meaning you prepare and launch new products faster than ever – you can easily import, update, and enrich product details, ensuring everything is ready for launch quickly. This faster turnaround not only keeps you ahead of competitors but also enables you to respond swiftly to market demands and trends.
#4 You improve customer satisfaction
Consistent and accurate product information is key to a great customer experience. When customers find rich information about products, such as precise descriptions, correct specifications, and high-quality images, they can make shopping choices with confidence.
Furthermore, by providing a seamless and trustworthy shopping experience, Akeneo helps build stronger customer relationships, ultimately driving higher satisfaction and repeat business. For a company, this means happier customers who are more likely to trust and recommend your brand.
#5 You enhance collaboration across departments
Akeneo’s centralized product information and user-friendly interface allow different teams within your organization to collaborate effectively. For example:
- The marketing team can easily update product descriptions and images that the sales team relies on.
- The technical team can manage detailed specifications and ensure they are up-to-date.
- The customer service team can access accurate usage data to assist customers better.
This eliminates the silos that often occur when different teams use separate data sources, leading to discrepancies and miscommunication. Escape the spreadsheet chaos!
Concerned about too many team members accessing the system? With role-based permissions, each team can access and edit the information relevant to their work without stepping on each other's toes.
#6 You make strategic business decisions
With all your product information centralized and easily accessible, Akeneo enables better data analysis and reporting. You can generate insights into product performance, customer preferences, and market trends. This holistic view allows you to analyze which products are selling well, identify areas for improvement, and tailor your marketing strategies accordingly.
Additionally, accurate and up-to-date data helps in forecasting demand, and reducing overstock or stockouts, leading to more efficient operations and better financial outcomes.
#7 You scale up your operations
PIM Akeneo is tailored to support your business growth by adapting to your evolving needs. Its scalability is a big plus, allowing you to manage an increasing number of products and categories. As you introduce new product lines or enter new markets, Akeneo will make it simple to update your catalog.
Alternative to Akeneo for product information management
If you are searching for an alternative to Akeneo, Pimcore is another robust PIM solution that offers similar functionalities.
Like Akeneo, Pimcore helps businesses to manage their product data, but it also brings some unique features to the table. What is the difference between Pimcore and Akeneo? Check out our blog post for a detailed comparison.
Interested in bettering your product data?
Can you confidently say that your product data is as organized and accessible as it needs to be?
If not, Akeneo is the tool you need. Start using Akeneo PIM to efficiently manage your data, photos, and descriptions!
Need help getting started? Book a free no-obligation consultation with our team. We’ll explore your needs and identify the best solutions for your business.
Implementing PIM solutions or meeting Akeneo requirements takes experience and knowledge in system architecture, ensuring it fits smoothly into your existing data flow without causing disruptions. We provide tech and business advice on integrating PIM technology with your current product information sources, manage migrations from other systems, and offer professional support.
From concept to launch, we're your Akeneo development co-pilots. Let's tackle the PIM project on a shared ride.
