When is it worth to implement product information management for the Industrial Goods Directory?

When multiple suppliers provide disparate technical descriptions, and the team re-corrects them for catalog, portal, and suggestions. Product information management helps validate one description and use it across multiple channels. First of all, it is assessed whether these functions can be reliably implemented on the available system.

What happens when two suppliers describe the same item in different units?

Requires an authenticated unit-to-package relationship linked to a specific code. Import checks that relationship before changing values. A vague difference is passed for viewing.

How much manual labor remains when receiving data from suppliers?

Recurring fields can be imported according to agreed rules, and the wrong units and obscure changes are passed on to the specialist. The more consistent the supplier's information, the less corrections are required. The product team retains responsibility for the suitability of the data being published.

What happens when the supplier does not renew the balance for several days?

The supplier's balance needs to be displayed at its renewal time and agreed when the data needs to be corrected. Outdated quantity is noted so that the customer does not consider it as an approved stock. Technical item details are checked according to the rules that apply to them.

Industrial product information management system (PIM)

The product team handles technical merchandise information in one place and reviews vendor changes. Approved descriptions are used in directories and other sales channels.

Attributes, documents, manufacturer codes, analogs and compatibility are stored in ERP, vendor files, PDF directories or employee notes. Search and introduction of new products is slow, the customer is presented with unequal information, and the digital channel cannot reliably help with the choice.

How the solution works

The supplier's presentation is identifiable and linked to the manufacturer's and internal codes.
Data are verified by category, units of measurement and field-specific responsibility.
A technical change is confirmed in the product process, and the commercial or stock fact is transferred to its source.
Channels receive a verified version; rejected or no longer updated submission reaches the responsible employee.

Key challenges

Technical product data is fragmented
Supplier information is updated manually

Solution capabilities

Product Family Data Model

Different groups of technical goods are subject to separate but harmonised attribute models.

Manufacturer and supplier codes

The internal product is linked to the manufacturer's and suppliers' codes.

Analogues and approved technical alternatives

A similar product is distinguished from an approved technical alternative and has a clear level of reliability.

Compatibility rules

Product relationships to equipment, accessories, or other components are managed in a structured manner.

Technical documentation

Data sheets, certificates, instructions and other files are linked to a specific product.

Updating supplier data

Technical descriptions are checked in the product information management system, and the prices and availability of the supplier are passed on to the systems that handle them. The employee sees when data is provided, whether it is accepted and what needs to be corrected.

Business context

Technical product data is fragmented: Attributes, documents, manufacturer codes, analogs and compatibility are stored in ERP, vendor files, PDF directories or employee notes. Search and introduction of new products is slow, the customer is presented with unequal information, and the digital channel cannot reliably help with the choice.
Supplier information is updated manually: Prices, balances, terms, documents and new products are obtained by different files, portals or e-mail. The client is provided with outdated information, increasing the work of catalog administration and more difficult to manage a wide range.
A new item is ready for sale faster: Once reliable supplier data is received, it is easier to include the technical product in the catalogue and deliver it to the sales team. The buyer can find parameters, documents and possible alternatives. Situations where the available product is not offered simply because the consultant does not know its properties or purpose are decreasing.

Core features

Product Family Data Model
Manufacturer and supplier codes
Analogues and approved technical alternatives
Compatibility rules
Technical documentation
Updating supplier data

Key integrations

Enterprise resource planning system (ERP): Product codes, prices, stocks and order relationships.
Business customer portal: Parametric search and product information.
Customer Relationship Management System (CRM) / CPQ: Parameters selected by the client and suggestions prepared for it.
Supplier APIs / EDIs / files: Products, prices, balances, terms and documents.

Potential impact (%)

The ranges indicate an illustrative relative change in the metric under the stated assumptions. Results depend on the starting position and actual use of the solution. Percentages for different metrics must not be added together.

Active provider data reception and revision times

12–36%Decreasing

This illustrative scenario assumes that 30-60% of manual data entry and handover work can be addressed. That share is assumed to fall by 40-60%. Company data is needed to verify both the addressable workload and the resulting change.

All work for the same set of suppliers and products is compared to include error correction.

Technical data incorrect for channels reached

12–42%Decreasing

This illustrative scenario assumes that 30-60% of errors can be addressed through the data and rule checks described. That share is assumed to fall by 40-70%. Company data is needed to verify both the addressable share and the resulting change.

Confirmed errors in the data and goods affected by them are counted, distinguishing between subsequent misuses by the recipient.

Number of products developed for new channels

2–10%Increasing

In the example scenario, 20-40% of the original indicator value is associated with product preparation for additional sales channels. This part is predicted to grow by 10-25% without other conditions changing.

The number of products prepared for sale and actually published on the new channel over the same length of time is compared. Their orders and revenues are assessed separately.

Conditional calculation scenarios. The assumptions have not been validated against client measurements.

When this solution is relevant

Large Technically Complex Directory
Professionals regularly check PDF and supplier portals
Analogues kept in employee memory
B2B search cannot reliably filter
New products are being prepared for channels for a long time
A lot of data comes from Excel or email

Implementation requirements

For the management of technical product information, supplier codes, units of measurement and document versions are compatible. For each type of data, a reliable source and responsible specialist are identified, as well as the course of handling conflicting parameters and discontinued updates.