When is the accounting system and calculators no longer sufficient to manage a furniture catalogue?

Individual management of product information makes sense when collections change frequently, the sets increase, and the same descriptions need to be provided to several partners or channels. If an accounting system already reliably manages these data, its capabilities can be expanded. Accounting for prices, balances and orders stock within the systems that manage them.

How is collection information transmitted to our channels and those of our trading partners?

Confirmed data of models, sets, images and technical properties are prepared in the format required by a specific channel. Systems interfaces are used where possible; and compatible data files are used elsewhere. Before automated transfer, it is checked that the partner recognizes the codes of goods and can accept subsequent changes.

How do more orderly collections data help furniture sales?

Sellers prepare bids more quickly, and trading partners can provide a new collection to their buyers earlier. Accurate information reduces the likelihood of order-stopping adjustments and incorrect sets. The length of time the collection is ready for sale, the job of preparing bids, and the repair of orders are evaluated; a new catalogue alone does not guarantee sales growth.

Is the solution appropriate if suppliers send collection data in different formats?

Yes, but before automation, you need to match how models and setups are recognized and what information is necessary for trading. Recurring supplier formats can be processed automatically, and missing or conflicting data can be provided to the team for verification. The quality of supplier information determines how much manual work remains.

Who is responsible for the relevance of the collections information after installation?

The company assigns people responsible for product descriptions, images and vendor change validation. The system helps to spot flaws and transmit confirmed data to channels. This ongoing work needs to be evaluated: if no one maintains the directory, outdated information accumulates in the new system as well.

Furniture collection and product data management system

The product team handles furniture models, dimensions, materials and sets. The same information is used in catalogs and offers, and sales data helps to view collections.

Models, materials, colors, dimensions, images, packaging and codes are stored in different files or supplier systems. The catalog shows inaccurate data of models, materials or sets, suggestions are prepared slowly, and errors move to the order.

How the solution works

The supplier's information is linked to the collection, model and exact set-up.
Responsible employees check possible combinations, images, documents and packaging composition.
Confirmed information is transmitted to sales and logistics channels and its reception is verified.
The sales, balances, returns and other facts available are reported under the same product codes.
The collection manager reviews the result and transmits an approved assortment or addition decision to the process that follows it.

Key challenges

Data on collections, models, materials and sets disaggregated
Packaging and gauge data insufficient
Results of collections and sets are seen too late

Solution capabilities

Collection and kit data

Defined models, materials and permitted combinations are linked to specific codes and appropriate images.

Description of the packages and set

Packages, dimensions, weight and transportation-related restrictions are indicated next to the set sold.

Approved version of publication

The channel receives verified product information; missing or conflicting data remains for review.

Collection sales results

Sales, discounts, returns and stocks are compared to specific products in the collection. Linked customer requests help to assess what they were interested in and what they did not ultimately buy.

Transfer of the commercial decision

The range change or replenishment need confirmed during the review is passed on to the team responsible for it, preserving the date of the data used.

Business context

Data on collections, models, materials and sets disaggregated: Models, materials, colors, dimensions, images, packaging and codes are stored in different files or supplier systems. The catalog shows inaccurate data of models, materials or sets, suggestions are prepared slowly, and errors move to the order.
Packaging and gauge data insufficient: The furniture or interior goods lack reliable packaging dimensions, weight and a list of parts of the set. The seller is not always able to check the transportation and unloading conditions. The delivery price is calculated inaccurately, and the chosen transport or method of unloading may not be suitable. Additional costs and new arrival time must be combined after the order has been accepted.
Results of collections and sets are seen too late: Sales, sample orders, requests, balances, discounts and returns data are analysed separately. Weak collections or sets are stopped too late, and marketable positions are added late.
The product is more easily delivered to the final buyer: The retailer needs a description of reliable photos, dimensions and materials to offer the furniture to their customer. The data in the prepared collection shortens the time from receiving the news to presenting it to trading. The exact set-up and packaging also allow for a prior explanation of the delivery conditions.

Core features

Collection and kit data
Description of the packages and set
Approved version of publication
Collection sales results
Transfer of the commercial decision

Key integrations

Enterprise resource planning system (ERP): Product codes, prices and order connection.
Supplier Data Sources: Collections, configurations, terms and technical information.
Business customer portal: A catalogue is published for partners.
Warehouse Management System (WMS) / Logistics: Packaging and Completeness Data.
Sales and Stock Reporting Facility: Link sales, discounts, returns and residuals facts for collection review.
Customer relationship management system (CRM): Product-linked queries and the submission of samples where such data are recorded reliably.

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.

Part of products repaired due to a published kit or packaging error

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.

A confirmed set-up or packaging error results in a number of repaired products divided by all products published in the same sample of channels and multiplied by 100.

Active time to prepare collection review data

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.

The timing of preparation of the report and interpretation of discrepancies is compared, while specifying what part of the collection the data includes.

Part of the collection positions that added to the range of partners

5–18%Increasing

Sample starting part - 40%. Assumption: 15-30% of the remaining cases involve insufficient collection information; a solution would help resolve 20-40% of these cases.

The positions included in the range are divided by all the positions of the collection presented to that partner. Individually, positions not included due to lack of information are marked.

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

When this solution is relevant

Sets are checked in multiple files
Images not linked to a specific commodity code
New collections are being prepared for partners for a long time
Lack of packaging data for logistics
Planned B2B Portal or other digital channel
Collection sales and balances are difficult to relate to specific sets

Implementation requirements

Collection data requires a harmonised structure of models, materials, packaging and channel code, and publication responsibilities. The available reporting tool separately assesses how to link these data to sales and balances; catalog maintenance does not have to create competing stock accounting.