Once you have chosen a PIM system that best suits your organization, the next step is to implement and integrate it into your organization. To do this successfully, you obviously need to pay attention to your business operations and your data management processes. In this blog we tell you which steps you need to take when integrating a PIM system within your organization.
The seven steps in integrating a PIM system
Integrating a PIM system is sometimes a difficult process because it goes beyond just a technical implementation. There are seven steps to follow for the integration process of a PIM system:
- Make an action plan: Define a vision and strategy for your PIM system. Start by mapping out your current situation: where is data stored now? What is the goal? With this in mind, you can work towards the desired situation.
- Proces and organisatie: Identify which product data is needed to run your business and which teams are involved. Align all teams involved, because process and organizational design are just as important as the PIM system itself.
- De systeem set-up: Make sure you know the functionalities of your PIM system. Determine how your product data flows and determine whether you need support from additional PIM functionalities, for example a DAM-module.
Need help integrating a PIM system? Make an appointment with one of our consultants. - Import your product information: Migrate your existing data to your PIM system. Depending on how your PIM system interacts with other systems, you can do this manually or automatically.
- Prepare well for the go-live: Run multiple tests before publishing your data. Make sure synchronizations work well, create work instructions for the users and train the PIM users.
- Go live: Collect, enrich and publish your product information to all relevant channels. Before publishing your data to a data pool, make sure your data has been validated.
- Maintenance: to guarantee continuity, you must put together a team that will work with the PIM system. Make sure this team consists of people who know the products and the associated data. Within most PIM systems you can assign roles and create organized workflows. We recommend appointing a data manager. The data manager can coordinate data management within the organization.
Or find an integration partner
Most organizations aim to complete the integration process as quickly as possible. However, if you invest extra time in setting up your PIM system correctly, all your processes will ultimately be up and running much faster.
Integrating a PIM system is sometimes a difficult process because it goes beyond just a technical implementation. A PIM system changes the way data is managed within the organization. This means that internal processes have to be redesigned. An integration partner can support you throughout the integration process. A good integration partner not only tackles technical issues, but also offers support in setting up new processes.