Individual output formats (Output Container) for an optimized distribution of product data of all kinds
Our PIM solution is already used by many well-known companies. From 50 products up to 25,000 products, from only a few media objects up to several 10,000 high-resolution images and videos. What previously had to be solved via programming can now be defined in individual output containers and released easily thanks to an authorization concept.
Product data in eCommerce – Meet the single point of information
Why did we develop this feature? To do so, you have to know a bit more about the challenges of online providers and stationary retailers. Our clients are companies like P&G, Coty, and Unilever, to name just a few. These global corporations have to prepare data from a wide variety of sources in such a way that it meets their customers’ requirements. In turn, these are large trading partners such as dm, Müller, Amazon, Zalando, REWE, Metro, and Rossmann etc.
This challenge alone makes it very complex because important data is often stored in global software systems, sometimes there are multiple copies, but they are always filed in non-central systems. For example, logistical data comes from SAP, brand texts from one specific system, ingredients from another and media data is also distributed via the next system. We have clients who provide 10 different sources, which we are able to integrate into our solution via API or importer interfaces.
Once this task is completed, you will at least have an all-embracing overview in dynamicPIM® that many users can only dream of.
The optimized output is the next big efficiency advantage. In our PIM, we call this Output Container. In the following, I explain what these containers can do.
The individual output containers in the dynamicPIM® system
The individual Output Containers (IOC) allow unlimited creation of data records that export product data tailor-made into Excel or CSV templates of your own or supplied by the client. To illustrate this, here is a list of the main functions (as of August 2020):
- Authorization of containers on group/role level
- Containers without general quantity limits
- The client’s templates can be used (limited for macro templates)
- Single products (e.g. a display product with several components)
- Multiple products (different products in one output)
- Assignment of all master data and/or system fields with drag and drop
- Drop-down list relationships are retained in the template
- Output as .xlsx or .csv file
- Brand logo and sub-brand logo can be integrated
- Sorting the fields using drag and drop
- Extensive options for field manipulation (divide, multiply, add, subtract, format)
- Default fields (set fixed values in the sequence)
- Blank fields (skipping fields)
- Fixed definition of cells (field values are put into the defined cell, e.g. Z12)
- Components can be output as a second level and also freely defined (e.g. display contents)
- Transpose (field values are not output in columns, but in rows)
- Conversion (data can be translated via mapping: e.g. from Germany = DE or any other necessary abbreviation)
- Measurement unit master fields can be split into cells for input/output (value, quantity, format)
- Product image preview can be displayed in the first column
- Easy finding of the containers in the frontend through a search function. This helps enormously if there are a lot of containers
- Further functions are in planning (Roadmap)
Interfaces (plug-ins) and modules increase complexity
Many of today’s software systems, whether it is PIM, CRM, ERP or other, mostly cloud-based solutions, offer the opportunity to integrate third-party apps. At first glance, these functionalities have a very positive effect, as they make various other options possible. However, they also overload the applications heavily. Therefore, we decided to go a different way. Our solutions offer an enormous amount of functionality. However, almost all features can be optionally switched and thus individually activated or deactivated.
Conclusion: Efficient implementation of complex processes in one system
A PIM is only as smart as the data it contains and how it can output data in a targeted manner. As already mentioned above, the structured storage of data in the system is initially the essential criterion. This too is already a major task, especially when data comes from different sources. We have already been mastering this for many years.
The data output has now also been further developed and helps to offer quick and easy solutions for retailers, partners, customers etc.