How PIM Helps Manage Product Attributes

When it comes to running a successful online store, managing product attributes is important. Imagine a customer like yourself searching for a new leather jacket that fits perfectly. They want to find a product with specific attributes that they won’t compromise on.

However, if the product data on your site is incomplete or lacks detail, they may encounter difficulties in finding the desired material. This can lead to dissatisfaction and even cart abandonment or product returns.

One solution that can greatly benefit your business is a Product Information Management (PIM) system. PIM allows you to efficiently organize, update, and maintain comprehensive product attributes.

In this blog, we will discuss the importance of attributes, Issues you may face by manually managing them, and how PIM helps manage product attributes.

What is PIM?

So, the first question you may ask is, What is PIM?

PIM, also known as Product information management, is the process of managing all the product data required to market and sell products online.

PIM software or solutions such as Apimio can help you market and sell your products online through multiple distribution channels. Apimio has all the essential PIM features required to manage your data, including managing your product characteristics.

Learn more about the top essential features of a PIM solution

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Why Accurate and Consistent Product Attributes are important?

As mentioned earlier, properly updated product characteristics are important for customer experience. Therefore, they are important for managers and businesses as they help increase sales.

Here are 5 key factors that make accurate and consistent attributes important;

1. Improved Product search and navigation
2. Better product comparison
3. Reduced returns and complaints
4. Increased customer loyalty
5. Better inventory management

1. Improved product search and navigation

Properly managed product features make it easier for customers to find the products they are looking for.  

2. Better product comparison

Your product will make it in the alternative evaluation process of the buying decision if the attributes are correctly updated. 

3. Reduced returns and complaints

When customers get exactly what they searched for and chose by analyzing the attributes during the buying process, they are more likely to have fewer returns and complaints. 

4. Increased customer loyalty

A satisfied customer with a good experience is more likely to return to your business. Accurate and consistent product attributes help in customer satisfaction and retention. 

5. Better inventory management

By having accurate and consistent product attributes, you can easily keep track of inventory levels, helping you to avoid stockouts and overstocking.

What Problems arise during manual management of Product attributes?

Manual product attribute management can be time-consuming and error-prone. Here are a few problems that can arise managing product attributes manually.

1. Inconsistency in Product data
2. Time-consuming
3. Lack of scalability
4. Data limitations
5. Limited searchability

1. Inconsistency in the data

There is always a chance of human error if you try to manage data and content manually. So, It can lead to inconsistencies in the way attributes are entered.

2. Time-consuming

Manually entering product characteristics can be a time-consuming task.

Especially if you have a large number of products, this can lead to delays in getting new products live on your site. Moreover, it can also slow down the process of updating existing products.

3. Lack of scalability

Managing product attributes manually can be possible for small e-commerce stores.

However, as your store grows, it can become overwhelming for you and make it difficult to scale your business.

4. Data limitations

If the product attribute data is manually entered, it may be limited.

For example, you may not be able to include detailed information about the product that is available in other forms, such as technical specifications.

5. Limited Searchability

Manual data entry can make it difficult for you to optimize attributes.

As a result, it can become hard for your products to appear in the search for products based on specific attributes, making it tough for your customers to find what they are looking for.

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How PIM helps manage Product attributes

Now that you know how important it is to have accurate and consistent product attributes and how overwhelming it can be to manage them on a larger scale. That is where a PIM tool can be of service.

A PIM tool can streamline your product attribute management process, which can boost your sales in the process.

PIM solutions such as Apimio have all the necessary features to help manage your product’s attributes.

Here is a list of features you can use to optimize your product attributes. 

1. Centralized Product Database
2. Data Validation and Standardization
3. Workflow Management
4. Multi-channel Publishing

1. Centralized Product Database

PIM has a central repository of product information where you can store all your product data. It makes it easy for you to access, update, and share attributes across your sales channels.

This means that you can ensure that all your product attributes are accurate and consistent, no matter where your customers shop.

2. Data Validation and Standardization

PIM can validate and standardize data, ensuring that all of your product attributes are formatted and structured in a consistent manner.

This makes it easy for your potential customers to find what they’re looking for and helps you improve your search engine rankings.

3. Workflow Management

Product Information management saves a lot of time by automating tasks and approval processes. Therefore,  It can be vital in streamlining the product attributes across all distribution channels.

4. Multi-Channel Publishing

You can publish your products to multiple channels using PIM. You don’t have to update product attributes at every channel manually.

So no matter where your customers shop, they will get the same accurate and consistent product information across all channels.

How PIM Benefits in Managing Product Attributes

Here is a list of benefits you can have by using PIM software such as Apimio to manage your product attributes.

1. Increased Collaboration and Efficiency
2. Improved Data Quality and Consistency
3. Multi-channel Management and Distribution
4. Informed Decision Making
5. Allows bulk editing
6. Increased Sales and Customer Satisfaction

1. Increased collaboration and efficiency

You can use PIM to centralize your product data. Therefore, you can easily share and edit your product information with all members of your team. This can result in collaboration and save time.

PIM also provides versioning and history tracking, which can help to track the changes and reduce the risk of errors or inconsistencies in your product information.

2. Improving the quality and consistency of your data

There are rules for entering and storing information in a PIM solution. PIM checks your data for validation. A PIM solution will let you know if you have entered incomplete or incorrect information.

This automated validation of information improves the quality and consistency of your product data across channels, which can further improve the customer experience.

3. Managing distribution on multiple channels

As mentioned, PIM allows you to share data uniformly on multiple channels, including websites, e-commerce stores, social media, and more.

Therefore, it doesn’t matter where your customers are shopping. They will always get accurate and up-to-date information on all of these platforms.

4. Informed decision making

PIM creates reports that help you keep track of the data to ensure quality control.

The detailed analytics and information it provides regarding your data, including product attributes, can help you make informed decisions.

You can check out which attributes are missing or inaccurate and which of them are driving more sales.

5. Allows bulk editing

You can perform bulk editing operations on your data instead of manually editing every field. Therefore, you can align your product catalog on multiple platforms.

6. Increased sales and satisfaction

Keeping in mind all the features and benefits PIM provides ensures a complete and accurate data set which can ultimately improve the number of satisfied customers and increases sales.

What are the Tips and Tricks to Manage Product Attributes?

Here, we have listed down some tips and tricks that you can follow to manage your product attributes effectively.

By following these, you can help ensure that your product information is accurate, consistent, and easy for customers to understand and navigate.

#1. Use specific attribute values

Try to use specific attribute values instead of general ones because they can help provide more precise information to customers.

For example, instead of using a general attribute like “Size,” using specific values like “Small,” “Medium,” and “Large” can help customers understand exactly what size options are available for a particular product.

#2. Avoid duplicate attributes

We understand that duplicate attributes can cause confusion for customers and lead to inconsistent product information.

Always try to review and eliminate duplicate attributes regularly because it can help ensure that product information is accurate and consistent across all your stores.

#3. Use attribute dependencies

Attribute dependencies can help customers see only the relevant attribute options based on their initial selection.

For example, if a customer selects “Black” as the color, using attribute dependencies can ensure that only size options available in black are displayed, reducing clutter and improving the customer experience.

#4. Use attribute synonyms

Synonyms help customers find what they are looking for, even if they use different terms.

For example, using both “Sneakers” and “Trainers” as attribute values for the same type of shoe can help ensure that customers searching for either term can find the product they are looking for.

#5. Test your attributes

Testing your attributes before launching your products can help ensure they are working correctly and provide customers with the information they need.

This can help reduce confusion and errors that could lead to customer frustration and lost sales.

Conclusion

In conclusion, effective management of product attributes is important for a successful e-commerce business.

Implementing a PIM system like Apimio, helps you provide accurate and detailed product data, reducing cart abandonment and product returns while enhancing customer satisfaction.

By following best practices and utilizing a PIM system, you can ensure that your customers find the products they need with ease and confidence.

What to do next?

• To create product attributes efficiently with a PIM system, refer to our  blog “How to Create Attributes for Multiple Stores using Apimio.”
• Revolutionize your product management strategy and skyrocket your online sales with Apimio PIM – Sign up now.
• Read more about our Product Information related Guides here.
• Contact our support or comment your thoughts under the blog section if you have any further questions.

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