When it comes to managing your product information, are you relying on disparate spreadsheets, InDesign and MS Word documents, PDFs, HTML pages, and more that are updated manually by different people in your company? Are your images, PDFs, attachments, and product features scattered in various places and departments? Do you continuously find errors and stale data in your catalogs, web pages, and sales materials?

If you’re facing these kinds of challenges, it may be time to consider product information management (PIM) software. A product information management tool can streamline your sales and marketing efforts by making rich product content readily accessible to groups across your organization and your multiple sales channels. Product data is stored in a centralized digital repository, allowing users to quickly find, analyze, and share up-to-the minute information.

A key advantage of a product information management system is the ability of any permitted user to create, change, and optimize product information on the fly–without having to collate data from multiple sources or rely on the help of a database administrator. This automation not only saves time; it gives managers fast access to the analytical data they need to make sound business decisions.

Ideally, you should seek product information management software that can be fully integrated with your vital business systems, including ERP (enterprise resource planning), CRM (customer relationship management), and back-office accounting. If you conduct business on a global scale, it’s also a good idea to consider software that can accommodate foreign languages and currencies.

Here are some additional benefits of using product information management software:

• Keep your product data synchronized. Aggregating your product data and files from one single, trusted source helps ensure accuracy and eliminate the duplication of information. All of your departments—IT, sales, merchandising, marketing, accounting, customer service, and others—can always be confident they’re working with real-time pricing, specifications, and inventory.
• Enable multichannel publishing. Product information management software allows you to deliver the right product content to the right users at the right time. You can publish updated product data to various channels in a matter of minutes, including websites, print catalogs, mobile applications, and sales and marketing literature.
• Boost sales momentum. By enabling you to share information about new products more quickly, product information management software can help you accelerate time to market and bolster sales and revenue.
• Improve the customer experience. Perpetual errors related to your product information can alienate your customers, compromise your reputation, and hurt sales. In contrast, when you provide consistently accurate and dependable product data, it helps foster a positive experience for both your internal and external customers.

Look for a partner that offers a turnkey solution for all your product content needs. This means providing a scalable platform that allows you to integrate your product information management software with e-commerce, mobile commerce, and product catalog technologies. You should also factor in data conversion, loading, and clean-up services to ensure your organization’s migration is seamless.

As you’re exploring your options for product information management software, keep in mind that a full-spectrum solution will help you further boost efficiency and reduce costs while gaining maximum control over your online channel.