Akeneo

Unlocking Cross-Marketplace Success with Akeneo PIM Integration

21
Oct

Enterprises aiming for large omnichannel commerce solutions often encounter significant challenges. But that’s just one side of the story. On the flip side, the rise of composable commerce trends can leave buyers equally perplexed. With an array of systems from digital asset management (DAM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), content management system (CMS), to e-commerce, the landscape can be overwhelming. Each technology brings something to the table, but where do you even begin? 

For many retailers, a product information management (PIM) system is the answer. The reasons are clear, especially when customer experience is the focal point:  

Like B2C, B2B e-commerce touchpoints are essential for a positive customer experience. While ensuring quality control across channels is critical, a PIM system can be transformative. It offers a centralised hub for B2B marketers to manage and customise catalogues by locale and channel, delivering a consistent brand experience with every customer interaction. 

Akeneo PIM Integration: A Game-Changing Solution for Non-Technical Users 

Akeneo PIM is designed for non-technical users and is a first-of-its-kind open-source PIM platform. It helps merchants centralise and populate product information to boost omnichannel sales. Here’s why Akeneo PIM integration is a viable choice for multi-channel e-commerce: 

1. Seamless Handling of Products with Multiple Variants and Attributes 

Managing an e-commerce store with 100 products is straightforward, but juggling a catalogue of 1,000 products and millions of SKUs is a whole different challenge. When products come with several variants and attributes, things can get messy. Akeneo simplifies this by offering a centralised platform with a smooth, user-friendly interface to help you manage limitless product attributes and variants. This enhances customer purchase decisions by providing detailed product descriptions for each variant. It also helps retailers eliminate data silos and manual processes, improving efficiency and productivity.

2. Simplified Product Information Management for POS 

For retailers selling both online and offline, managing product info and inventory through POS systems can be difficult, especially with limited screen space. Akeneo PIM integration resolves this by allowing retailers to create a point-of-sale (POS) channel, import products with images and descriptions, and sync them with the POS system. This not only simplifies product views but also makes life easier for POS operators. 

3. Multi-Channel Integration with Localisation and Translation 

Retailers often need to operate across multiple geographic regions, which can require significant changes to their existing platforms. However, Akeneo simplifies this by allowing retailers to sync product data across various sales channels — including e-commerce, marketplaces, mobile, print media, and more. Once product information is entered into Akeneo, it is automatically exported to these channels. 

Moreover, Akeneo supports localised versions of product data, which is crucial for cross-border sales. According to a study by Juniper Research, cross-border B2B payments are expected to exceed $42.7 trillion in 2026, highlighting the growing need for sophisticated PIM solutions like Akeneo to cater to international markets. With seamless integration capabilities, including tools like TextMaster, Akeneo makes third-party translations a hassle-free process. 

4. Akeneo PIM as a CRM Alternative 

Similar to a customer relationship management (CRM) system that holds centralised client data, Akeneo PIM serves as a foundational platform for managing product data, including text, images, and videos. It connects seamlessly with ERP systems, databases, and spreadsheets, enriching product information for various channels. This centralised approach benefits all stakeholders involved in launching a product, from brand managers, buyers, e-commerce managers, and product designers to photographers and even lawyers. 

Integrating Akeneo PIM with your business systems has a bunch of crucial benefits that include: 

  • No more working in silos 
  • Freedom from endless spreadsheets, duplicate work, and emails
  • Avoids countless revisions and error fixing 
  • Better cross-team collaboration to meet rising demands of modern commerce 
  • Improved quality standards for a multi-vendor marketplace 
  • Enables strategic vendor management to facilitate a better customer experience 
  • Mitigates chances of returns and boosts traffic and conversion 

5. An Alternative to Bulk Uploading on E-Commerce Platforms 

Bulk uploading products onto an e-commerce platform can strain your system, leading to crashes. Akeneo PIM seamlessly handles a variety of data from multiple sources, allowing you to sync product info with ERP and e-commerce platforms without risking system overload. Akeneo’s asynchronous communication protocol, known as Message Queue, ensures smooth processing by handling one task at a time without interruptions. 

Akeneo also uses a Supervisor Control System to manage daemon processes. These processes are initiated through the UI to execute a single job, which is then added to a queue and processed in the background. A key feature of daemon processes is that they won’t execute a new task until the current job is completed. 

If you need to run multiple exports to different channels simultaneously, you can schedule several daemon processes to handle the tasks concurrently, ensuring efficient execution across various workflows.  

6. Enhanced B2B Commerce 

Sales representatives are crucial in B2B commerce, as they play a key part in driving both online and offline sales. Print media also remains an important tool for reaching customers and influencing purchasing decisions in the B2B space.  

Akeneo PIM supports automatic updates for print catalogues and integrates with Adobe InDesign for streamlined catalogue creation. Retailers can then use these catalogues to notify customers of new product launches, boosting engagement and sales.

7. Simplified Product Data Onboarding 

According to a study by Episerver, a staggering 98% of shoppers abandon purchases due to incomplete or incorrect product information. Akeneo PIM integration addresses this issue by allowing manufacturers and suppliers to directly upload product information, making it easy for internal teams to access and enrich the data. 

Get Maximum Value from Your Integration 

Akeneo PIM is cost-effective and quick to implement, often going live in just 90 days, far faster than complex systems like MDM or PLM, which can take up to a year. For retailers looking for quick, measurable results, Akeneo PIM is a winning solution for seamless integration and clean data management. 

Wrapping Up 

Akeneo PIM is a powerful solution designed to meet the challenges of omnichannel commerce, making it a B2B product information powerhouse. From managing comprehensive and accurate product data to delivering superior customer experiences, Akeneo PIM ticks all the boxes. If you’re a B2B merchant seeking cross-marketplace success, look no further. 

At SAAS Integrator, we’ve helped forward-thinking brands leverage Akeneo PIM to streamline their multi-channel e-commerce operations. If you’re struggling to manage a vast product catalogue, our PIM integration experts can guide you in the right direction. 

We ensure a smooth and efficient integration process, elevating your business to new heights. Whether you’re uncertain about which platform is right for your system integration needs or looking for custom solutions, we’ve got you covered. We offer free consultations to businesses of all sizes, including those in Australia and New Zealand, and provide tailored integration solutions to meet your unique requirements.  

Our intuitive setup wizard and easy-to-use dashboard enable codeless, real-time data exchange across systems. We also offer out-of-the-box integration apps, pre-built templates for common use cases, and the flexibility to expand your integrations as your business grows. 

Contact us today to unlock the power of Akeneo PIM and transform your retail operations.