The Judgment Calls of Building a Strong PIM Business Case: A Data-Driven Approach

I'm constantly impressed by the power of modern PIM systems to transform businesses. But when it comes to building a business case for a Product Information Management (PIM) system, the process can often feel like a guessing game.

Imagine this scenario: You're convinced a PIM system will revolutionize your product information management. Numbers dance in your head – increased sales, improved efficiency, happier customers. But translating that vision into a concrete business case can be tricky. Traditional approaches often focus solely on what decisions get made (invest in PIM), not how we reach that decision (considering real-world complexities).

As Nobel laureate Herbert Simon reminds us, "The various methods to trace decision processing are hallmarks of the information-processing approach." In simpler terms, understanding the thought processes behind decision-making is key to building a successful PIM strategy.

That's where data comes in. By replacing assumptions about "rational" decision-makers with a human-centered approach, we can leverage data to create a compelling PIM business case.

Here's a two-pronged approach to achieve this:

1. Prepare a Representative Dataset:

• Product Categories: Include a variety of product categories (e.g., clothing, electronics, furniture) to showcase PIM's adaptability.
• Digital Assets: Incorporate customer-convincing images, videos, specifications, warranty documents, and marketing copy for each product.

2. Develop Data-Driven Use Cases:

• Product Content Creation: Track time spent manually creating product descriptions across channels. Show how PIM streamlines this process.
• Enrichment: Highlight the challenges of maintaining consistent product information across departments. Demonstrate PIM's role in centralizing and enriching product data.
• Approval Workflows: Quantify the time and resources wasted on manual approvals. Showcase PIM's ability to automate workflows.
• Omnichannel Publishing: Measure the effort required to publish product information across various sales channels. Illustrate PIM's ability to ensure consistent product data everywhere.
• Data Analytics: Demonstrate how PIM facilitates data analysis to identify sales trends and optimize product information for better customer experiences.

Below is a simple PIM Capability Tracking Template you can utilize

**You can customize this template to include specific details relevant to your business.

**You can add additional data points for measurement based on your specific needs.

**Consider including a "weight" or "priority" column to prioritize which PIM capabilities are most important for your business.

By combining a representative dataset with these use cases, you can move beyond assumptions and build a data-driven argument for PIM. This approach empowers you to make informed judgments and choices, paving the way for a successful PIM implementation.

Ready to harness the power of PIM solution ? Let's discuss how we can help you build a winning PIM business case.