The data repository: the first building block of your digital platform

Why talk about a data repository, rather than PIM or MDM (or even RCU, “Single Customer Repository”)?

Quite simply because the line between these different tools is no longer as clear-cut as it used to be, and new needs are emerging.

Why? Because we’ve noticed that our clients’ projects are no longer just tools for product information management (PIM), but now aggregate a wide range of data and objects related to the product, thereby aligning more closely with the philosophy of Master Data Management (MDM) philosophy. Indeed, an increasing number of objects revolve around a product: publication channels, categories, suppliers, brands, factories, media, documents, prices, and sometimes even customers.

While some solutions, such as Pimcore (an open-source MDM application for managing digital data and the customer experience across all your channels and platforms) or Maps System (a highly customizable Master Data Management solution for managing your company’s data) address this challenge within a single platform, we are also seeing MDM + PIM combinations emerge in IT ecosystems.

By definition, Master Data Management (MDM) is the tool used to structure, store, manage, and distribute master data within an information system (IS).

The PIM is responsible for collecting, enriching, and coordinating the management and distribution of product information to all sales and communication channels, such as e-commerce sites, websites, printed product catalogs, and marketplaces.

MDM sits at the intersection of PIM, DAM, and DXM (Digital Experience Management). Users log in to a single platform, enter, organize, enrich, and export all data in the format required for the chosen distribution channel (website, catalog, in-store displays, etc.) without the need for additional features, including the ability to manage changing data (such as price changes or inventory levels).

More and more manufacturers are using an out-of-the-box MDM solution to manage complex data models, which is then integrated with a PIM such as Akeneo or Pimcore to enrich and publish marketing data across various channels.

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What the Data Repository Offers

The data repository will enable you to perform various operations on all your data: collecting, consolidating, enriching, and distributing it. This allows you to eliminate data silos by providing a single point of reference for all your data—data that is reliable and validated, easily accessible, and distributable across all channels, whether digital or not.

“Single point of truth”: a reference point for all data.

• Basic data (SKU, status), technical data (attributes), and logistics data (dimensions, weight, etc.)

The data repository serves as a centralized repository for essential information such as unique product identifiers (SKUs), availability statuses, technical attributes describing product characteristics (size, color, materials, etc.), as well as logistics data such as dimensions and weight. By consolidating this fundamental data into a single source, the repository ensures its consistency and accuracy across the entire company, thereby eliminating ambiguities and potential errors caused by incorrect, multiple, and disparate data sources.

• Publication data (description, SEO, etc.), images, videos, and documents:

In addition to basic data, the repository also manages information intended for product publication and promotion. This includes detailed product descriptions optimized for search engine optimization (SEO), as well as visual media such as images, videos, and related documents. By integrating these multimedia elements into the repository, companies can ensure a consistent and appealing presentation of their products across all sales channels, thereby enhancing the customer experience and strengthening their brand image. By unifying these different types of data within a centralized repository, companies can not only optimize their internal operations but also improve their visibility and competitiveness in the market by providing accurate, engaging, and consistent product information to their customers across all touchpoints.

• Product relationships: accessories, replacement parts, upsells, cross-sells, etc.:

The data repository is not limited to simply storing information about individual products; it also captures the dynamic relationships between those products. This includes associations such as accessories and replacement parts, as well as up-selling and cross-selling strategies.

• Accessories and Replacement Parts : By recording the relationships between main products and their associated accessories or replacement parts, the product catalog enables efficient management of product bundles. By documenting these relationships, the product catalog facilitates the recommendation and cross-selling of related items, thereby improving the customer’s shopping experience and potentially boosting sales.
• Up-selling and cross-selling : The data repository also records suggestions for up-selling (selling higher-end products) and cross-selling (selling complementary products) based on purchasing behavior and product characteristics. By identifying these cross-selling and up-selling opportunities, the data repository helps companies maximize the value of each transaction and strengthen customer relationships.

Saves time and money

• Reduced time-to-market:

One of the most tangible benefits of a well-designed data repository is the significant reduction in time-to-market. By centralizing and standardizing product data, the repository eliminates the inefficiencies and delays associated with managing multiple disparate data sources. This enables product teams to quickly access accurate, up-to-date information, thereby accelerating the design, production, and go-to-market processes.

• Less time spent collecting and verifying data:

By consolidating data into a centralized repository, companies reduce time-consuming tasks and also cut down on the time spent collecting and verifying information. Instead of manually searching for and compiling data from various sources, teams can quickly access accurate, complete, and reliable data from a single source of truth.

• Quality Assurance for Published Data

High-quality High-quality data, everywhere: the data repository ensures the quality and consistency of information across all channels. This helps strengthen brand credibility and customer satisfaction.

• Completeness Checks and Publication Workflows

The completeness checks and publication workflows for the repository ensure that only validated and complete data, thereby preventing errors and gaps in the information.

Distribution across multiple channels

• Web & Marketplaces: The guidelines ensure a consistent and effective presence on the internet and online sales platforms.
• Print & packaging: Product information is automatically displayed on physical media such as catalogs, brochures, and packaging.
• Syndication, voice assistants, IoT: The framework also facilitates the distribution of data to voice assistants and IoT devices connected to the internet, thereby expanding the brand’s potential reach.

What’s new with data repositories?

Not surprisingly, AI is making a massive impact on data repository tools, primarily by providing automation and efficiency for operators. This integration of artificial intelligence offers companies the opportunity to optimize how they use their data. By automating processes such as product classification, market trend analysis, and the personalization of customer recommendations, data catalogs are becoming powerful tools for businesses.

Some concrete examples of AI implementation:

• Generation of text (based on attributes, for example) or images
• Assigning metadata to images or documents
• Automatic Assignment of Images to Products
• Automatic creation of products based on attributes (size, color, etc.)

Beyond AI, we also note the integration of cheadless connectors to feed data directly into e-commerce sites or CMSs, without going through their back office.

The Teams DATASOLUTION, partners with numerous software vendors, support you in planning and implementing your data repository:

• Consulting : decision support, modeling, and architecture
• Deployment of platforms, syndication solutions, and automated layout tools.

Our consultants will recommend the best solution to ensure that your data is available and reliable across all your channels and platforms.

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