In full expansion, the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) sector is characterized by strong requirements in terms of product data. (food, sharing of product sheets, need for clear information for consumers, etc.). A change in the industry that requires its historical players, whether they are manufacturers, traders or retailers, to rethink the organization of their information system in order to meet the many specific requirements in the implementation of a successful management of product information.
It is in this context that the DIY industry is structuring its data management, in particular through the dematerialization of product sheets and the use of a PIM (Product Information Management) solution.
Manage product data according to defined standards
In an industry like DIY, the need for valid product information is very high. Indeed, for most product lines, the conformity of information and data concerning hazardous materials such as safety data, dangerous goods classes, GHS numbers and pictograms must be covered for storage, transport and sale.
In addition, some product lines require more explanations, product information sheets or instruction manuals.
Therefore, GS1 France and the actors of the sector have co-created standards for the identification and traceability of products in the DIY sector. Manufacturers, traders and retailers decided to collaborate to harmonize the processes of traceability, to improve the exchange of data between partners and to answer the stakes of the sector which are
- Promote transparency
- Optimize the supply chain
- Integrate digital technology into processes
Promote interoperability within the ecosystem
The use of a PIM solution also enables the players in the same ecosystem to exchange and share product information with each other. In the case of the DIY industry, it is a way for suppliers and manufacturers to centralize their product data in a single place and share it to retail chains.
On the other hand, it is a question of being able to cover their needs in terms of product data management and digital product content, in a commercial approach. Indeed, the PIM simplifies the sharing of information by marketing teams on all sales channels, whether it be e-commerce, catalog management, point of sale tagging, etc.
By using a PIM platform, the various players in the DIY industry control the conformity of their product information, provide a convincing buying experience to their customers, achieve new performance and become more competitive. In this way, the exchange of dematerialized product data through a Product Information Management solution contributes to the entire ecosystem by promoting cooperation between its players.
Guarantee the quality of product data
Moreover, as we have seen, the DIY industry is complex and marked by strong requirements. Indeed, the size of the available product ranges is sometimes very heterogeneous, which makes it difficult but essential to provide quality digital product content, including product information via detailed product sheets as well as quality visuals. Products requiring explanation, in particular, require a high degree of quality and standardization in product descriptions, especially in online sales including marketplaces. Not to mention the explanatory notes that are usually available online even before purchase.
The DIY sector is also marked by a particularly widespread problem relating to data management itself. Indeed, even today, many companies still use manually managed Excel files, with a high cost and risk of error.
In this context where the exchange of product information is fundamental, there is an urgent need for automation via electronic processes to meet today's data quality requirements.
As you can see, the use of a PIM solution in the DIY sector benefits all parties in the ecosystem: optimization of your product information management, time saving for your teams, improvement of your sales performance, compliance with GS1 standards (GDSN) and many other advantages... So what are you waiting for to move to the dematerialization of product information and improve your performance?
