PIM: The wizardry behind B2B digital commerce

We’ve been talking for some weeks now about the differences between B2B and B2C shopping experiences.

Fundamentally, this comes down to B2Bs providing a swift, efficient, rich, buying experience, rather than predominantly supporting impulse buying and browsing, both which are more aligned to B2C audiences.

It's not just about shiny product images; it's about being able to access accurate, trustworthy, and comprehensive product information in an environment that’s quick and easy to access. Getting this right, cuts down on the very things that put up the cost of sale – lots of support calls and returns.

If satisfied customers is what you’re after, you need to turn up the magic that’s behind making these "shop windows" an efficient experience. The one thing that can make or break turning your digital commerce business into a digital commerce powerhouse: Your choice of PIM.

So, what's a PIM anyway?

If you know, you know, and you can skip these next few lines and jump to discovering how to get more from your PIM to make it a game-changer.

For the uninitiated, a PIM is like an organised digital helper. It takes care of all product-related information – from the straightforward stuff like product names and bulk prices to the nitty-gritty like tech specs, crisp images, videos, and even those must-have details that make our products stand out.

Thanks to PIM, all this information isn’t just neatly packed but is also consistent, across every touchpoint whether that’s on websites, apps, social media pages or even print catalogues.

Make a PIM your game-changer

As the PIM is the engine room that sits behind everything needed to deliver your customer experience, it’s important to make the right choice between the many versions on the market. Some are better suited to a B2B environment than others so here’s what we think are the key considerations when choosing.

1. Consistency is key: Have you ever had that awkward moment when a client sees one thing on the site and something else on the app? PIM's got your back by ensuring whatever, wherever, and whenever clients check, they see the real deal.

2. Work smarter, not harder: Juggling spreadsheets, cross-checking data, and those endless hours spent updating should be a thing of the past. The right PIM streamlines everything, and makes bulk updates a breeze – super handy for large and detailed product lists!

3. Impress and engage: Make product pages pop! It supports all the cool visuals and interactive bits that not only woo our clients but encourage them to make those all-important buying decisions.

4. Go global, stress-free: Whether you’re reaching out across continents or launching that brand-new product line, PIM's flexibility ensures product information speaks everyone’s language.

How the right PIM will help you scale

1. Converting browses into buys: With spot-on, engaging product info, business clients feel confident, leading to more checkouts and less "I'll think about it."

2. Less guesswork, more trust: When your clients know exactly what they're getting, it cuts down on those pesky return hassles and endless "Just checking on this detail…" calls.

3. Quick off the mark: With PIM speeding things up, launching new products feels like a breeze. No more data management marathons; it's all systems go from the get-go!

4. Grow with PIM by your side: Making the right choice of PIM puts you in great stead in readiness for expansion. Whether that’s new products, new regions or diverse sales avenues, the right choice of PIM enables you now and scales with you.

My PIM already does all this

You may think so, but things may not be all they seem!

Get the latest “hot from the press” about what we’ve heard about the exciting advancements coming out of DWS, which provide useful insights to our Community and regularly run Cloud Clinics for those needing to supercharge their environments. Take the time to check out the latest industry-beating developments by downloading their solution brief.

To conclude

So while the online store is the face of businesses, PIM sits right there under the hood ensuring everything runs smoothly. It ensures what clients see isn’t only appealing, but also accurate, trustworthy and helpful.

The right choice of PIM will allow you to focus on building business relationships, and customer loyalty and let the technology do the heavy lifting. Just because you think you have the best on the market, doesn’t mean you should stop looking at the next thing that will optimise all these things to create your digital commerce powerhouse.