If you are running an eCommerce store, then you need to manage a huge chunk of product information daily. The task of managing vast product information and keeping everything organized is not only hectic but also a very time-consuming process. This is why tools like Akeneo PIM prove helpful. Wondering, how is it so? Well, the Akeneo features a centralized repository that helps online retailers maintain product information, streamline their operations, and offer exact information to their customers.
In this blog post, we are going to take you through this tool and also the way it is becoming a key component for eCommerce.
Akeneo PIM: Understanding the Tool
Akeneo is a Product Information Management (PIM) tool that allows eCommerce businesses to manage their product information more effectively. Its primary purpose is to help businesses create and maintain correct, consistent, and complete product information across all sales channels and even platforms.
Additionally, Akeneo is known for automating many of the processes associated with managing product information. Thereby helping businesses to be more efficient overall and focus on other key areas of their business, such as marketing and sales.
Akeneo PIM simplifies data collection, enrichment, and quality regulation by streamlining catalog management processes. With seamless product information distribution across all sales channels, including e-commerce and print, retailers can optimize product management and provide customers with consistent and accurate product information.
In short, PIM like Akeneo is rightly considered as Akeneo open-source cloud-based solution that empowers merchants and brands to enhance the quality and accuracy of their product data.
However, in order to use this tool efficiently, it’s vital that it should come with some prominent features. Let’s dive into those Akeneo features.
Features a PIM Should Have
Studies have shown that buyers are willing to spend more only when they have an enhanced customer experience. To provide shoppers with a wonderful experience, businesses need to ensure that their product experiences are also up to the mark.
In other words, product experience should go hand in hand with their shopping experience. This becomes possible when tools like Product Information Management (PIM) serve as the foundation for managing product information and eCommerce operations.
However, there are many PIM tools in the market, but they are not equal. Each platform has its own strengths, weaknesses, and unique qualities. So, it is important to find a tool that caters to present and even future needs.
Keeping these factors in mind, it is extremely important to pick a PIM that will come with some of the below-mentioned features. They are:
Connect Everything
When choosing a Product Information Management (PIM) solution for your business, one critical factor to consider is its ability to integrate with your current technology stack and future information resources.
Seamless integration between your PIM, online storefronts, internal ERP system data, supplier’s product data, mobile apps, POS systems, print catalogs, and other systems is essential for unlocking the full potential of a PIM solution.
The best PIM software should come with connectors that facilitate interoperability among your systems, reducing manual effort and streamlining operations. Furthermore, a strong and vibrant ecosystem of integrators, technical partners, and developers is crucial to the long-term viability of a PIM solution.
User-Friendly PIM
When selecting a Product Information Management (PIM) solution, it’s essential to consider whether it’s user-friendly for your team and outside users. After all, PIM is a system that you and your team must adopt and use every day, so the interface should be intuitive and require minimal training.
The best PIM software offers an intuitive interface that is nearly invisible and easy to use, allowing your team to manage and enrich products without any confusion. Additionally, PIM solutions should provide a clear overview of the entire product catalog’s status, making handling the vast amount of product data easier.
Basically, a user-friendly PIM solution that comes with an intuitive and clear interface makes it easy for your team to manage and enrich products efficiently. This increases work productivity and saves time for other essential tasks.
Customization Option
When choosing a PIM solution, it’s crucial to ensure it supports your current processes and can adapt to future ones, including changes to your catalog structure. The best PIM solutions conform to the way you do things, and it’s not the other way around.
Customization options may include importing, exporting, structuring, and managing data, as well as personalizing user interfaces (UIs) to fit your business needs. Before investing in a PIM solution, it’s important to ensure that it offers these customization options and easily meets your specific system and business requirements.
In fact, a PIM solution that easily customizes to specific business needs helps streamline business operations and even improve efficiency. This, in turn, improves your workflow and offers better results.
Automate for Efficiency
When selecting a Product Information Management solution, it’s crucial to ensure that it does more than just provide a place to enrich data. The best PIM software includes features designed to automate and streamline processes, eliminating repetitive tasks.
It’s important to look for a PIM solution that can perform bulk actions, track completeness before publishing, and validate work. Automating manual tasks frees up your team to focus on value-added activities, increasing efficiency and productivity.
Cross-Border Commerce
If your business operates in multiple countries and manages information in different languages, you know the pain of duplicating data just to translate and localize it. Fortunately, the best Product Information Management (PIM) software can help manage product data requirements for different locales without tedious manual work.
Look for a PIM solution that supports cross-border commerce, including managing different metrics and cultural norms for each country. By automating these tasks, PIM software can accelerate your go-to-market strategy, saving you time and effort.
Flexible Deployment
When choosing a Product Information Management (PIM) solution, it’s crucial to consider deployment options. Depending on your internal IT strategy, you may want a PIM solution that can support a variety of options to transition as your landscape evolves.
There are several deployment types to consider, including:
On-premises
Organizations are responsible for deploying and maintaining all applications and data on their own servers, which provides maximum flexibility and control but requires the most IT resources.
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
A third party hosts the applications and associated data, while the organization maintains them. This option provides an elevated level of customization but doesn’t require as many IT resources.
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
The application vendor maintains everything from the application to the infrastructure. This is the easiest deployment option but offers less flexibility and customization.
When choosing a PIM solution, consider which deployment option aligns with your business needs and IT resources.
So, it’s time to check whether the aforementioned PIM features match the Akeneo features or not.
Akeneo: What features does this PIM have?
When it comes to Akeneo, there are several versions available, such as Akeneo Standard Version, and Akeneo Enterprise Edition. However, Akeneo features greatly vary between Standard to Enterprise and Cloud Edition.
Standard Features of Akeneo PIM
Some of the Akeneo features that one gets to see in the standard Akeneo PIM set are:
Import and Export Data
Akeneo PIM streamlines the import and export of all types of data. The solution allows you to pull data from virtually any source, from your ERP to Excel.
Organize and Classify Products
Akeneo Product Information Management gives you the power to organize and classify products according to your preferences. The lack of restriction to a specific format or predefined attributes gives you the flexibility to tailor the solution to your needs.
Edit and translate
Once you import data, you can effortlessly edit or add new products to the catalog, define attributes, complete product sheets, add media, and more. Plus, extensions make it easy to translate product information into different languages.
Completeness Widget
Incomplete product information negatively impacts sales and brand equity. With this Akeneo feature it’s easy to ensure that product information is complete for every item with an easy-to-view completeness widget.
Extension Ecosystem
Akeneo PIM’s extensive marketplace of extensions expands the functionality of the solution, including integrations with well-known marketplaces and print catalog design tools.
By using Akeneo PIM, you can simplify product management and improve sales performance.
Advanced Features in Akeneo Enterprise and Cloud Editions
Let’s take a look into the Akeneo features that are present in Enterprise and Cloud Editions. They are:
Versioning & Publication
Akeneo PIM’s versioning feature allows you to create duplicate versions of your product catalog for seasonal and specialty catalogs. You also have an audit trail of product information changes over time.
Advanced Rights Management
Akeneo gives you complete control over what users can access and what permissions they have to work on product enrichment. You can specify exactly what product information they can view and edit.
Rules Engine
Using the rules engine of Akeneo PIM, you can create personalized automatic processes and triggers. These rules can be used to sort products according to their attributes or to convert technical data into more understandable information for customers.
Product Asset Manager (PAM)
Simplify media management for all your products. Quickly localize, adapt, and attach every image, video, and document that you want to include.
Teamwork Assistant
Makes it simple for teams to collaborate on enrichment projects. Each person’s experience is tailored to their needs, showing them the precise tasks, they need to complete.
Validation Workflows
Approval workflows make it easy for managers to view and approve or reject all the product information that contributors have added to the catalog.
The features that need to be present in Product Information Management tools are also found in Akeneo.
Why Managing Product Information is Important in eCommerce?
With Akeneo features and tools for data quality management and validation, Akeneo helps businesses to maintain high standards of data quality and accuracy. This, in turn, leads to fewer errors and omissions.
Most importantly, using Akeneo for managing product information correctly can translate into increased sales and revenue for eCommerce businesses. So, if you’re looking to stay ahead of the competition or better be said ahead in the eCommerce landscape, Akeneo is the tool you need.
Akeneo PIM Helping Businesses
As eCommerce continues to grow, businesses are striving to stay ahead of the competition.
For eCommerce, managing product information effectively is essential because it can have a significant impact on customer experience and sales. When product information is inaccurate or incomplete, customers can become frustrated, leading to lost sales.
In fact, with Akeneo PIM, delivering consistent information to customers is easy for businesses. Thus, leading to improved customer experience and increased customer loyalty. This, in turn, can help with improved brand engagement.
Overall, managing product information is essential in eCommerce, and tools like Akeneo can help businesses to do so more efficiently and effectively.
Now that you are aware of the way Akeneo is helping businesses, it’s time to see why Akeneo is considered the future of eCommerce.
Akeneo: How Is It Going to Help the eCommerce Business?
Let’s delve into the reasons that make Akeneo PIM software the best choice for eCommerce businesses.
Improve Customer Experience
Akeneo PIM helps retailers to provide a seamless and consistent customer experience by ensuring that product information is accurate and up to date across all channels. This reduces the risk of errors, improves the customer experience, and increases customer loyalty.
Offer Increased Efficiency
Akeneo enables eCommerce businesses to automate many of the processes involved in managing product information, such as data entry to data enrichment, and many more things. Since this software does data management and other tasks, businesses can use their resources for other important tasks, such as marketing and sales.
Integration with other Systems
Akeneo PIM is designed to integrate with other eCommerce platforms, such as Magento and Shopify. This means that businesses can use Akeneo to manage their product data across multiple channels and platforms, without having to switch between different systems.
Offer Better Data Quality
With Akeneo PIM software, businesses can ensure that their product data is of the highest quality. This reduces the risk of errors. Plus, it even improves the accuracy of search results and increases customer satisfaction.
Akeneo Integration: Is It Really Important
Is integrating Akeneo PIM into my system really important? Or how Akeneo integration is going to help you? Well, before answering those questions, we need to understand Akeneo integration.
What Is Akeneo Integration?
Akeneo integration is the process of integrating Akeneo with other tools and systems. This can include integrating with eCommerce platforms, content management systems, marketing automation tools, ERP systems, and more.
The purpose of Akeneo integration is to improve efficiency, data accuracy, scalability, collaboration, and access to a wider range of tools and systems.
In other words, integrating Akeneo helps businesses to manage their product information more efficiently and effectively in today’s competitive eCommerce landscape.
If you’re interested in Akeneo integration into your existing systems or eCommerce platform, now is high time for it. With its powerful features and benefits, Akeneo PIM can help you stay ahead of the competition and succeed in the fast-paced world of eCommerce.
Now that you have a fair idea about integrating Akeneo features into any existing systems and tools, it’s time to look into the benefits of the same.
Benefits of Akeneo Integration
There are many benefits attached to Akeneo integration with other tools and systems. Some of the key benefits are:
Improved Efficiency
By automating processes and streamlining workflows, businesses can save time and resources. Thus, allowing them to focus on other important areas of their business.
Data Accuracy & Consistency
By integrating Akeneo features with other systems, businesses can ensure that their product information is accurate and consistent across all sales channels.
Increased Scalability & Flexibility
Akeneo integration allows businesses to manage their product information more effectively as they grow and expand.
Streamlined Collaboration
When Akeneo is integrated with other tools and systems, businesses are able to collaborate more effectively on product information. Thereby reducing the risk of errors and omissions.
Access to a wider range of tools & systems
By integrating Akeneo PIM with other tools and systems, businesses get easy access to a wider range of functionality and capabilities. Thus, allowing them to stay ahead of the competition.
Other Benefits of Akeneo
Well, some other benefits that users can get from Akeneo PIM are full control over the processes, categorizing products based on attributes, and many more things.
So, let’s take you through those benefits.
Take Full Control of Your Product Information
Akeneo gives users full control over their processes and product information gathering, serving as a fast and feature-rich replacement for Excel Spreadsheets.
Automate Product Categorization with Akeneo’s Rules Engine
The rules engine allows for easy categorization of products based on actions and attributes, and the creation of custom workflows.
Maintain High-Quality Catalogs with Akeneo PIM’s Uniform Data Formats
Erroneous and redundant catalog entries can be removed, with data from various systems and sources delivered in uniform formats.
Improve Data Quality with Akeneo PIM’s Customizable Data Enrichment
Users can check and enhance data quality at any level, removing lines, enriching data, or including bits.
Simplify Digital Asset Management with Product Asset Management Feature
Akeneo’s product asset management feature allows for easy oversight of digital assets like videos, documents, audio files, and pictures.
Enhance Akeneo’s Capabilities with Third-Party Integrations
Third-party software and applications can be integrated with Akeneo to further improve efficiencies and management capabilities.
These are some amazing benefits of Akeneo integration to any platform or system.
General Steps to Integrate Akeneo
The process of Akeneo integration with other tools and systems varies depending on the specific integration needs and goals of the business.
However, some general steps for integrating Akeneo features to tools or systems are given below:
Identifying Integration Needs & Goals
The first step for integrating Akeneo into any system or platform is to identify the specific integration needs and goals of the business.
Choosing Integration Partners & Tools
Once integration needs and goals have been identified, businesses can choose integration partners and tools that meet their specific requirements.
Configuring & Testing Integrations
After choosing integration partners and tools, businesses can configure and test the integrations to ensure that they are working as intended.
Training Staff
Once the Akeneo integrations are in place, businesses should start to train their staff. The staff must be trained in how to implement integration processes and even ensure that they are being used effectively.
Ongoing Maintenance & Support
Finally, businesses should provide ongoing maintenance and support to ensure that integrations continue to work effectively over time.
Follow these steps and you will successfully integrate Akeneo.
How to Integrate Akeneo with Magento?
Are you looking to improve your eCommerce website’s performance? Yes! Then integrating Akeneo PIM with Magento could be the answer. You can complete the Akeneo integration process very easily.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to integrate Akeneo with Magento:
Step 1: Install the Akeneo Connector for Magento
Firstly, you’ll need to install the Akeneo Connector for Magento. This extension can be downloaded from the Magento Marketplace, and once installed, it will allow Magento to communicate with Akeneo and import product data.
Step 2: Configure the Connector
Once the connector is installed, you’ll need to configure it by adding your Akeneo API credentials. This will allow the connector to access your Akeneo data and import it into Magento.
Step 3: Map Your Product Attributes
To correctly import your product data, map your product attributes in Akeneo to the corresponding attributes in Magento through the connector’s mapping interface. This ensures accurate product information display on your eCommerce website.
Step 4: Set Up a Cron Job
To keep your product information up to date, you’ll need to set up a cron job to regularly import data from Akeneo to Magento. This can be done through the Magento admin panel, and it will ensure that your product information is always accurate and up to date.
Step 5: Test Your Integration
Once you’ve completed the above steps, it’s important to test your integration to ensure that everything is working correctly. This can be done by creating a test product in Akeneo and verifying that it’s correctly displayed on your Magento website.
By following these steps, you can integrate Akeneo PIM into the Magento platform. With the capabilities of streamlined product information, you can provide your customers with a better shopping experience and improve your eCommerce website’s performance.
Akeneo Pricing
Do you want to enjoy the best of Akeneo features? If yes, you will need to know which model will meet your goals and needs. Based on the PIM model or edition you pick, the pricing plan of Akeneo PIM will vary.
Get A Clear Picture About Akeneo Pricing
Essentially, pricing is a crucial factor when choosing a Product Information Management (PIM) solution. Understanding a PIM system’s pricing structure helps determine its value for your business.
Now, let’s take a closer look at Akeneo pricing and what you can expect from this leading PIM solution.
Akeneo offers a flexible pricing structure based on the size of your business and the specific features and functionality you need. Here’s a breakdown of the different Akeneo pricing plans:
Akeneo Community Edition – Free
Akeneo’s free, open-source version offers basic PIM functionality like data modeling, import/export, and data quality validation.It is best suited for small businesses and for startups.
Akeneo Growth Edition – Starting at $25,000 per year
This is a paid plan and is ideal for mid-sized businesses that need advanced PIM capabilities. It includes additional Akeneo features like advanced data quality tools, improved asset management, API integrations, versioning, and customizable export options.
Akeneo Enterprise Edition
The enterprise edition is designed for large businesses that require advanced PIM capabilities and support. It offers features such as advanced user management, data governance, and support for multiple languages.
In a nutshell, Akeneo’s pricing follows an annual subscription model, varying with the number of product SKUs and required features. Exact pricing isn’t publicly listed on Akeneo’s website, but businesses can request a custom quote from their sales team.
Comparison of Three Akeneo Editions
Here is a comparison table that summarizes the features and pricing of Akeneo’s three plans:
| Feature | Community | Growth | Enterprise |
| Data modeling | Y | Y | Y |
| Import/Export | Y | Y | Y |
| Data quality validation | Y | Y | Y |
| Customizable workflows | N | Y | Y |
| Versioning | N | Y | Y |
| API integrations | N | Y | Y |
| Advanced user management | N | N | Y |
| Data governance | N | N | Y |
| Multiple language support | N | N | Y |
| Pricing | Free | Starting at $25,000 per year | Call Sales Team |
A recent Gartner report ranks Akeneo as a top PIM market vendor, noting its growing customer base and strong product offering.
Other Services That Akeneo Offers
Besides its pricing plans, Akeneo offers professional services and support packages to maximize businesses’ PIM investment. These services include implementation, training, and ongoing support to ensure a successful PIM implementation.
Ultimately, the cost of Akeneo will depend on the specific needs and size of your business. Akeneo, with its flexible pricing and features, is a solid investment for businesses aiming to streamline product management and efficiency.
Professional Help
Do you need help with Akeneo for your store? Or do you want to leverage the full potential of this PIM solution for your store? If yes, we are ready to offer help. Being an Akeneo partner, our professionals can effectively integrate the PIM solution into your existing tool and system. This will help you to manage your products properly and provide customers with correct information.
Wrapping Up
Akeneo is ideal for eCommerce businesses seeking efficient, effective product information management. Essentially, Akeneo’s features make providing accurate product information, automating processes, maintaining data quality, and scaling easy. Thus, helping businesses to succeed in today’s eCommerce landscape is our motto.
