Product experience boost thanks to Akeneo PIM implementation
Kruitbosch
Kruitbosch is an international bicycle manufacturer, wholesaler of bicycle parts and accessories, and retail partner for bicycle specialty shops. Although the name Kruitbosch may not immediately ring a bell, in addition to being a wholesaler of the B2B brand PENDLR, the company is also a bicycle manufacturer of the brands Cortina and Alpina. With more than 50,000 products in its portfolio, managing product information is complex. A challenge that Kruitbosch and XSARUS PIM Masters enthusiastically tackle.
The challenge of Kruitbosch
Kruitbosch deals with a large amount of product data from its own production, suppliers, and assembly partners. This data is distributed across various sales and marketing channels, as Kruitbosch is active in both the B2C and B2B sectors. The problem: the current product data is fragmented across various documents and systems such as the ERP. How do you collect, manage and distribute this product data more efficiently? And how do you improve the quality and completeness? A PIM system is the perfect solution for this.
We look back positively on the collaboration with XSARUS PIM Masters. The process surrounding the implementation of Akeneo and the associated changes in the infrastructure within our own environment was extensive and impactful. The PIM Masters acted pragmatically and effectively in this regard. We are now at the beginning of the many possibilities that Akeneo offers us and we look forward to further development and optimisation.
Match with Akeneo PIM
To discover which PIM system aligns with the wishes and goals of Kruitbosch, our XSARUS PIM Masters delved deep into the complex range: from complete Cortina bikes to loose frames, outer tyres, luggage straps, and water bottles. The future PIM system must fit this range and meet Kruitbosch's needs. What are the possibilities in terms of data modelling, product creation, data asset management, quality assurance, workflows, and security? Kruitbosch's conclusion: everything that is needed is possible in Akeneo PIM.
Time for implementation
After the initial work sessions, the implementation of the Akeneo PIM system began. There was close cooperation; the PIM Masters regularly travelled to the Kruitbosch headquarters. Kruitbosch's down-to-earth and pragmatic approach was a perfect match with XSARUS's identity, forming a strong foundation for the PIM system implementation.
The data model as a solid foundation
An important first step is the construction of the data model. With over 50,000 products, 500 attributes, and many product categories, the data model has become advanced, reliable, and comprehensive. Thanks to standardisation within the data model, the quality of the product information improves. For example, attributes are no longer freely entered, but a range of standard sizes and colours are displayed. This enhances the product experience for B2B and B2C customers, as filtering by categories and specifications yields the correct results.
Kruitbosch benefits from greater flexibility and efficiency. And adding products, categories, and attributes is less error-prone.
The major advantage of the PIM system is that we now have a much better picture of both the quality and quantity of the data. As a result, we can make targeted improvements where necessary. Moreover, the entire process has become transparent. Thanks to a smart workflow and quality controls before something is published, it is less error-prone. Our customers find what they are looking for more easily, which is good for customer satisfaction.
Real-time integrations
An essential part of the implementation is the integration with surrounding channels and systems such as the B2C websites, B2B portal, the ERP system, XSARUS CDN, and marketplaces like bol.com. The new real-time integrations have a positive impact on Kruitbosch's new IT architecture. As soon as a change is made in the Akeneo PIM system, it is visible on the other channels in no time. The integrations are built within Azure and are therefore easy to manage.
Features that further increase efficiency
The PIM system offers the following features, among others:
- AI attributes: An attribute such as a description is automatically translated into other languages using Artificial Intelligence. This process is fully automated and provides an additional efficiency boost.
- Data Quality Insights: Kruitbosch has real-time insight into the completeness and quality of their product data across different platforms and channels. It is clear where and what improvements are needed. This provides focus and control over content enrichment.
- Asset management: All product manuals, photos, and videos are now centrally stored and managed in Akeneo using the XSARUS Content Delivery Network (CDN). An organised system to manage all digital assets.
Achieved goals
The implementation has been successfully completed and the Kruitbosch team has been extensively trained in the use of the PIM system by the XSARUS PIM Masters. Manual actions are increasingly being eliminated, and with this single source of truth, Kruitbosch's product data will soon be complete and reliable. Data quality has improved, and Kruitbosch has insight into which data still needs to be enriched. This boosts the product experience, a key focus point for Kruitbosch.
Contribution to (international) growth
With the arrival of Akeneo PIM, Kruitbosch manages content by channel and country-specific. This not only promotes growth in existing (international) markets but also makes it easier to expand into other countries.
Akeneo helps us achieve our goals for the future by promoting both efficiency and growth. Because product data is entered more quickly and accurately, we save time on manual work and make fewer mistakes. This increases the speed at which we enrich products, which is important for a faster time-to-market and growth in international markets. It also offers us opportunities to collaborate more easily with suppliers, dealers, and external platforms, allowing us to expand our sales channels.
The next step in the collaboration
The collaboration between XSARUS PIM Masters and Kruitbosch continues unabated. It's time for the next step, with a focus on: How can we further optimise the product experience for B2B and B2C consumers?
One of the optimisations is the Workflow Engine; this means an automation step around content enrichment. We will also work on the Rules Engine and start with the SDM (Supplier Data Manager).
Our PIM Masters remain involved in expanding the PIM system, with one common goal: continuously optimising Kruitbosch's product experience.
Alexander Robijn
Manager Sales & Marketing