Product information in control with inriver PIM

Introduction to the PIM System

How do you ensure complete control over all product content? Data from no less than 300,000 SKUs?

The Sting previously solved this issue within their existing e-commerce solution combined with a DAM system but lacked insight into data quality and completeness. It was high time to explore a PIM system that combines the collection, enrichment, and publishing of product information.

The Sting involved XSARUS in the PIM selection process. During this selection, inriver PIM turned out to be the perfect fit. The experience in the omnichannel fashion industry and the PIM domain gave them the confidence to entrust the implementation to XSARUS.

Complete Control of Product Data with inriver PIM

The project began with phasing out the two existing systems responsible for product content. All available data, attributes, and fields from this model have been migrated to inriver PIM. Due to the limited export capabilities in the existing systems, it was a challenge to export all data to inriver correctly. A complex challenge that has been successfully completed. The PIM system is integrated with The Sting's ERP for the import of basic product data. Within inriver PIM, the data is further enriched and optimised. With the addition of the XSARUS Content Delivery Network, all product images are served optimally.

The PIM system is set up based on the existing product data and can be further expanded with future prospects in mind. For example: adding more product specifications so that consumers have more filtering options to base purchase choices on.

The PIM system went live after a collaboration period of over 3 months. In this short timeframe, a stable and reliable PIM foundation was established.

Data Quality and Enrichment

Thanks to the inriver PIM system, The Sting can now rely on a single-source-of-truth, where data quality and completeness become evident and where all SKUs are managed and enriched. The content teams of the three brands, The Sting, Costes, and Cotton Club, all work with the new platform. Changes in product data are now implemented in real-time from the user-friendly interface. In the future, more employees across the organisation will play a part in this process.

The Power of inriver PIM and Creative Force

After a successful implementation of inriver PIM, The Sting felt the need to formalise and optimise the photo studio management process. This was realised through XSARUS's partnership with Creative Force.

Why photo studio management?

The Sting has over 300,000 SKUs. This says a lot about the extensive range of all its underlying formulas and brands.

The photo studio aims to capture items in the right way as quickly as possible, while the e-commerce team wants to get the clothing online as soon as possible. Each team has its own needs based on its focus area. At The Sting, the photo studio operates as a separate entity with its own processes and team.

What needs to be done: photograph all clothing samples each season in a brand-specific way; product shots, model shots, all according to a certain format. This requires intelligent tools and workflows to ensure the photo studio management process is well-organised. Creative Force, in combination with Inriver PIM, will contribute to this.

The benefits experienced by The Sting

Given the volumes and size of the organisation, using Creative Force is a very wise choice for the fashion retailer. A major advantage for The Sting: the time-to-market of products is shortened, collections can be put online faster. With the right, inspiring product photography.

Changing business processes and establishing workflows is something the entire organisation benefits from. It affects how purchasing is done (sample management), how the photography process takes place, how stylists work, and so on. There is much better insight into the entire process, and the same work is done in a more efficient way. These formalities also improve the quality and completeness of the product data.

How does the Creative Force software work?

Previously, The Sting's photography process was largely not automated, and Excel sheets were used. The photo studio experienced the following drawbacks: not knowing exactly which product needed to be shot when and with which requirements. The result was inefficiency and duplicated actions, such as having to re-photograph an item. This needed to change.

Efficiently photographing the right items

The Creative Force software takes care of the automation part. This SaaS tool has extensive capabilities; a lot can be configured from the environment. Here's what the photography process now looks like at The Sting:

• Clothing samples for the new season arrive and need to be photographed as soon as possible
• The photo studio requests in Creative Force: may I have the feed from Costes – all dresses for summer 2023? All related samples are displayed
• The photo studio scans the barcode on the clothing
• Thanks to a data link, the basic product data, including the photography requirements, are visible in Creative Force

The software recognises the article and brand, meaning the photo studio is ready to follow further instructions. For example: this item needs to go to set 3 and be combined with garment B. These types of shots need to be made: front view, side view, and a packshot. The item goes to the relevant location, the chosen model puts on the outfits, and the styling is done.

• Based on the requirements, the photographer can start shooting immediately.
• The progress is monitored in Creative Force: there is insight into the percentage that has been photographed and what still needs to be done.
• The correct images are sent to Creative Force to then be transferred to a cloud solution for the photo editing process.
• After these control validation steps, to ensure the photos meet the set requirements, the photo is sent to the desired location.

Connection between inriver PIM and Creative Force

When the photos are e-commerce ready, they end up in inriver PIM and on the e-commerce platform. The Sting's inriver PIM system already contains a lot of product information for all items. The photos also contain metadata that needs to end up in the PIM for completeness. This can include data such as shot type, product type, location, model information, copyrights etc. Some of this product data is highly useful for the e-commerce platform. A note like "The model is 180 cm tall and wears size M" can positively impact return rates.

Within inriver, Creative Force is now a distribution channel for the product data. The Sting's e-commerce team can add items, such as the new collection, which is immediately sent to Creative Force. This also provides earlier insight into what's coming.