There are many stages in the life cycle of food products and many sources of information at each key stage. On top of this, regulations are becoming increasingly strict and require ever more precise monitoring of product information. Product Information Management (PIM) solutions and software are among the most suitable tools for managing the increasing granularity of data in product management. Here, you will learn all about their role, their evolution and how they can meet the new challenges facing companies.

 

The product life cycle, the case of the food industry

The life cycle of food products is defined by a number of stages. The first is the production phase, which is specific to each product. Once harvested or manufactured, each food product is packaged in order to be transported in the best possible conditions. Then comes the distribution phase. The food has now arrived at the distributors, sometimes after passing through various intermediaries, and is ready to be sold. Consumption is obviously the next step. It is at the very heart of the process. Of course, that is not all, because there is still an essential step, which is the disposal and recycling of the waste. This disposal occurs at all stages of the cycle. Indeed, after production, waste is sometimes destroyed or transformed. After transport and before distribution, the first packaging is recycled. Finally, it is the consumer who is responsible for sorting the remaining packaging and the various organic wastes that he or she is not able to consume.

The more complex the final product, the more additional steps are needed. Indeed, the development of a recipe requires the presence of more and more actors in the food production chain. In the end, a large number of entities are involved in the implementation of a final product. This is why regulations and consumer information require ever finer granularity in the monitoring and level of product information. This obliges manufacturers to equip themselves with high-performance tools enabling them to centralise the data of the players with whom they deal directly or indirectly.

 

Product information management goes beyond data management

To meet new business challenges, such as making forecasts more reliable, Product Information Management software ensures that all content describing products is always available and consistent. The various Master Data Management (MDM) solutions do more or less the same thing, but are limited. PIM ensures that content provided by suppliers, partners and consumers is also included in the same system in a uniform way. The PIM can take over the functions of the MDM, or the old MDM system can be integrated into the PIM system. Switching from one tool to another is therefore possible.

 

How can these tools really make a difference?

In many companies, all product information is stored in a fragmented way in different systems such as ERP, CRM, webshop, accounting software, warehouse management system, point of sale system, mobile applications, etc. With PIM software, the customer can easily find the information he or she is looking for. With PIM software, the company can improve its operational performance by making all information accessible. It can be managed and distributed from one place to the right channels. As a result, a company with an online shop will always have all current information available, such as product descriptions, photos, data on the ingredients used, the nutritional value of the food and even potential allergens.

By centralising all product data, business processes are simplified. For example, the feedback a customer writes is recorded as essential product information. This helps the company or sometimes even the supplier to optimise the recipe of a product. In addition, feedback can help future consumers to make a purchase decision. The aim is to focus less on improving individual processes and more on improving the customer experience.

Finally, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems often have a basic product information management module. The degree of integration of the module to meet the needs of a business will always depend on the individual situation. However, most ERPs can also connect to external PIM software.