In multi-channel sales, the accuracy and relevance of product data play a decisive role.
Any changes to product descriptions, specifications, or prices must not only be recorded but also securely controlled and, if necessary, easily restored. That’s why a Product Information Management (PIM) system is a key tool for retailers, manufacturers, and distributors. It streamlines data access, speeds up processes, allows you to track every change, analyze results, and quickly correct errors.
Versioning in a PIM (Product Information Management) system is crucial for several reasons:
- Tracking Changes and Edit History:
In dynamic organizations, especially those with a wide assortment and a large volume of product information, data is constantly being updated. Versioning makes it possible to see who made changes, when they were made, and what was modified. This simplifies audits, quality analysis of updates, and identification of error sources. The entire revision history for each product is concentrated in one place. You can quickly see who changed what and when, gaining an understanding of how the content evolved over time. - Reducing Risks When Making Changes:
The ability to revert to a previous version of data enables you to quickly restore a correct state after an unsuccessful update or error. Without a versioning mechanism, rolling back to earlier correct data can be difficult or even impossible, potentially leading to additional costs and operational disruptions. If updates turn out to be incorrect or reduce content quality, you can swiftly “roll back” the product card to the desired previous state. This cuts down the time spent searching for and restoring lost information. - Supporting Workflows and Approval Processes:
In large teams, product data may pass through several approval stages. Version control allows you to store intermediate drafts, approve changes step-by-step, and compare different versions to assess the impact of edits before they’re finalized. By analyzing version history, you can identify patterns, determine bottlenecks in content workflows, and implement improvements. Thus, “Version History” helps not only maintain data accuracy but also optimize internal processes. - Simplifying Integrations and Data Exchanges:
When integrating a PIM with other systems (CMS, ERP, DAM, etc.), versioning helps synchronize data, ensuring that external applications work with the most current or specifically designated versions of information. This is especially important when updating content for different sales channels. - Complying with Regulatory Requirements and Standards:
In many industries (medicine, electronics, home appliances, food production), documenting changes to product specifications is crucial. Versioning ensures legal and regulatory traceability and increases trust in the reliability of the data.
By using “Version History” in your daily operations, you enhance the reliability and quality of product content, improve team collaboration, and create a foundation for the continuous improvement of product information management.
Versioning Mechanism in the MARKETPROVIDER PIM System:
The versioning mechanism in the MARKETPROVIDER PIM is designed to give users full control over changes to product cards, ensuring transparency, security, and easy rollback to previous states.
Recording Changes with Every Update:
Each user action that affects product data (description changes, price updates, attribute adjustments, etc.) is automatically recorded by the PIM system. A new version of the product card is then created, capturing all the changes made.
Version Metadata:
Along with the new version, the system saves additional information — metadata, including:
- Date and time of the change
- Name of the user or account ID responsible for the update
These metadata make it easy to understand the context of the updates, analyze the nature of the changes, and identify those who made them.
Version History Interface:
The product card interface includes a special “Version History” section, where versions are listed in chronological order.
Rolling Back to Previous Versions:
One of the key features is the ability to quickly restore data to a desired previous state. If the changes made were incorrect, the user can revert the product card to any previous version with just a few clicks, automatically returning attributes to their corresponding values. This minimizes the consequences of errors and allows for a prompt response to issues without wasting time on manual recovery.
Access Control:
Roles and permissions can be set within the system to manage access to versioning functionality for editing product cards. For example, managers or supervisors may have the right to roll back changes, while regular employees can only view the history. This adds a layer of security and meets corporate policy requirements.
Versioning in the MARKETPROVIDER PIM is a comprehensive mechanism that ensures full traceability of changes, facilitates convenient audits, improves product data quality, and reduces the risks associated with human error when working with large volumes of product information.
