Read time 2 minIt is an era of abundant choices and rapid consumption, shoppers demand a plethora of options before making the final purchase. As a result, eCommerce retailers are under continuous pressure to add and update their catalog to keep pace with consumer demand and stay competitive. A great catalog is invaluable for ecommerce players and key to success. It can help engage shoppers and build brand trust and credibility.
Having said that, ecommerce catalog management is a complex and dynamic process that involves managing product data across channels and ensuring catalogs are organized in a consistent manner. A well-managed catalog plays a critical role in consumers’ shopping experience. It is not only about the range of products but also the ability to find what they are looking for easily and quickly. Relevant search results combined with accurate product information can significantly influence the buying decision.
While there are several catalog management software available today, they can hardly be useful if not backed by data management best practices. The major challenges facing retailers are delivering the right product information across various touch points during the browsing and purchasing life-cycle. So, let’s look at three key practices that ecommerce retailers can follow to build a catalog with rich product content designed to engage customers and boost sales.
#1 Paying attention to quality of product content
You may digitize your product information management, however, data inaccuracy can severely impact your reputation, driving your customers away to your competitors. Your product catalog is only as good as its product information. To establish credibility and gain shoppers’ trust you need to ensure you provide complete, accurate, and precise product information.
You can start by focusing on including up-to-date and extensive product information, combined with high-quality images and list of useful features that can aid in making the buying decision.
#2 Categorizing and tagging products accurately
It is true that you must have a wide range of products in order to survive and thrive in this market. But it is also a fact that shoppers do not have the time to browse through the exhaustive catalog. They want a wide range of products in a catalog with easy search and filter options so that they can find exactly what they are looking for conveniently. This is an important feature therefore, you need to pay close attention to the categorization and tagging of products in your e-commerce catalog.
Maintaining accuracy and consistency while categorizing and tagging products is crucial to ensure right and relevant products show up for various search combinations. Any error in categorization and tagging can result in a disappointing customer experience and even lost sales.
#3 Centralizing catalog information management
Product information is sourced from various places which are then processed and organized into product catalogs. Catalog management in effect is product information management, which means you need to have robust database management practices in place to optimize product information management. Centralization of product database is absolutely critical if you wish to not just streamline catalog management but also maintain consistency.
A single source of truth also helps avoid duplication and data errors. You can import and synchronize data from various sources including manufactures, PLM, ERPs, and so on, and maintain up-to-date and accurate product content at all times.
Whether you have just digitized your catalog management or have been using software for a while, tell us the challenges you are facing, and we can help you streamline and boost product information. Springbord can help you maximize returns on your existing catalog management investments and build a product catalog that is primed for conversions.
