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Olivia
Olivia

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The Product Data Challenge No One Talks About in Multi-Channel Selling

Selling on multiple channels sounds like growth—but behind the scenes, it often creates chaos.

A product listed on a website doesn’t always match what appears on marketplaces, catalogs, or distributor portals. Descriptions change, images get outdated, and specifications drift over time. The result is confusion for customers and frustration for internal teams.

Why Multi-Channel Growth Creates Data Chaos

As businesses expand, product data is touched by many teams:

  • Marketing updates descriptions
  • Sales adjusts pricing and bundles
  • Operations manages SKUs and inventory
  • eCommerce teams publish to different platforms

Without a centralized system, product information slowly diverges across channels.

The Limits of Manual Synchronization

Many teams try to solve this problem manually—copying data from one system to another. But manual synchronization doesn’t scale.

Common issues include:

  • Inconsistent product attributes
  • Outdated images or documents
  • Channel-specific errors

Slow time-to-market

Each new sales channel multiplies the effort required to keep data aligned.

Why Centralized Product Data Matters

Centralizing product information creates clarity.

A Product Information Management (PIM) system allows businesses to store, enrich, and validate all product data in one place before it’s shared across channels. Instead of reacting to errors, teams proactively control data quality.

This leads to:

  • Consistent customer experiences
  • Faster product launches
  • Fewer support and return issues

Where ERP Fits into the Picture

ERPs remain critical for transactional data—orders, inventory, pricing, and accounting. But they are not designed to manage rich, channel-ready product content.

When PIM and ERP work together, each system focuses on what it does best. Platforms like OdooPIM integrate with ERP workflows so enriched product data stays aligned with operational processes.

Scaling Without Losing Control

As catalogs grow into thousands of SKUs, structure becomes essential. A PIM provides:

  • Attribute consistency
  • Version control
  • Approval workflows
  • Channel-specific outputs

This allows businesses to scale confidently without sacrificing accuracy or speed.

Final Thoughts

Multi-channel growth should create opportunity—not complexity.

By centralizing and enriching product data, businesses gain control, consistency, and scalability. Investing in a PIM system early helps ensure that growth remains sustainable as new channels and markets are added.

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