The NRF Big Show always has strong international representation, and Syndigo’s global team was busy interacting with visitors from Europe, Latin America, and Canada as well as the US. In the booth and on the main stage, global retailers highlighted the complexities and opportunities in today’s marketplace. It was interesting to note the variety of retail segments as well—Home Improvement, Grocery, Beauty, Pharmacy, and more were all present with big ideas.

One prevailing theme continues to be the intersection of technology and product content as a driver of commerce. This “Content Driven Commerce” influences the shopper’s journey as they shop and engage with brands across retail, media and entertainment channels. Several international customers mentioned the growth in sales across borders due to digital media and connected retailers that are integrating their in-store and online presence. This fast-changing landscape presents challenges and new capabilities in generating relevant content for the shopper where and when they want to receive it.

A more diverse consumer base is also changing how retailers take products to market, and the ability to serve a broad shopper base is a key advantage. In their NRF session, Ulta Beauty highlighted how different brands that have a wide range of consumer needs can serve shoppers on the lookout for what is new and different. In a similar vein, Ikea was another retailer that discussed the need for Unified Commerce, highlighting the need to eliminate barriers between physical and online stores in a way that offers their own unique view to customers.

A few other key themes and topics stood out to our team at the NRF Big Show.

The Growing Role of Technology Ecosystems

Retailers are looking for greater integration of their systems for efficiency, and they are turning more and more to their technology vendors to be able to proactively integrate (and even interoperate) more effectively. Today’s connected cloud solutions mean that retailers can operate across technology environments with data and related workflows—and they are looking to work with partners that can facilitate the flow of their data across applications and even cloud environments.

AI Takes Center Stage

Not surprisingly, AI was everywhere. From robots that manage shelf placements and beauty apps that can show you your optimal hairstyle, nearly every vendor had an approach to using the latest technologies. And retailers of all sizes and types were interested in AI strategy. From delivering personalized recommendations and pricing, to optimized supply chains and automated tasks, AI is destined to be a driver of efficiency, customer satisfaction, and growth. And the quality of data feeding these AI systems is crucial for success.

Data-Driven Decisions

There has always been a mountain of data available to retailers; however, leveraging it has not always been easy or efficient. That is changing with today’s cloud-native capabilities, and retailers are embracing it more and more. From understanding customer behavior and preferences to analyzing market trends and optimizing pricing, data will drive informed decision-making at all levels. Advanced analytics and data visualization tools are critical for gaining actionable insights from this flood of information.

Physical Presence for Online Brands

How the tables have turned! A driving concern for many on-premise brands and retailers in recent years has been how to deliver the in-store experience, online. However, the opposite has come to take place as well, as many online-first retailers are recognizing the value of physical experiences. Pop-up stores, brand activations, and experiential events are becoming increasingly popular as ways to connect with customers on a deeper level and build brand loyalty.

Unified Commerce

The days of separate online and offline channels are over. As consumers have grown comfortable living in a mobile world that intersects physical locations and virtual experiences, retailers also are prioritizing a seamless experience across channels, blurring the lines between physical and digital with initiatives like buy-online-pick-up-in-store, personalized digital signage in stores, and data-driven inventory management across channels. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in-store first, or mobile-native…you need to reach shoppers everywhere.

Sustainability Matters

This is a topic that will continue to inform shopper decisions. Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable practices from the brands they support. Retailers have responded with eco-friendly packaging, ethical sourcing of materials, and initiatives to reduce their environmental footprint. Transparency and accountability for how products and their components are sourced—as required by programs such as the new EU Digital Product Passport—are becoming increasingly popular not just as a way to meet regulatory requirements but also to get a competitive edge. Sustainability is now mainstream—no longer just a niche concern, but rather an integral part of a company’s business model.

Let’s Get Started!

Based on what we’re seeing now, 2024 is going to be a more profitable year for retailers, brands, and manufacturers. Don’t miss out on the latest technologies and creative content opportunities to catapult your business into a record year of success. We look forward to making this journey together!

The post NRF 2024: New Ways to Accelerate Deeper Shopper Connections appeared first on Syndigo.

In the fast-paced landscape of modern business, where data reigns supreme, choosing the right B2B vendor for your data management needs can be the defining factor between stagnation and success. In this blog post, we’ll unravel the reasons why Syndigo’s cloud-native B2B solution is a strategic imperative for navigating the intricate realm of data management. One of the capabilities of getting MACH certified is being cloud-native and Syndigo is the only cloud-native end-to-end solution for data management in the market. So, buckle up as we explore the transformative power of choosing the right partner to elevate your data endeavors to new heights!

Cloud technologies are rapidly becoming table stakes in the space of data management. The benefits of cloud computing for vendors and customers are no longer obscure and bewildering. The ability to rapidly adopt new technologies, the huge savings in costs, the ability to get real-time data and analytics are all values that our customers have seen for years. But let’s look more deeply into some specific benefits that Syndigo customers seen from using Syndigo’s cloud-native solution.

Scale and Scalability:

As businesses grow, they find that their storage requirements grow, sometimes exponentially. While BrandJump was enjoying massive growth in its operations, it partnered with Syndigo to manage product data and content for over 500,000 active SKUs across 35 manufacturers, working with 70+ retail partners in 20+ different subcategories. Cloud services also allow businesses to scale their operations up or down based on demand. This is particularly important in B2B commerce where transaction volumes can vary significantly. Cloud-based solutions enable businesses to handle increased workloads during peak times and reduce resources during slower periods, ensuring optimal performance and cost-effectiveness.

Global Accessibility:

Cloud-based services provide flexibility for businesses to access their data and applications from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. This is crucial in the B2B landscape where companies often operate across different regions and time zones. It enables seamless collaboration, communication, and transactions between business partners regardless of their physical locations. NOW, a leading provider of natural foods, supplements, and vitamins, has operations in over 60 countries. NOW used Syndigo to quickly transfer six years of accumulated product information, imagery, and other data from its previous solution into a new user-friendly interface that saves the brand precious time.

Security and Compliance:

Syndigo invests heavily in obtaining and maintaining various compliance certifications (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR). Leveraging a compliant cloud provider like Syndigo simplifies a business’s adherence to regulatory standards by inheriting some aspects of the provider’s certification. Newell Brands is a leading consumer products company with over 80 iconic brands and $8bn+ in sales and uses Syndigo to adhere to compliance standards in their business.

In this context, it is also important to consider the difference between being cloud-native and cloud-hosted. While some businesses might try to pretend that there is no or little difference between the two terms, both approaches are quite different. Cloud-native development, like the approach Syndigo used in developing its solutions, involves building applications from the ground up to maximize the benefits of the cloud, while cloud-hosted solutions involve migrating or deploying existing applications to the cloud without necessarily restructuring them to be inherently cloud-aware. As a result, cloud-native is equipped to deliver on agility, scalability, and leveraging cloud-specific features, while cloud-hosted is just a traditional on-premises architecture shifted to the cloud.

To use an analogy, using a cloud-native solution is like driving a racecar on a racetrack, using a cloud-hosted solution is like driving a minivan on a racetrack. You’re still on a racetrack, but only one of those cars was designed to race.

Syndigo’s architecture is designed to provide solutions for our customers that are scalable and flexible. Our architecture allows for seamless adaptation to evolving business needs, enabling rapid deployment of services, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Contact us to learn more about how our approach to innovation can make your business more competitive in your space.

The post Head in the Clouds: Soaring High with the Power of Cloud-Native Solutions appeared first on Syndigo.

One of the best ways to adapt to such rapid change is to take inspiration from innovators that are finding demonstrable success and solving real problems common to retailers. The realms of data management and product content are particularly important for retail brands, and there’s a lot of progress to be made by following in the footsteps of retailers taking strides to get better results. From improving efficiency to growing sales to minimizing waste, don’t miss out on these recent examples of real retail innovation.

Biocoop

As a network of over 700 independent organic shops in France, Biocoop is dedicated to sustainable and ethical consumption. However, with product data scattered across Excel sheets and systems, they struggled to provide complete, accurate information to meet customer expectations. “Product data must be rich, complete and correct in order to maintain and guarantee our commitment to our customers,” shared Referential Manager Anne-Laure Portrait.

By implementing Product Information Management (PIM), Biocoop unified their data into a central, scalable system that enables them to compete with large privately owned companies. This drove remarkable improvements, including a 90% improvement in data entry and quality.

With their complex needs addressed by the customizable Syndigo PIM, Biocoop set their teams up for even greater ecommerce success. Their story shows the power of centralizing quality product content to improve employee productivity and customer satisfaction at the same time.

Cub

Like many other prominent grocery supermarket chains, Cub was slower to fully adopt e-commerce than some industries. It was dependent on a third-party solution to power its e-commerce platform for several years, and when it sought to become independent the retailer faced a major problem; it lacked all the product data and content needed to fully stock an online store.

“We didn’t have a content provider and didn’t have the resources to do it ourselves,” said Chad Bersie, Cub’s Director of E-commerce.

Cub tapped into Syndigo’s Marketplace, a vast library of validated ready-to-publish product information, to catch up from its data deficit. Practically overnight, the supermarket was able to stock its digital shelves with comprehensive data and images for over 100,000 SKUs.

But that wasn’t all—Cub would go on to run a major vendor engagement campaign to improve its PDPs and grow sales as much as 27% for some products. Learn how they did it in the complete case study.

Adorama

As a top destination for photo and AV gear, Adorama depends on conveying every technical detail to serve its discerning customer base. But with product data scattered across outdated systems, they lacked flexibility to enrich content.

Implementing Syndigo’s PIM unlocked valuable new e-commerce capabilities:

• Direct access to manufacturers for enhanced product content
• Automation to reuse assets like images across bundled product pages
• Improved SEO visibility by centralizing more robust item details

“We changed, drastically, the process to putting the content search to be more on the manufacturer since they’re the one who has the data, rather than have paying somebody overseas to go find it for us.” – JC Paget, Director of Product Data & Web Merchandising

On top of boosting online merchandising, Adorama streamlined supplies and boosted vendor relations through Syndigo’s centralized content capabilities. Learn how they did it with picture-perfect timing in the complete case study.

Denner

As the third largest grocer in Switzerland, Denner lacked unified views of critical master data across its systems and suppliers. This increased risks, manual work, and inefficiencies across essential retail processes like bringing new products to market.

To centralize and upgrade its product, supplier, and location data, Denner implemented Syndigo’s cloud-native Master Data Management (MDM) solution. This delivered a 360° view of Master Data to enable reliable digitization and opened the door to future flexibility and scalability from the configurable platform.

The adoption of MDM has led to improvements in efficiency and transparency throughout the business. “We have already achieved a very good level of data quality and are particularly proud of the highly integrative interface from MDM to our ERP – in both directions,” said Daniel Kirschbaum, Senior Enterprise Architect. “This has enabled us to significantly optimize our core processes around the creation of new items in terms of data quality, and that benefits the entire organization.”

Now with stronger data foundations connecting suppliers through sales, Denner is positioned to keep improving efficiency and meet customer expectations in Switzerland’s dynamic retail ecosystem. Learn how they fast-tracked their use of MDM with the help of integration experts Advellence.

The post Retail Excellence: 4 Innovative Retailers Overachieving With Data and Product Information appeared first on Syndigo.

While their products range from grills to toys, we’ve watched leading brands embrace next-level content strategies that lift conversion rates and empower smarter decision-making. Discover their secrets and find inspiration for using new types of compelling content through unified solutions to drive greater levels of success.

Weber 

How do you persuade shoppers to purchase bulky, complex, and often pricey items online at a broad range of retail outlets? 

Legendary grillmaster brand Weber found new ways to improve the quality and delivery of its product content. By providing an abundance of quality, up-to-date product data and comprehensive supporting assets, Weber is steadily bucking the trend and equipping shoppers with everything they need to make purchases as fearlessly online as they would in store. 

“In working with Syndigo, now we can focus on optimization of content so we can think differently about what is it that we need to create.,” explained Kyle Schlegel, Weber’s VP of Marketing. “That’s really great because we can kind of use the bandwidth and use the calories on the more logistical nature of getting content in front of consumers at every single retailer.” 

Adding Enhanced Content and syndicating through Syndigo’s leading retail network increased add-to-cart rates for Weber and reduced time spent delivering content by 20%—a huge time saver for a lean team. 

Klein Tools 

Klein Tools manufactures premium electrical and utility products, but needed to adapt its 157-year-old brand to digital-first distribution. To accelerate new product launches, optimize online shopping experiences, and maximize efficiency, Klein Tools partnered with Syndigo. 

Syndigo’s PIM now serves as Klein Tools’ “single source of truth” for its nearly 3,000 SKUs. By centralizing product data and supporting assets, Klein Tools crafts enhanced digital content while streamlining syndication. 

“New product launches are extremely labor and time-intensive. Beyond creating the product, you also have to bring that product to market. And that job is made infinitely easier with Syndigo,” said Taniel Khamo, Associate Director of Online Marketing. 

With Syndigo, Klein Tools saves up to 10% of their time once spent on manual, multi-channel syndication. And by syndicating content to all its distributors and retailers from one easy-to-use platform, Klein brings products to market faster without compromising quality. 

Measuring sales conversions, traffic, and other KPIs proves the payoff. As Klein Tools continues pioneering industry innovation, Syndigo empowers the brand to carry its commitment to craftsmanship into the digital age. 

Schleich

As a leading toy figurine brand, Schleich brings imaginative play to life for children worldwide. But with over 500 SKUs across 60+ countries, manually monitoring product pages was inefficient.

To become more data-driven, Schleich turned to Syndigo’s Digital Shelf Analytics. Automated daily reports now highlight inconsistencies, eliminating hours of manual review, as well as present opportunities to react quickly to buyer behavior changes.

“Having great content is no longer enough, you can’t beat the competition just by having better content,” said Holly Pitel, Schleich’s Digital Shelf Analyst.

Analytics empowers Schleich to optimize content and rankings. In only months, Schleich increased its Content Health Score by 10 points (out of 100) to provide customers superior shopping experiences.

Staying atop the volatile Amazon buy box is now possible. By tracking changes with Analytics, Schleich can quickly fix issues to keep product pages live, compliant, and compelling.

With this data at its fingertips, Schleich spends less resources on monitoring and focuses more on strategy—igniting children’s imaginations worldwide.

Cub

While online grocery purchases have grown quickly, many grocery retailers have been slow to adopt their own robust e-commerce capabilities. Seeking to elevate its digital presence, Minnesota-based supermarket chain Cub Foods broke from its third-party e-commerce provider to fully own and manage its own site, Cub.com.

Yet building a site was just the start. Cub also had to instantly fully stock their new e-commerce store.

“We didn’t have a content provider and didn’t have the resources to do it ourselves,” said Chad Bersie, Cub’s Director of Ecommerce.

Leveraging Syndigo Marketplace, Cub pulled comprehensive product data and assets for over 100,000 SKUs to instantly populate its barren digital shelves.

“Syndigo provided a fast way to quickly gather the content we needed to launch our website,” said Bersie. Practically overnight, Cub went from an empty e-commerce shell to a fully stocked store ready to drive sales thanks to Syndigo.

Dermalogica

In the crowded skincare market, brands fight for consumer mindshare. Dermalogica embraces Enhanced Content to create differentiated, engaging shopping experiences.

Enhanced Content consists of interactive elements like videos, comparison charts, and product tours layered onto product pages. Given skincare’s hands-on nature, Enhanced Content provides an immersive experience that reflects the benefits of these products.

“I think that enriched content really helps to provide potential consumers with that reason to believe through what lives on site,” said Ari Aldana, Dermalogica’s Digital Marketing Manager.

The proof is in the metrics. Enhanced Content lifts conversion rates by 10% for Dermalogica at major retailers like Ulta.

Beyond sales, Dermalogica also leverages product content to convey brand values around responsible sourcing, sustainability, and purpose. Content becomes not just a way to talk about products, but also serves as a vehicle for storytelling.

The post 5 Real Examples of Innovative Brands Getting Ahead with Product Content Right Now  appeared first on Syndigo.

When a company’s situation changes though, (and particularly when it is a rapid change) clunky governance will leave it unable to adapt to the new reality. Ask yourself:

• If there is a merger or acquisition, can your company absorb the data from the other company quickly?
• As you incorporate newer retails partners or brands into your supply chain, are your processes nimble enough to give you freedom to change? If you decide to expand your offerings in response to market conditions, can your systems keep up with the influx of new product lines?
• When you realize that not all product lines are equally profitable, does your system give you the flexibility to optimize the time and energy you spend on cleaning your data across the board?
• As your marketing strategy evolves, will your governance rules for product information be able to evolve with it?
• Will you be able to incorporate frequent changes to your governance rules based on SEO, Dynamic advertising on the one hand, and connecting to newer partners/ retailers/ brands on the other hand?

Frequently, as MDM implementations are carried out, your managers might realize that bottlenecks are popping up. These bottlenecks might arise due to incorrect assessment of the quality of data, varying levels of quality of data from different sources, insufficient skill levels of users, difficulty in sourcing the correct information, attrition, etc. Unfortunately, these issues don’t pop up till after the system is used for a few months. When this happens, are you able to adjust your processes quickly to reduce these bottlenecks?

What does Dynamic Data Governance look like?

Dynamic Data Governance (DDG) is an increasingly popular new approach to data governance involving a set of capabilities that empower businesses to change the governance policies and processes quickly and to accommodate changing business needs with minimal help from the IT organization or their application vendor.

One example of DDG is the ability of the system to handle both Design for Exception (DFE) and Design for Creation (DFC) and selective application of each. Let’s use the example of a retailer to illustrate the difference between the two workflows.

Not all products that a retailer sells need to have the same level of scrutiny when it comes to governance. Some high-margin items like jewelry or handbags need a higher quality of data with manual curation. For these cases, a Design for Creation (DFC) process with manual creation would be applicable, which involves the creation of product, and other domains of, master data with high quality, to achieve higher customer satisfaction and increase sales. On the other hand, low-margin items like a USB charger or a belt might call for a Design for Exception (DFE) process enabled by automation with manual intervention being applied rarely or as an exception. In these cases, speed is of the essence; it is not worth the organization’s time to employ heavy manual scrutiny on each piece of content.

Some other examples to illustrate the difference between the two approaches are as follows:

• When an enterprise on-boards a new customer/contact database and takes the entire data set through a golden record creation process, manual intervention, and remediation workflow should be initiated only for records that do not match the governance policies, that too at a higher threshold. In such cases, enterprises should adopt the DFE methodology. This approach will allow significantly higher throughput for large amounts of data while still maintaining the quality standards where needed.
• For a manufacturer looking to launch new products, DFC methodology helps ensure completeness, correctness, and comprehensiveness of every aspect of product data. This is needed for downstream systems, channels, and partners to be able to process the data correctly.
• For fashion or discount retailers who have shorter product life cycles, large amounts of data need to be processed quickly, whether it is for onboarding new styles or deactivating out-of-stock items. This can be achieved only with a DFE in product data.
• A vendor record creation goes through a rigorous vetting and legal process before the enterprise can start transacting with the entity. DFC will be the right methodology for onboarding a new vendor record.
• In some scenarios, there will arise a need to segment the data based on context, and data in each segment will need to be handled using different approaches. Any customer profile changes to premium customer records will follow the DFC approach, while all other customer profile changes will follow the DFE approach.

As businesses evolve, MDM implementations must evolve with them, or risk being labeled out-of-touch or obsolete. Organizations that want to be able to handle dynamic market conditions need to adopt MDM solutions with DDG capabilities unless they want to get stranded as their competition passes them by.

Contact us to learn more about how Syndigo MDM can use DDG to help you adopt a flexible approach toward governance and enable you to adapt to changing market conditions appropriately.

The post Inflexible Data Governance can leave you unable to adapt to the market appeared first on Syndigo.

From e-commerce agencies experiencing hypergrowth to 150-year-old manufacturers pursuing aggressive global expansion, these case studies reinforce that with the right information foundation fueled by PIM, achieving business goals becomes more efficient and measurable than ever. 

Get inspired by these innovators that are becoming more efficient, effective, and profitable through strategic use of PIM! 

Adorama 

This legendary retail hub for photo and A/V enthusiasts manages and sells a broad catalogue of highly technical, sensitive, and often costly products.  

In this industry, it’s critical to get every detail right—at scale. To stay competitive with giants in the space and deliver an exceptional customer experience, Adorama needed to upgrade from its rapidly aging IBM AS/400 iSeries to better manage its product information.  

“We were gathering all our content on our AS/400 IBMi platform,” explained JC Paget, Director of Product Data & Web Merchandising. “But it’s not a PIM. There’s a lot of things we wanted to be able to do on the website that we were not able to because we would have to build brand new stuff, or IBMi would not be able to do it. So, it was really the right time for us to get a true PIM system to be able to manage our content better.” 

Switching to Syndigo is creating time savings as well as unlocking new e-commerce capabilities across all its sites, such as the ability to automatically pull content from several different SKUs into a single page for a product bundle. 

BAMA 

When it comes to a sensitive supply chain, you’re only as strong as your weakest link.  

BAMA—a leader in supplying fresh products to Nordic and Baltic food retail and food service brands—identified a need for a new approach to data management to support its highly collaborative, fast-paced role in the value chain. 

Inconsistent data policies, mounting inefficiencies, and the growing pressure of data quality and compliance expectations drove BAMA to adopt Syndigo’s PIM.  

The results: a more resilient supply chain, 60% less time spent manipulating product data, and a 70% reduction in time to market. 

BrandJump 

This e-commerce agency experienced explosive growth managing product data and content for over 500,000 SKUs across 35 manufacturers and 70+ retailers. Their previous manual processes for data management were becoming unscalable and error prone. 

By adopting Syndigo’s PIM solution, BrandJump streamlined workflows to contribute to a 70% faster product data turnaround time for its clients. The centralized platform also enabled the creation of a solid data governance strategy to keep information clean, organized, and accessible. 

“Syndigo PIM has allowed our team to focus on more fruitful and strategic work, which has brought our team to the next level in terms of expertise and engagement,” said Melley Richards, Director of Brandjump.

With PIM eliminating tedious manual work, BrandJump boosted employee productivity and satisfaction. The combined efficiency and strategic gains have provided a strong foundation to manage ongoing expansion and client demands. 

Beiersdorf 

Inefficient processes, an inconsistent brand presence, and a lack of transparency regarding the relevant product information inspired skin and body product pioneer Beiersdorf to implement Syndigo PIM.  

With the help of implementation partner Advellence, Beiersdorf was able to quickly and easily adopt the technology and integrate it with key systems throughout the organization. It went from managing product data in disparate spreadsheets to having a single source of truth in a flexible, cloud-native solution. 

Bayer 

As one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, Bayer AG sets ambitious e-commerce targets. However, inconsistent product data across online platforms was delivering subpar digital experiences that threatened growth plans. 

By partnering with Syndigo, Bayer established a single source of truth for product information via PIM while also streamlining syndication to 120+ online stores. This improved customer experiences by ensuring consistent, accurate product data everywhere Bayer’s healthcare products are sold. 

“We have lifted the level of PIM to PXM to really think broadly,” said Christian Becker, Global Digital Program Lead of PXM. “By that, we are now also telling the broad story to our business, which is much more resonating and also is allowing us to connect the dots better.” 

With tangible boosts already realized in online sales thanks to cleaner data and expanded reach, Bayer sees Syndigo’s combined PIM and syndication solution as a strategic driver helping accelerate their e-commerce growth. 

The post 5 Brands That Won Big Revolutionizing Their Approach to Data This Year with PIM  appeared first on Syndigo.

In the world of business solutions, there are always many options. As a result, oftentimes, once you find a supplier that can deliver the basics, you may not be interested in looking at other options. Decision fatigue is real and understandable:

However, perhaps it is time to consider that there have been recent industry changes in the product data management space that may be cause for some concern. We have seen a trend in brands and retailers coming to Syndigo as they re-evaluate their provider options for content syndication, Product Experience Management (PXM) solutions, and even end-to-end PIM capabilities.

One of the big reasons for this migration is the changes impacting the industry — several reputable service providers in this space have gone through multiple rounds of downsizing and that could make customers feel uncertain about the providers’ commitment to their long-term strategy.

These changes are impacting service levels too. Syndigo has recently onboarded several new clients who highlighted the long wait times and lack of responsiveness of other PXM providers as their reason for switching to Syndigo. Online employee review sites echo these service-level concerns as well.

So, whether it is because you are seeing it directly in your service levels or are concerned about the uncertainty of the market, maybe it’s time to (re)consider your provider.

Syndigo is your go-to for PXM

Maybe you’re in the market for a solution to your product information needs. Maybe you’re looking for a solution to manage your product information to provide a golden record of information. Or maybe you’re looking to syndicate your product information to your commercial channels – anything from a handful to hundreds of outlets. Or maybe you’re looking for more insights into how your products are performing in the digital marketplace but have no idea how to achieve that. Or maybe you’re just looking.

Have you checked out Syndigo lately?

Syndigo’s vision is based on the knowledge that your needs, and the needs of each of our customers, fall at the intersection of these solutions. Syndigo’s portfolio of solutions is anchored by MDM, PIM, Syndication, Enhanced Content, and Analytics. Each product is highly competitive in the market and recognized by analysts as required to compete or best of breed. We offer dozens of integrations with enterprise systems and maintain the largest integrated distribution network for product content. Best of all, our solutions are composable in that you can build the solution that you want instead of paying for everything that you might not use. And even better, because we’re natively integrated across products you are avoiding paying the “integration tax” that you would otherwise be subject to.

We recognize that you need a place to create your source of truth, enrich it, curate it for channel partners, reliably distribute it, and gather insights for optimization. Unlike our competitors who started at the crossroads and are struggling to expand in multiple directions simultaneously, we have and continue to refine purpose-built user experiences to support the various personas and use cases for creating, governing, enriching, syndicating, and optimizing data.

Why Syndigo is different from the competition

For over five decades, Syndigo has focused on empowering our clients to deliver outstanding commercial results. By providing unparalleled value and an unmatched vision of excellence, we have built a network of more than 50,000 global users across more than 12,000 global brands and manufacturers, connecting with more than 1,750 global recipient connections.

It all starts with an unmatched focus on R&D. Our product and technology organization is substantial, featuring over 350 software developers with an annual R&D budget that exceeds 20% of revenues – well above industry averages. So, where others are downsizing, Syndigo is investing- in technology, in talent, and in training.

A wise person once said, “Predictions are hard, especially about the future.” At Syndigo, our product vision is centered around the idea that our customers operate in an extremely competitive environment that requires them to be able to make quick changes or big changes or even big changes quickly!

Because you don’t know the future, you can’t be tied to a solution that is inflexible. So, we’ve incorporated an application and software development kit (SDK) strategy that lets our customers be free to pursue the best course of action in managing their data. In conjunction with our cloud-native platform, there are no limits to how quickly you can adapt to your changing needs.

But it’s not just the product – it’s also our commercial and services organizations. In the last 12 months, we’ve enabled over 165 new recipients, built up a network of over 70+ partners, and feature over 400 customer-facing professionals. So, when you call for support, you’re not shouting into a vacuum, you’re talking to a dedicated professional who is eager to help fix your problems.

In a market where we have seen competitors cut headcount by as much as 32% in the last 12 months, we have increased our headcount by 47% since 2021. Rest assured that we will continue that growth and investment in our product, our teams, and our services into the future.

The result is the best solution in the marketplace for your needs, today. Whether you want a simple way to manage and send your product information to one online platform, or if you need to manage thousands of SKUs across many retailing partners, Syndigo has the expertise, the tools, and the team to get it done for you.

A transition so seamless you may not even notice it

We get it: Change is hard, and changing from one supplier to another is a decision process no one wants to go through. That’s why, based on the feedback and suggestions from industry leaders, Syndigo has put together our Safety program. At the heart of the Safety program is a desire to help ease the transition from one supplier to another. The typical fears of switching, like long transition times, or re-starting from “square one”, or expenses related to moving again—are all eliminated with the Syndigo Safety Series.

• Are you worried about your existing contracts? Syndigo is so confident that you’ll be much happier with us, that we’re willing to match your current price and buy out your contract in exchange for a 3-year term with us.
• Is it business continuity you’re concerned about? Our customers that we have signed from our competitors will tell you that the transition to Syndigo is seamless and that you will not have any interruptions in your productivity.
• Are you worried if Syndigo is indeed a better Marketing PIM for your needs? Read what a customer who switched over to us has to say. Patrick Larson, Digital Retail Content Specialist at NOW Foods said, “The biggest thing we saw when looking at Syndigo versus our previous provider was we an increase in efficiency through both Core Content and the Analytical Suite offerings on the content side. We saw the potential to save not five hours, not 10 hours, but actually hundreds of hours over the course of a year.”

And even though you may not notice the transition, you will definitely notice the difference in results, because your gains in efficiency and productivity will be easy to see.

Give us an opportunity to talk to you, and we guarantee you will be smiling by the end of the call. Make the right choice and join the hundreds of other customers who have made the switch from Salsify and are now part of the thousands of other happy customers.

The post Making the right choice for PXM in a changing market appeared first on Syndigo.

Understanding Retail Media

Retail media advertising is now an integral part of the shopping experience on e-commerce platforms. Users conducting searches on retail sites are exposed to a spectrum of advertisements tailored to their queries and interests.

It’s the combination of brand advertising, trade marketing, and more, all on a single platform. People applaud RMNs for their efficiency and cost-effectiveness, because of the ability to closely target specific types of customers who are at specific points in their buying journey.

An RMN can display at the “point of purchase,” precisely when a customer is actively searching and building their cart on platforms like Amazon, Kroger, or Walmart. This strategic placement allows products to feature primarily within search results or even on competing product pages.

Moreover, advanced platforms such as Amazon and Walmart possess sophisticated capabilities that transcend traditional keyword targeting. They use ad impressions to precisely track the entire purchase journey, ranging from initial exploration to final completion. This includes targeting users based on specific demographics, psychographics, or behavioral attributes, offering a more nuanced approach to reaching and engaging their audience.

Projection of Ad Spend Growth

According to industry experts like Forrester and McKinsey, the trajectory for retail media ad spending is soaring. Predictions foresees a doubling of ad dollars in the U.S. market within the next few years, escalating from approximately $45 billion to over $100 billion by 2026.

*Retail media ad spending is projected to hit 24.9% of total ad revenue by 2027, surpassing TV. 

Among all the ad spending for retail media, search results have become prime real estate. Brands can strategically position their products within search results or competing product pages on retailer platforms, ensuring high visibility during the shopping process.

Factors Driving Skyrocketing Ad Spending

• Precision in Audience Targeting. Inadequate targeting accuracy could result in missed placements, subsequently leading to missed revenue streams for brands.
• Pay-to-Play Dynamics. Competitive platforms like Amazon frequently tweak ad spending for prime placements, directly influencing organic search visibility and challenging brands to invest more in sponsored search for premium positioning.

The correlation between sponsorship and organic search visibility for brands who sell their products on platforms like Amazon is strong, especially for electronic products. Which means brands need to allocate specific ad budgets just to get a position on page one of relevant search results.

• Evolving Privacy Policies and Intensified Competition. The continuous evolution of privacy policies, coupled with an influx of advertisers entering the market, adds complexity to budget allocation, creating uncertainties and constant strategic reevaluations.

Syndigo’s Share of Voice – The Ultimate Solution

Imagine having a solution that automatically monitors all your brand placements without you lifting a finger. With Syndigo’s Share of Voice, this becomes a reality. Starting with a simple URL, the platform swiftly identifies and attributes all pertinent regions of interest to your brand, simplifying the process for you:

• Streamlining Manual Tracking. Automates the tedious task of tracking ad placements, ensuring a comprehensive overview of ad presence.
• Ensuring Accurate Display. Precisely showcases paid ad placements on retailer sites, enhancing visibility and effectiveness.
• Handling Unreliable Data. Eliminates inaccuracies in ad positioning and share of voice, enabling data-driven decision-making.
• Enhancing Consumer Experience. Optimizes ad placements, contributing to a seamless and engaging shopping experience.

As retail media continues to evolve, you will need a strategic edge for navigating this landscape – Syndigo’s Share of Voice can help you weave out a more efficient and cost-effective retail media strategy and achieve e-commerce success!

Connect with Syndigo today to elevate your brand’s digital presence.

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In our new research report, Unwrapped 2023: ​Product Content Performance in Peak Holiday Periods, we analyzed survey responses from over 1,400 consumers who shopped during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales event to learn what influenced their buying decision-making process, from product content to consumer experiences.

Download the report for a full breakdown of the data or read on for a preview of some of our findings.

Why Quality Product Content Matters for the Holidays

An informed shopper is more likely to turn into a buyer when they have the product information they want to feel confident about their gift purchases. Our analysis of the responses surfaced these insights and more.

Visions of Product Content Danced in Their Heads

On a happy note, about 80% of shoppers said they were able to find readily accessible information about the products they were considering. During a time when brands and retailers are competing for every moment of a shopper’s attention, and shoppers are making snap yes-or-no decisions, this is essential.

Oh, What Fun it is to Impulse Buy

Retailers count on shoppers to buy more than what’s on their holiday gift-giving list.

Thanks to persuasive product content, including creative imagery, information, and multimedia experiences, 40% of shoppers jumped at the chance to make unplanned purchases. This can be attributed to many things, but what we do know is that engaging content experiences and PIM-driven product recommendation engines are a pivotal contributor to motivating these types of sales.

Bah Humbug! Holiday Returns Are Coming Soon

Holiday returns are a major lump of coal in the stocking of retailers and distributors alike. They’re expensive to process and damage bottom-line profits.

Returns accounted for $816 billion in lost sales for U.S. retailers last year, according to the 2022 Consumer Returns in the Retail Industry report, conducted by the National Retail Federation. Though there are many reasons for returns, offering deep product knowledge upfront to set expectations and decrease disappointment should help contribute to lower return rates.

I’m Dreaming of… Enhanced Content

Shoppers told us that they prefer to experience certain types of product information when shopping during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales event.

A majority used the standard core information such as images, measurements, and ingredients—but Enhanced Content preferences were close behind. Here are a few popular ones that buyers looked at when making their purchasing decisions. This is something to keep in mind when developing your product content strategies for 2024.

Which, if any, of the following pieces of information do you look for to ensure you are making the right purchase for yourself/the receiver?

The post Unwrapped: New Syndigo Research on Black Friday-Cyber Monday Shoppers Uncovers the Influence of Product Content on Holiday Sales Success appeared first on Syndigo.