Inheritance in a PIM: gain consistency and productivity
Managing hundreds or even thousands of products often involves dealing with common characteristics. Materials, standards, logos, instructions for use, shared visuals... This information is naturally found on several references in the same range.
Without an inheritance mechanism, it is the double entry guaranteed, with its share of oversights and mistakes. Teams are wasting valuable time re-entering the same data, while the risks of inconsistency are increasing.
The aim of this article? Understand how inheritance makes it possible to pool product information in an intelligent way, and find out how SolidPepper takes advantage of this feature in a simple and powerful way.
What is inheritance in a PIM?
Inheritance in a PIM (Product Information Management) refers to a mechanism that allows automatic transmission of information from a parent level (for example, a product family or a range) to child levels (such as individual references or combinations).
Concretely, this means that data entered at a higher (parent) level is propagate automatically to all the elements that depend on it. For example, if you define a common characteristic at the range level, such as a material or a main color, this information will automatically be applied to associated products without requiring manual entry.
This inheritance process is particularly useful to save time, avoid human error, and ensure consistency in product information management. With this feature, businesses can keep their product catalogs up to date in a much more accurate way. efficient and centralized, which is essential for multiple distribution channels and large data volumes.
Concrete examples of inheritance
Take the case of a furniture manufacturer. At the level of the range “Scandinavian chairs”, we can define:
- The main material : solid beech wood, chosen for its robustness and timeless aesthetics.
- Applicable standards : EN 1022 (furniture stability) and EN 1728 (resistance and durability), essential standards to guarantee the safety and quality of products.
- The logo of the collection : a visual element that reinforces the identity of the range and its recognition among customers.
- Care instructions : essential for extending the life of the product and maintaining its appearance.
- Ambient visuals : inspiring images that highlight products in the context in which they are used.
This information will automatically be spread to all the variants of the range: white chair, black chair, natural chair, etc.
Strict inheritance vs overloaded inheritance
In a PIM (Product Information Management), there are two types of inheritance:
- Strict inheritance : Inherited data cannot be changed at the level of children's products. This type of heritage is ideal for regulatory information (like standards) or brand elements (like the logo) that need to stay consistent and consistent on all declinations.
- The overburdened heritage : Inherited data can be changed locally when needed. This is particularly useful for information such as technical descriptions, which may require specific adjustments depending on the characteristics of each variation (for example, the description of a black chair could include specific details about its surface treatment).
Why heritage is essential in product management
Avoid repeated manual entry
Without inheritance, each new reference requires a complete capture of all its characteristics. For a catalog of 1000 products divided into 20 ranges, this represents hours of repetitive work with no added value.
Inheritance transforms this logic: instead of entering the same information 1000 times, you define them once at the level of the range.
Ensuring the consistency of information
Nothing is more harmful to a brand than contradictory information between products in the same range.
Legacy ensures that all children's products have the same common characteristics, eliminating the risks of inconsistency.
Facilitate data maintenance
When a standard evolves or a visual needs to be updated, inheritance makes it possible to make the change all in one place.
The change is Automatically propagate to all the products concerned.
Reducing human errors
Repeated manual entry is a source of errors: typos, forgotten information, wrong data...
Inheritance minimizes these risks by centralizing the entry of common information.
A good inheritance system = less typing, more consistency.
👉 Test dynamic heritage in SolidPepper PIM
How does inheritance work in SolidPepper
Setting inheritance levels
SolidPepper makes it possible to define a clear hierarchy: family > subfamily > product > combination. Each level can inherit information from the higher level and transmit its own data to the lower level.
This flexible architecture adapts to all sectors of activity, from textiles to electronics through the food industry.
Multiple inheritable fields
Legacy in SolidPepper is not limited to text. You can have:
- Technical descriptions
- Images and visuals
- Data tables
- Pictograms and logos
- PDF documents
- Links to external resources
Intelligent exception management
SolidPepper offers the possibility to create local overloads when needed. A product can thus inherit 90% of the characteristics of its range while having its own specificities.
It is also possible to Disable inheritance from time to time for some fields, offering a total flexibility to the teams.
Intuitive visual tracking
The SolidPepper interface allows you to locate At a glance fields inherited from fields modified locally. This transparency facilitates maintenance and avoid handling errors..
Download our technical sheet “Mastering the product heritage in SolidPepper”
Use case: a manufacturer with ranges and variations
Let's take the example of a lighting manufacturer that offers several ranges with multiple variations.
The initial problem
The company markets 800 references divided into 15 ranges. Each range comes in several sizes, colors and finishes. However, before the legacy was implemented, teams were wasting considerable time re-entering the same information for each reference. This included:
- Les manufacturing materials
- Les safety pictograms
- Les installation instructions
- Les ambient visuals
- Les mandatory certifications
This lack of structure led to: significant losses of time, duplicates, and sometimes inconsistencies between product sheets.
The solution with inheritance
By adopting SolidPepper, the company has completely restructured its product catalog. The principle? Centralize common information to all references in the same range and enter only the specific characteristics (dimensions, weight, references) at the level of the combinations.
With this approach, the teams were able to:
- Streamline and centralize common data.
- Automate repetitive tasks through inheritance.
- Gain consistency across all product sheets.
The results obtained
The benefits of this organization are undeniable:
- Time saver : The time to create new references has been Divided by 4.
- Eliminating redundancies : No more duplicates or inconsistencies between references.
- Increased productivity : Product sheets can now be mass-generated and automatically exported to all distribution channels (web, print, marketplaces).
The business benefits of a well-structured heritage
Productivity gain for teams
Legacy frees up valuable time for data and marketing teams. No more hours lost in repetitive typing and time-consuming tasks. Thanks to this system, teams can refocus on missions with higher added value, such as enriching content, optimizing product descriptions or even analyzing performance. This increase in productivity is directly reflected in better operational efficiency and greater responsiveness to market changes.
Drastic reduction in errors
Inconsistencies between products in the same range are now a thing of the past. With inheritance, key information is centralized and automatically passed on to all child products. This ensures that each product displays accurate and consistent data. The result: a significant reduction in errors, fewer customer complaints and better overall satisfaction. This level of reliability is essential for brands looking to maintain an image of quality and professionalism.
Centralized update made easy
A change to make? An update is sufficient at the parent level. Whether it is to adapt a standard, modify a visual or update a legal notice, it is no longer necessary to intervene on each product sheet individually. The change automatically propagates to all linked products, ensuring a quick, consistent, and effortless update. This allows you to remain compliant and relevant, while saving a significant amount of time.
Export automation
Legacy information automatically feeds into all your broadcast media. Whether it's PDF catalogs, e-commerce sites, marketplaces or even POS materials, everything is updated without the risk of being forgotten. This multi-channel automation ensures perfect consistency between your various contact points, thus strengthening your brand image. In addition, it eliminates duplication of work, optimizing your internal processes and reducing errors associated with manual interventions.
Transform your product management with intelligent heritage
Inheritance in a PIM: much more than a simple technical feature
The legacy in a PIM (Product Information Management) is a real performance accelerator that is transforming the management of your product information. No more repetitive data entry, make way for intelligent data propagation. This allows you to earn trustworthiness, in productivity And in governance.
A focus on added value
With this approach, your teams can focus on What really matters: creating value for your customers. The SolidPepper heritage allows you to structure your catalog Once and for all, freeing users from the constraints of double entry and reducing inconsistencies between products in the same range.
🚀 With SolidPepper, structure your catalog once, inherit intelligently: gain in reliability and productivity!
An integrated multilingual solution
SolidPepper also integrates a translation management tool. This feature allows you to easily offer your catalog in several languages to reach an international audience. Whether you want to develop your market abroad or simply improve the user experience, your products can be available in multiple language versions without extra effort.
Automated updates for total consistency
Our automated update system ensures that all your information stays up to date and consistent, on all platforms where your catalog is distributed. This means fewer mistakes, significant time savings, and valuable resources.
With SolidPepper, simplify your product information management while increasing the performance and impact of your catalogs!
