Background on the Product data manager

The organization is worldwide leading supplier of consumer products in their branche and sells its products via resellers. In order to support the resellers they develop several sales ‘channels:

• Catalogues
• A webshop
• API/XML connections

It’s legacy channel is the catalogue. A 300+ pages book where we publish our 12.000 products. Catalogues are created only a couple of times per year, with lots of manual work. Almost the opposite ‘dynamic’ compared to the digital tools: here the focus is automation, speed (daily data updates) and ‘first time right’ content
 
This multi-channel approach has led to some tactical challenges:

• We used to create content for one channel only (the catalogue); now we have 3 channel with ‘own’ content requirements. How to align this, without compromising on quality?
• All internal processes have been designed to launch new products once or twice a year (because we only print a catalogue once or twice a year). The webshop can launch a product instantly.  How to change our ‘big bang’ product introductions culture, to a constant delivery focus?

The Product Data Manager (PDM)

Launching products according to the online dynamics of automation, speed and high quality content is not a ‘nice to have’. Product lifecycles are shorter and  a trendy product today can be outdated tomorrow. In order to survive in a competitive product landscape, it’s of strategic importance to be able to launch product quick and complete.

 
The PDM manger is responsible these two important KPI’s:

• Decreasing the lead time of launching a products
• Decreasing data/content gaps on the go live of products

In order to improve the KPI’s the PDM manager is supported by a (just implemented ) Product Information Management (PIM) system. The PIM system is currently only a content database, but should be adjusted – based on input of the PDM manager – to our own needs. We need to introduce workflows, product validations, reports etcs.
 
Because the PIM system is totally new for the organization, we expect that the PDM manager needs a couple of years to set-up the PIM system as efficient as possible. However, the KPI’s are not only improved only because of good working system. In a later stage we expect the PDM manager to improve internal content/data processes as well. In a global company - that launches decorated products -  this is easily said than done. Especially considering the number of departments involved in the launch process: Product Management, IT, operations, e-commerce, sales, purchasing, Compliance and Marketing. In order to be successful you need to be able to convince and guide all these stakeholders. You need to show you ‘lean’ , ‘political’ and ‘project management’ skills!
 
The PDM managers reports to the e-commerce director
 

Candidate profile

The ideal candidate has at least 3 years of working experience – in a digital environment. You like to work on data and content (files), and are eager learning to understand and manage our new PIM system. In order to be successful you need to have a ‘sense’ on efficient processes as well. Basic understanding on lean management is an asset, but your social skills should make the difference to get insights on working procedures of all the stakeholders. Needed for the most efficient PIM set-up.

 
About the organization

It is an European and worldwide leading supplier of fmcg products in the branche. With offices in 8 locations we sell to every country in Europe. Our headquarters are based near Schiphol. We supply a wide range of promotional, lifestyle and gift products to almost 15,000 distributors. Our products are delivered decorated with the customers logo and can be shipped directly to the end users. We carry over 12,000 different products that can be marketed under proprietary or licensed trademarks. Our success stems from an integrated global product development division, in-house sourcing, a high-quality buying operation in the Far East, as well as a sophisticated printing and logistics centre in Poland.