PIM and DAM Emerge as Allies in Retail Compliance and Risk Management

This feature article was contributed by Andy Didyk, SVP of Sales & Marketing at Ntara.

 

Compliance and risk management are high priorities in retail and manufacturing. There’s much at stake related to product safety, accurate labeling, website accessibility, and digital contracts.

For a brand, missing the mark could mean legal trouble and diminished customer trust. But successful compliance? That drives a competitive edge.

When facing this challenge, businesses find a strong ally in two core systems: product information management (PIM) and digital asset management (DAM). While powerful individually, PIM and DAM solutions pack an even stronger punch when working in tandem.

Compliance is an ever-moving target

Retailers and manufacturers face an array of regulations and requirements. Some of the most common include:

  • Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
  • Trademark laws
  • California Proposition 65
  • FDA labeling guidelines
  • Digital rights contracts
  • Accessibility laws (ADA, Section 508)
  • Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s (SPC) guidelines
  • The upcoming Digital Product Passport (DPP) requirements

And compliance is an ever-moving target. Advances in technology continuously reshape product standards, while consumer expectations evolve, demanding more transparency and ethical practices.

In this dynamic landscape, compliance without accurate and accessible data is an uphill battle. But with PIM and DAM, businesses gain the data quality, governance, and process speed required to stay ahead.

Laying the foundation for PIM + DAM

First, consider that a PIM system is the backbone of product data accuracy and consistency. PIM software empowers companies to gain the type of data quality and governance required for achieving a golden record to support compliance.

DAM software brings the same type of governance and workflow to the realm of digital assets (and the metadata behind them).

Let’s explore a real-world example of why both systems are crucial for managing compliance and risk.

Use case: Food allergen claims require strict compliance

Imagine a food manufacturer offering gluten-free products. They must manage documentation and certification status, along with data about ingredients, expiration dates, facility safety, and descriptions.

But that’s not all. They also juggle badges and logos from the National Celiac Association, label images, recipe videos, and other marketing content. Each digital asset needs metadata around when, where, and how it can support gluten-free claims. Plus, any image with a model will require digital rights management to avoid a contract breach.

In these scenarios, PIM helps companies take complex and connected data points that affect compliance and unify them into a single source of truth. And, by applying DAM, they’ll gain an organized library to easily add, search, enrich, update, and share content across channels.

The synergies of PIM + DAM

Now, here’s where the magic happens. An even greater advantage lies in integrating PIM and DAM systems. When connected, they complement each other seamlessly to streamline compliance and risk management efforts in the following ways:

  • Rules and automation: Automation can be established so that when a new asset is added, certain fields auto-populate based on data found within PIM. This saves hours of manual work and helps generate a more complete and consistent asset record.
  • Version control: Updates to product data in PIM are seamlessly mirrored in DAM (and vice versa), ensuring that the correct (i.e., compliant) images match the right products in approved ways.
  • Efficiency: This integrated approach vastly streamlines workflows, reducing the potential for human errors and mismanagement that could lead to compliance issues.

Businesses gain an edge by combining the strengths of PIM and DAM. They can move fast, limit costly mistakes, and avoid legal woes that slow progress and innovation.

Where to start with PIM + DAM

Retailers and manufacturers interested in a PIM + DAM approach can take the following steps to get the ball rolling:

  • Consider whether existing or legacy systems can scale to the complexities of product information, digital assets, and metadata requirements.
  • Evaluate whether PIM and DAM systems—existing or new—can be easily integrated for a seamless flow of data. And if not, consider how outside assistance could help.
  • Look closely at people and processes. Do employees understand the value or how to use the tools? Are forms missing compliance-related fields? Is the user experience burdensome? Without addressing key process improvements, even the best technology can fail.
  • Find ways to automate manual processes that no longer make sense for the organization. The time-savings alone can be transformative to your compliance efforts.

By carefully aligning technology choices with specific compliance needs—and systematically refining manual processes—PIM + DAM becomes a strong ally in your fight to maintain compliance, carefully manage risks, and strengthen brand trust.

 

About Andy Didyk

Andy Didyk is SVP, Sales & Marketing at DAM and PIM solutions provider Ntara.  To learn more about how Ntara approaches PIM and DAM consulting and implementation, visit Ntara.com.

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