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Akeneo

From scattered data to a single source.

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Three situations we encounter every day.

Why choose an Akeneo partner?

  • Your product data is stored in four different locations

    Specifications are in a spreadsheet, descriptions are in the online store, images are on a network drive, and the current price is in the ERP. Anyone making a change has to update all four locations—or risks forgetting three of them. We consolidate these sources into a single, authoritative source of truth.

  • Adding a new channel or language takes months

    Every new channel or language requires manual copying, and each marketplace has its own format requirements. As a result, an expansion takes months instead of weeks. With a PIM, you can supply content to each channel from a single source.

  • You don’t know which products are listed online with incomplete information

    Products go live with incomplete specifications or no images, and you don’t realize this until a customer calls or returns the item. Akeneo shows you what’s missing for each product before it goes live.

Akeneo as the engine behind your product data

Your product catalog is growing faster than your ability to manage it. Things go well for a while, and then suddenly they don’t: a price listed on the site that differs from the one in the ERP, a marketplace that rejects your feed, a product that’s been online without an image for weeks.

Akeneo is the engine that brings structure to this. All product information is centralized in one place, with separate outputs for each channel and language. You enrich a product once, and it appears everywhere in the correct format.

With a PIM implementation, the work isn’t in the software but in the agreements surrounding it: who enters what, when is a product considered complete, and which system takes precedence in the event of a conflict. We answer those questions before we start building.

What We Do with Akeneo

We start with the product model: what attributes do you need, what variants exist, and how do product families relate to one another. That model determines whether you’ll still be able to move forward in three years or if you’ll have to start over, so we take our time with it.

Next, we set up the integrations with your ERP, your online store, and your sales channels, and we configure the completeness rules that indicate when a product is ready to go live. Translation workflows are also part of this, so that entering a new market doesn’t become a new project.

Finally, the people: a PIM only works if the colleagues who supply products actually use it. We tailor the workflows to how your team works and guide the transition.

What’s the difference between Akeneo and InRiver?

Redkiwi is a partner of both and earns nothing from your choice. They are both full-fledged PIM systems; the difference lies in their focus and how you want to manage them. Below, you’ll see how they differ, so you can decide for yourself which one suits your organization.

Akeneo

  • Voordeel: Open-source core, also available as SaaS
  • Voordeel: Strong in enrichment and completeness
  • Voordeel: Extensive ecosystem of connectors
  • Voordeel: Scales up from a smaller product range
  • Voordeel: “When will this product be complete?”

InRiver

  • Voordeel: SaaS, closed platform
  • Voordeel: Strong in digital asset management
  • Voordeel: Built-in channel and syndication tools
  • Voordeel: Designed for large, complex product ranges
  • Voordeel: “Where is the latest version of this image?”

Three things you’ll notice in our collaboration.

Why choose Redkiwi as your Akeneo partner?

  • You can see for yourself what’s still missing

    You’ll see what’s missing for each product and channel, and your team works directly in the system. Every month, we’ll review together where the turnaround time is getting bogged down, and you’ll decide where we need to make adjustments. You stay in the driver’s seat; we’ll make sure the data supports that.

  • Independent advice

    We also advise against using a PIM if your product range is stable and you sell through a single channel. In that case, clear agreements are more cost-effective than a system. That’s what ownership means to us.

  • Since 2004, with a dedicated point of contact

    Redkiwi has been building online stores, integrations, and data structures since 2004. As a result, we’re familiar with the systems on both sides of the PIM. You’ll work with a dedicated specialist who knows your product range and your supply chain.

Frequently Asked Questions About PIM

01/ When do I need a PIM?
As soon as your product information is maintained in more than one place or needs to be distributed to more than one channel. If you sell a stable product range through a single online store, clear agreements are more cost-effective than a system. That’s exactly what we tell our clients.
02/ How long does a PIM implementation take?
Most of the work isn’t in the software itself, but in the product model and the agreements surrounding it: which attributes you need, who enters what data, and which system takes precedence in the event of a conflict. Expect it to take several months, with the first few weeks devoted to developing that model.
03/ Does a PIM replace my ERP?
No, they complement each other. The ERP system is the primary source for inventory, pricing, and logistics. The PIM system is the primary source for everything the customer sees: specifications, text, images, and variants by channel. During setup, we specify for each field which system takes precedence.
04/ Can I handle multiple languages and markets with a PIM?
Yes. Translation workflows are built into the system, so adding a new market doesn’t become a new project. For each language and channel, you specify which fields need to be translated and when a product is ready to go live.