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Find out what improvements are included in the new Akeneo PIM 5.0

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The new Akeneo PIM 5.0 version comes with a revamped rules engine / © Akeneo

The new Akeneo PIM 5.0 version comes with a revamped rules engine / © Akeneo

The new Akeneo PIM 5.0 is now available in Enterprise and Community editions. The French multinational Akeneo, of which ASM Web Services is an official partner, has released a revamped version of its product information management system. The new PIM comes a year after the previous version was launched during the Akeneo PIM Summit 2020. In this post we summarize the main new features.

1. Increase automation with Akeneo PIM 5.0

The new version of Akeneo PIM comes with a revamped rules engine that includes Rules Builder. This new screen will allow users to create and manage business rules more easily. The screen takes all actions from YML files (which will remain available) and allows marketing teams to, for example, automatically categorize products, copy attribute values or set defaults.

2. Increased connectivity

A new API has also been introduced to facilitate data synchronization and distribution with third-party applications. The Events API accelerates data synchronization between Akeneo PIM and third-party applications. This new API is complementary to the existing REST API.

In addition, the new Akeneo PIM 5.0 features enhancements to Connections to allow users to track sent and received data more accurately. Increased autonomy to act on synchronization errors.

3. More facilities for monitoring data quality

The enhanced Data Quality Insights dashboard is another new feature of Akeneo PIM 5.0. It is designed to make it easier to monitor product data quality and get recommendations on how to improve it. It incorporates advanced spell checking features and language coverage to meet the needs of internationalized businesses.

4. Improves import and export

Import and export capabilities are also improved. A stop button and progress bar have been added, as well as new export profiles for assets and reference entities. Users can choose to export attribute tags instead of attribute codes.

5. Add custom units of measure

Finally, Akeneo PIM 5.0 allows you to easily create custom measurement units and measurement families, which join the wide range of traditional and standard measurements available in PIM.

Interested in any of the new features of the new version of Akeneo PIM? Get in touch with us. The ASM Web Services team will help you integrate this management system into your eCommerce.

 

Evolution in times of pandemic (Summary of the year)

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2020 has without a doubt been marked by the coronavirus pandemic. The new context generated has forced society to reinvent itself to overcome an unprecedented situation. At ASM Web Services we have done our best to make adversity an opportunity. Throughout the year we have worked on the evolution of our operating model, a process that has led to an internal reshuffle, the creation of new production areas and the inauguration of another territorial office.

We open an office in Madrid

In 2018 we began the deployment of an expansion strategy for the domestic market, with the opening of an office in León. In September we took yet another step by opening a new office in Madrid, which manages all the projects in the areas of Madrid and Eastern Spain. It is headed by José Rodríguez, who has a background in telecommunications and IT, having worked for companies like Vodafone, Siemens and GE. He has extensive experience in the development of PIM–Product Information Management projects.

José Rodríguez de ASM Web Services

We open an office in Madrid headed by José Rodriguez

V2MSoftware takeover

In addition to territorial growth, this year we have also grown our team with the incorporation of the production unit of the V2MSoftware firm, which reinforces our mobile division. The process of acquiring V2MSoftware has meant integration into our organization of a specialized, highly qualified team that has worked for large, important customers such as Fira de Barcelona, TMB–Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona, AMB–Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona, Deliberry, Manusa, and the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

We reorganize and launch a new website

The new internal organization has led to the creation of three new divisions, in addition to the already operational Product Information Management, E-commerce, Software Engineering and Mobile Apps units. The new divisions are Data Science, dedicated to data lifecycle management; the Pricing Optimization unit, focusing on developing software to monitor, calculate and manage dynamic pricing models; and finally the Systems and Cloud Computing unit, which specializes in creating cloud projects and cloud migrations.

This renewed operating model incorporates another innovative element, the ASM Tech Hubs. They are highly specialized development centres. We have launched three Tech Hubs, one in Barcelona, focusing on Mobile App development; another in Mataró, dedicated to Data Science projects, and a third  in León, dedicated to Software Engineering and Pricing Optimization Tools.

All these transformations have been reflected in the new website launched last July.

Hemos lanzado una nueva página web

We have launched a new website

A more specialized team in cloud migrations

We ended the first part of the summary of the year talking about our team. At ASM Web Services we have staff trained in cloud migration processes with hands-on experience and a thorough knowledge of multiple platforms. And in 2020 they have further expanded their capabilities. Systems technician David Solé has obtained the Azure Administrator Associate certification, while technical consultant Joaquín Jiménez has also extended his knowledge of cloud computing, obtaining five official certifications from Cloudinary.

Click here for the second part 

We expand our repertoire of technological solutions (Part 2)

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We carried out this process of introspection and evolution, which coincides with our 17th anniversary, alongside the development of technological projects for our clients. One of them was for Werfen.

A worldwide leader in in-vitro diagnostics, the company took the strategic decision to migrate from IBM SmartCloud to Microsoft’s Office 365 cloud. The project required Werfen’s SmartCloud services to coexist for a specific period alongside the new Office 365 cloud. To achieve this, a coexistence strategy was executed using Binary Tree’s CMT software.

In addition to this migration process, we must add the process we managed for General Optica, a company dedicated to the manufacture, design and distribution of optical fashion, who decided to move all their corporate mailboxes to Microsoft Office 365.

Roca takes the leap to Akeneo PIM 4.0

In 2020, Akeneo launched a new version of its PIM–Product Information Management system, Akeneo PIM 4.0. Precisely one of the most outstanding projects we carried out last year was linked to this launch and consisted of a migration from Akeneo 2.3 to Akeneo 4.0, which we carried out for Roca. .

To do that we had to clear the considerable technological leap between the two versions, especially with regard to the graphical interface, which in the current version was developed using React. We also developed the connector with Cloudinary DAM and created relationship attributes between products and entities.

Hemos gestionado la migración de la versión Akeneo 2.3 a la versión 4.0 para Roca. 

We managed migration from Akeneo 2.3 to Akeneo 4.0 for Roca

Optimization of Brico Depôt’s eCommerce infrastructures

Another project linked to the eCommerce sector was one carried out for Brico Depôt, a French chain of DIY, garden and home renovation products. It consisted of optimizing its online stores in Spain and Portugal, developed with Magento using the Azure infrastructure, Microsoft’s public pay-per-use cloud.

Restrictions on physical stores imposed because of the Covid-19 pandemic sharply increased traffic to the Brico Depôt online store. In order to maintain optimum performance and to improve scalability, it was necessary to redefine its architecture in record time. To do that, we created elastic infrastructures in Kubernetes, a market-leading platform ideal for hosting cloud-native applications that require rapid expansion.

First development of a PWA for Bodegas Torres

The year that has just ended saw our debut in the field oBodegas Torres The year that has just ended saw our debut in the field of PWA–Progressive Web App development. Bodegas Torres decided to entrust us with the migration of its e-commerce platform to Magento 2 within their omnichannel strategy for the entire group. After analysing the characteristics of the project, we proposed development of a new Front End in ReactJS, and creation of an integrated PWA with a Magento 2 Back End, which will speed up browsing and improve online channel conversion.”> decided to entrust us with the migration of its eCommerce platform to Magento 2 within their omnichannel strategy for the entire group. After analysing the characteristics of the project, we proposed development of a new Front End in ReactJS, and creation of an integrated PWA with a Magento 2 Back End, which will speed up browsing and improve online channel conversion.

The project is still in execution and we estimate that it will be ready for delivery in April 2021.

Creamos una PWA integrada con un Back End de Magento 2 para Bodegas Torres

We create an integrated PWA with a Magento 2 Back End for Bodegas Torres

Implementation of a BOM system for CoverCar

An entirely different undertaking was the project for CoverCar, a company dedicated to stamping, cutting and sewing of textile covers and interiors for cars. As part of the project to implement the MRP system developed at the time by ASMWS and integrated with the SAP B1 ERP system, we designed and implemented a new tool to manage the BOM–Bill Of Materials system for them. We did this alongside customer order processing via EDI. The main objective of the BOM system is to feed the MRP—Material Requirements Planning system when determining how many components are needed, as well as when the Master Production Plan is to be executed. This is translated into a series of purchase orders and the manufacture of the materials necessary to satisfy the demand for the end products.

Concerning BOM system management and maintenance, we have managed to streamline and automate the Commercial and Engineering processes transversally and integrated them with the Purchasing, Logistics and Quality areas.

Covid-19 has forced us to rethink a lot of things, but at least one or two have remained the same for us: perseverance and teamwork, which are two good ways to overcome adversity.

 

Click here if you want to read the first part of the Summary of the year

Opportunities for the online store in 2021

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Opportunities for the online store in 2021

Online shopping has become the first choice for many consumers.

Online store usage soared during 2020 in Spain. The e-commerce sector reached a turnover of 12,243 million euros in the first quarter of 2020, 11.6% more than in the same period of 2019, according to data from the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC).

Online shopping has become the first choice for many consumers and the trend will continue in 2021. 67% of consumers expect to increase their spending on online shopping in the coming months, according to data from the study prepared by Google Internationalization online: an opportunity for companies.

This report also shows that 33% of Spanish users claim to have bought something in recent months in an online store where they had not done so before the coronavirus.

To take advantage of this context of growth, we have made a selection of the opportunities that will present themselves to the online store in 2021.

Quality product information

93% of shoppers already get information and search for what they are interested in through the online channel, as stated in IAB Spain’s 2020 Annual eCommerce Study. Marketplaces such as Amazon, Ebay or Aliexpress are still the reference for product information among users. However, the websites of the stores themselves and search engines are growing compared to 2019 to reach 51% and 49% of searches, respectively. Having quality product content is key to offering consumers the information they are looking for at the right time and in the right place. To this end, having a PIM (Product Information Management), a product information management system, is essential. Akeneo PIM is one of the most powerful platforms on the market, simplifying the process of integrating suppliers and data sources. Regardless of the number of products in the catalog, Akeneo PIM helps to organize all the information and streamlines the way it is managed.

Secure payments become the only option

With the entry into force of the European PSD2 payment directive at the beginning of 2021, two-step customer identification (except for small payments) and secure payments will become the only option for selling, both physically and online. A commitment to payment technology that facilitates PSD2 compliance is a must.

The rise of social commerce will continue

The main social networks (Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest) have been incorporating functionalities that integrate or favor e-commerce through the platform itself. Social commerce, i.e. the integration of social platforms into the online commerce circuit, will increase in the coming year. It will do so either as a direct sales method or as a means for users to get information or advice on a product or service they are considering purchasing.

The chatbot, increasingly indispensable

Email conversations and phone calls are going out of fashion and consumers are losing interest in them. Chatbots will be an excellent way for online stores to provide customer support and clear the doubts they have about a product. In many occasions having a chatbot will make the difference between getting a sale or not.

Voice Commerce’s big breakthrough?

Voice search is one of the e-commerce trends that could make the biggest impact in the coming year. According to e-commerce data from ComsCore, by 2021 more than 50% of digital search queries will be by voice. According to data from the consulting firm Gartner, companies that support visual and voice search on their websites can achieve a 30% increase in online store revenues by 2021.

 

6 advantages that Akeneo PIM 4.0 brings to an online store

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6 ventajas que aporta el Akeneo PIM 4.0 a una tienda online

Akeneo PIM 4.0 incorporates new features and has enhanced some of those already in place.

El Akeneo PIM 4.0 makes life easier for teams responsible for managing online stores. PIM. or Product Information Management, is an application that integrates with a company’s online commerce platform of choice—Magento or SalesForce Commerce, for example—along with other sales channels and software systems. This tool allows you to maintain control over all areas of eCommerce.

The latest version of their PIM released by Akeneo for the market, includes new features and has enhanced some of those already in place. Here are 6 of the main advantages that Akeneo PIM 4.0 brings to an online store.

Akeneo PIM 4.0 enhances product experience

By using Asset Manager, PIM users can visually manage and transform product-related digital assets to deliver robust, targeted product experiences in the online store. Additionally, it enables you to link assets to product catalogues through improved API-level integration with existing DAM–Digital Asset Management systems.

Suggestions for enriching product information

Akeneo PIM 4.0 incorporates the Data Quality Insights feature, which gives users automatic suggestions to improve product data. PIM assesses product data accuracy and quality, automatically flags misspellings and incorrect formatting, and displays data quality ratings on a colour-coded dashboard.

Increased conversion rate

Better product information means more sales and fewer returns. According to Akeneo’s figures, conversion rates increase by up to 56%.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence

The Franklin Insights library of technical product information developed by Akeneo uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to automatically suggest product attributes for the catalogues. Marketers can review and accept Franklin’s suggestions with a single click, ensuring a streamlined path to product data enrichment.

Ease of connection

The new connections module simplifies connection management, allowing users to easily establish and manage third-party connectors from a single panel.

Reduce Time to Market

An online store with the new Akeneo PIM 4.0 can market products faster, via several channels and to several regions.