In the UK, new legislation requiring a ‘golden thread’ of digital information throughout the design, construction and management of buildings added further momentum to the programme. This reinforced the global manufacturer’s ambition to demonstrate regulatory compliance and establish itself as a digital pioneer in the industry.
Their data challenges
Complex global data landscape
The global manufacturer manages a diverse range of data across multiple federated divisions, covering both standardised and bespoke products within complex hierarchies. Their aim was to implement effective data governance and analytics to maintain consistency across all datasets.
Worldwide regulatory compliance
Operating in around 80 geographical locations, the organisation must meet stringent regulations, from heat convection standards to approved material use, while also adhering to varied international measurement systems.
Multilingual accessibility
To engage customers globally, product information needs to be available in roughly 30 languages, enabling autonomy for local markets.
From production to promotion
The product lifecycle spans manufacturing, focusing on design and build location, through to marketing, which must address regulatory requirements, market positioning and cultural adaptations.
Product differentiation in branding
The global manufacturer segments its markets strategically by offering a diverse range of product brands. This approach allows the business to appeal to different customer preferences while optimising its brand portfolio, all without altering manufacturing processes.
Legal and compliance workflows
Their legal and compliance processes, involving expert consultations and potential safety tests, are crucial to avoid significant fines, reputation damage or legal challenges.
Growth through mergers and acquisitions
The organisation typically acquires three to four companies each year, creating challenges in integrating multiple PIM systems. This requires a comprehensive approach to address cultural, political and technical complexities.
Cultivating a data-driven culture
With a workforce of around 22,000 but fewer than 10 dedicated data management specialists, the organisation operates an ultra-lean model that demands efficient, scalable capability and a strong data culture across its federated structure.
The solution
The global manufacturer partnered with Amplifi to deliver its comprehensive data programme, bringing in trusted data consultants to unite internal teams behind a shared vision. From the outset, Amplifi guided the programme’s direction, addressed critical challenges, and ensured every initiative stayed aligned with strategic goals.
Through proactive insight and innovative thinking, Amplifi fostered collaboration across the global business and turned a complex set of requirements into a series of manageable, high-impact initiatives. Together, these formed a coherent strategy that maintained momentum and focus, enabling the organisation to progress confidently towards its objectives.
Global PIM
A central focus of the programme was the implementation of a global PIM system. Initially, stakeholders were reluctant to engage in conceptual discussions, preferring quick, practical solutions. Amplifi addressed this by concentrating on proof of value. Two distinct business areas were selected to highlight the challenges ahead, from varying compliance requirements to multi-team workflows and to form the basis of a robust business case.
On the Stibo Systems’ STEP platform Amplifi developed a minimum viable product (MVP) that demonstrated clear, tangible benefits to stakeholders. The Central and Eastern European regions adopted the MVP early, providing an ideal proving ground for the approach. Designed for universal application, the MVP’s success prompted interest from other regions, leading to a global rollout across EMEA and further implementations in North America. Initially focused on the panels division, the PIM solution is now expanding into additional domains.
Strategic partner
Beyond PIM implementation, Amplifi provided strategic consulting to strengthen the global manufacturer's long-term data capability:
- Data architecture and governance: Recommendations on data architecture and technology governance to maintain integrity and support scalability.
- Integration strategies: Guidance on integrating the PIM system with existing IT infrastructure for seamless data flow and accessibility.
- Change management: Amplifi advocated for a consistent approach to change management, facilitating the adoption of new systems and processes across the company’s operations.
Innovation and engagement
Regular innovation sessions were organised, including collaborative meetings with industry leaders. These sessions allowed the organisation's stakeholders to step back from day-to-day operations and engage in creative problem-solving, helping to push the boundaries of what was established in the industry and fostering a culture of innovation.
The results seen with Amplifi
The work delivered through the programme has strengthened the global manufacturer's risk management and compliance position while streamlining product management processes. Key achievements include:
- Unified data management: A consistent, accurate view of product data across the business, improving accessibility.
- Complex workflow integration: Support for diverse workflows across divisions, critical for managing compliance issues that affect customer safety and product reliability.
- Improved compliance mechanisms: Automated alerts for expiring product certifications to ensure ongoing regulatory compliance.
- Scalability and future-proofing: A system designed to be scalable and future-proof, capable of handling future acquisitions, regulatory changes, market innovations, and diversification into new products and sectors.
Operational and financial benefits
The tangible benefits of these changes include significant operational efficiencies and cost savings:
- Cost savings: The global manufacturer have reported substantial weekly cost savings, approximately £40,000 since the implementation of the PIM system. This is attributed to increased efficiency and reduced need for repetitive tasks.
- Audit efficiency: The streamlined data management facilitated by the PIM system has also improved the efficiency of audits. For example, a recent audit in Finland which previously required weeks of preparation was seamlessly handled through the PIM, reducing stress, risk, and effort.
- Website improvement: The PIM project aims to enhance the quality of data presented on their website, which is expected to drive significant improvements in user experience and customer engagement once fully implemented.
- Reduced print and fulfilment costs: The PIM system has also contributed to a reduction in print and fulfilment costs, further enhancing their operational efficiency.
Future directions and ongoing support
Looking forward, the company is exploring the possibility of extending its data management practices including other data domains, such as customer and location data, to further leverage its PIM investment. It is using PIM as the enabler to deliver innovation and efficiency, supporting their ambition to establish themselves as the market leader in terms of digital capability.
Ongoing Global STEP support journey
Amplifi continues to offer comprehensive support for the Stibo Systems' STEP solutions in use at the company, ensuring both production and non-production systems operate smoothly. Our ongoing support includes enhancements, ticket management through Jira, incident handling, and service requests. We also manage SLAs for timely issue resolution, guide bulk data updates, and conduct quarterly performance reviews, coordinating closely with Stibo Systems to resolve any issues promptly.
