Their data landscape included:
- Legacy systems containing product, supplier, and inventory data.
- Bespoke internal platforms used for store and digital operations.
- Enterprise systems such as SAP for enterprise resource planning.
The project covered over 260,000 products, including ~80,000 parent products and ~175,000 SKUs. Poor data quality left customers facing incomplete product pages, with missing details such as ingredients, specifications, images and delivery information. In some cases, even vital safety information like allergens was locked in static image files, creating compliance risks.
As a result, customers were turning away, and the retailer’s digital market was shrinking. To restore confidence and improve sales, the business urgently needed a single, trusted source of accurate and enriched product data.
The solution: creating a golden record and migrating data
Amplifi assembled two dedicated teams to tackle the retailer’s challenges in tandem:
- A PIM implementation team, focused on establishing the Stibo Systems STEP platform, designing its data model, and establishing governance processes.
- A migration team, tasked with preparing, transforming, and migrating the retailer’s data into the new system. (Read all about the migration project here!)
The PIM team partnered with the client to define a structure for managing the full lifecycle of product data. We identified seven key data sources to create a single, trusted golden record for each product. Then, clear workflows were introduced to define roles and responsibilities, providing visibility and control over each stage of data curation, enrichment, and maintenance.
We integrated external data pools, such as Brandbank, to enrich product information with trusted digital assets like images, videos, and specifications. This ensured that products could be displayed on the website with complete and accurate information, both legally and commercially. Additionally, custom exporters were built so the retailer’s website could consume PIM data while running smoothly.
Meanwhile, the migration team used our proven ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) approach to move data into the new system. By running the PIM implementation alongside migration, we accelerated delivery while managing complexity and interdependencies.
Results: Trusted data, improved digital performance, and long-term value
We delivered the data to a 99.9% accuracy rate by the final migration, with the remaining 0.1% of known issues quickly resolved as part of standard operations.
With Stibo Systems STEP in place, the retailer now has:
- A centralised, trusted source of product data, enriched and validated through external sources.
- Stronger governance, with clear processes for curation, maintenance, and lifecycle management.
- Improved operational efficiency, with simplified day-to-day processes and faster product onboarding.
- A revitalised digital footprint, ensuring customers have access to accurate, complete, and compelling product content.
The improvements are already making a difference. Customers can shop with confidence, supported by reliable product information. Trust has been strengthened, and digital sales are growing again, reversing the decline caused by poor-quality data.
Since go-live, Amplifi has continued to support the retailer by handling over 50+ enhancement requests and ongoing best-practice guidance, helping them get the most value from their new PIM platform.
Catherine Cherry, Director of Data Management at Amplifi, commented "This was a significant, complex project, with a large-scale migration and PIM implementation running in parallel. Success was achieved through collaboration between our teams and the retailer, ensuring not just a smooth delivery, but a platform they can continue to evolve and grow with. By combining our Stibo Systems expertise with strategic data migration planning and execution, we’ve created a strong foundation for the retailer’s eCommerce platforms.
Looking at selecting, implementing, or strengthening your current PIM platform? We can help. Download our guide to Levelling up with MDM below, or, if you're ready to take the next step, get in touch with our MDM experts to start a conversation about how your organisation can master your master data.
