Meltex is a domestic pipe and well manufacturer and an importer of construction materials. Meltex offers a versatile product selection, special expertise in the building supplies industry, and fast deliveries all over Finland. Product information is centrally related to operations. Product information is published in several channels, such as the online store and the product data banks of LVI Info and Rakennustieto. In addition, product information is published in numerous sales materials, such as price lists, catalogs, shelf edge labels and product cards.
Previously, product information was managed in several places
Before centralized product information management, information related to products was managed by Meltex in numerous different places. Product information on the website was managed in the user interface of the website, price lists were maintained in Excel tables and catalogs in the marketing agency partner's InDesign files, product brochures were made manually and product images were on various web disks, as well as user manuals and other product documents. The product information was therefore scattered in several different sources.
"The decision to go into cooperation was the right one - Adeona PIM has met expectations."
- Jens Boe, director of development, Meltex Oy
The work started with definitions
In 2018, Meltex started as a pilot customer of the new generation Adeona PIM software without prejudice. At the same time, Meltex adopted the Adeona Sales Tool publication automation for the production of sales and marketing materials.
The introduction of product information management started with joint definition workshops. In the definition workshops, all its current and product information flows were reviewed, as well as plans and wishes for how they would work in the future. The entire process of product information management was rethought, from the creation of the product to operational control and when it is published in a publishing channel. In the same context, all publication channels where product information is displayed were identified. There are a surprising number of them. The definition also considered roles and responsibilities in the product process.
As the saying goes: "Well planned is half done". The next work phase was establishing the information model, products and product information in Adeona PIM product information management in accordance with the specifications. After the product information had been exported to Adeona, we were able to start using it in different publishing channels. The products with all their information are transferred to the online store directly via the REST API interface.
"Right from the start, I got the feeling that it would be nice to work together with these guys. You pull well!"
- Product information management expert, Meltex Oy
For the Adeona Sales Tool publication automation, ready-made folding templates for product cards, price lists, product catalogs, shelf edge labels and store materials were created. The layout of the folding bases came from the pen of Meltex's advertising agency, and Canter handled the implementation of the folding logic.
Now the product information is very accessible!
At Meltex, a big job was done in creating a data model, cleaning and rationalizing product data, and it paid off. As a result of the project, what was set out to be achieved was achieved. The online store was published with exemplary product information. Registered customers can also download order-specific product documents from the online store - product information availability at its best!
"Everything else except bringing product information from Adeona PIM to the online store was difficult in the online store project."
- Member of the project working group, Meltex Oy
With the introduction of Adeona Sales Tool, sales and marketing also became much easier. The production of catalogs and customer-specific price lists was automated. At the same time, the production of product cards, shelf edge labels and store price tags was automated. Now, the completion of materials is no longer only dependent on the manual compilation of the marketing department or individual salespeople. You can prepare the materials with a few button presses - always equipped with up-to-date product information.
"We have grown, our product information management has grown, our product information has grown and the system has developed into a really good model. We are starting to have extremely great tools at our disposal.”
- Product information management expert, Meltex Oy
