"We started from a fairly traditional situation, where information was scattered around the world, and you always had to find and search for it", Reka's product management expert Jyri Koskinen describes.
"Refining information is time-consuming and frustrating if you do the same thing many times. We stated that the processes need to be rationalized, that we can get the data under control."
Reka started mapping PIM options, and finally Adeona was selected as a partner. "We had several options, many of which were quite good, but the product was not quite the kind that would have been suitable for us," says Koskinen about the mapping process.
"One important factor was also joint communication: it's always easier and more understandable for us if we can cooperate in Finnish."
The cooperation started at the end of 2019 with the first joint meetings, and the implementation project of Adeona PIM was completed in August 2020. PIM was also integrated into the new websites published in 2021.
Product information according to customer wishes
Reka Cables uses Adeona PIM and Adeona Sales Tool publication automation, which allows for example the publication of various catalogs and marketing materials. The product cards and product family cards on Reka's website also come from the Sales Tool.
"We are very particular about how the product cards and other data going to the customer look like," says the marketing and communications manager Sanna Jaakkola.
"It is important for us to deliver information to customers exactly in the form they need it. We have wanted to present the product information as clearly as possible, and we listen with a sensitive ear to customer wishes from the sales floor."
"We have, among other things, harmonized the text formats so that we speak in the same terms on all channels. Through PIM, we are able to manage it much better than before, when we ran Excels. When PIM is integrated into the website, customers and we ourselves have the same, up-to-date information," says Jaakkola.
"It has also reduced internally that there is no need to go to Jyri and say 'hey, I'd like to get information about this and that product' and then Jyri collects information from different sources. All images and other relevant information can be found in one place."
Standards and aspects of responsibility are important to Reka
As a manufacturer of cable solutions, Reka Cables produces all product information itself and takes it to various systems, such as Finland's STK's sahkonumerot.fi service, Norway's EFO's EFObase database, and Sweden's SEG's corresponding service. Circulating data according to the ETIM standard is also part of Reka's product information management.
Various environmental and responsibility issues are also of increasing interest to various stakeholders.
"Responsibility issues have clearly reared their heads recently, and there are more and more additional questions about environmental issues in tender surveys," says Jaakkola.
"It is possible to enter a lot of responsibility-related data about products into PIM, so we will be able to meet customers' needs even better in the future."
New features spark new ideas
With version updates, Adeona PIM regularly receives new features, which are analyzed by Reka Cables in terms of needs and potential implementation.
"For example, product cards initially came into use with PIM: we didn't have anything like this before, and we realized that this is a really good idea. New dynamic attributes are currently being researched," says Koskinen. "We've thought about putting them to the test."
"In terms of marketing, Adeona Media Bank is of course also very interested in this," adds Jaakkola.
"We have noticed that Adeona PIM changes and evolves all the time. Adeona is continuously developing the system, and that was an important selection criterion for us. We like that the supplier is constantly making improvements. It is an important matter in terms of use and continuation."
"Adeona PIM has fulfilled the needs that have been set, and brought new things as well. This is a suitable product for us, and afterwards we can say that we made the right choice", sums up Koskinen.
Reka Cables Ltd has been at the forefront of the cable industry for more than 60 years. We provide durable, high-standard cable solutions for renewable energy production, network construction, industry as well residential and office construction. All of our three production facilities are located in Finland: in Hyvinkää, Keuruu and Riihimäki. Reka Cables is part of the Nexans Group.
