Change management: 5 ways to improve PIM adoption

1. Identifying the need for change management

It might sound obvious, but the first step to effective change management is identifying the need for change management. Change management is about understanding the unique parts of a business and what the sticking points could be that is preventing it from moving to new systems. Organizations with tried-and-tested ways of working often find that moving away from them is more difficult than it first seems. Patterns and behaviors rust over the years, with important business operations frequently designed to fit around the existing culture. Over time, these processes tend to result in bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and a lack of adaptability.

Recognizing when change management is required is the first critical step toward successful PIM adoption. Implementing a PIM system isn’t just a technological upgrade – it’s a cultural shift for your teams. Identifying early signs of resistance, confusion, or even excitement can help you tailor your approach. You need to assess how this change will impact workflows, collaboration, and team roles across the organization. Change management isn’t just for major transitions like leadership changes – it applies to any situation that will disrupt the status quo, including new software rollouts.

2. Choosing the right implementation partner

Before embedding PIM into an organization, you need to take steps to align expectations, gather the right data, and define exactly how a PIM will help each area of your company. This is a significant undertaking, particularly if your organization does not have a dedicated resource to drive the project forward. That’s why many businesses implementing PIM software choose to work closely with an implementation partner.

Having the right partner for your PIM implementation is essential. They will guide you through the technical aspects of deployment and help facilitate communication, training, and support that reduces friction within your teams. Inriver is proud to work with a global network of trusted implementation partners that can guide through every step of the PIM adoption process. These partners are experts at change management and their depth of insight into the inriver platform can ensure that each and every team in your organization is positioned to succeed with the inriver PIM platform.

“PIM is a great tool. But, at first, people are not always on board. They’re used to a certain way of doing things. When you introduce something new, you have to work at it a bit more.”

Tonya Gooden

Product Information Manager, Yamaha

3. Engaging the right people

One of the core elements of effective change management is engaging the right stakeholders early in the process. This includes leadership, IT teams, and end users who will interact with the PIM system daily. Failing to engage the relevant stakeholders early and frequently is one of the most common PIM implementation mistakes, and can lead to significant issues down the line when it comes to introducing the software to colleagues and departments.

Creating a cross-functional team representing the different departments that stand to benefit the most from PIM software will ensure that the new software is met positively across your organization. It will also ensure that your PIM platform is customized to the right range of needs while minimizing the risk of resistance. This step in the process is crucial to addressing concerns and feedback early on. This way, your colleagues feel involved and valued in the process, a sense of ownership is fostered, and the chances of a successful adoption are greatly enhanced.

4. Be realistic about your desired outcomes

One mistake many companies fall into when undertaking PIM implementation is having an undefined vision or unrealistic expectations. A poorly defined vision often leads to a lack of thorough planning, in turn hindering the implementation of PIM. Indeed, while a PIM solution is a powerful tool that can help automate time-intensive product information tasks, it can’t do everything. By creating expectations that are unlikely to be met, you set the stage for disengagement and poor adoption.

Effective change management requires setting clear, realistic goals. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of new technology, but you should never expect overnight results. Implementing a PIM solution is a journey, not a quick fix. Set measurable milestones for success and be transparent with your team about potential challenges along the way. Being realistic about the time, resources, and adjustments needed will keep everyone grounded and focused on the long-term benefits.

5. Let people and processes guide the technology

Technology should always support your people and processes, not dictate them. Your PIM system should be designed around the existing needs and workflows of your organization, not the other way around. Letting your teams shape how the system will integrate with their day-to-day operations is crucial for long-term success. Keep the focus on improving efficiency, collaboration, and the user experience, and allow the software to serve as a tool to achieve those goals.

“To implement something correctly, you don’t just plug something in and go. There are a ton of operating procedures that need to be reviewed and feedback to be given to help people adjust to the new way of working. It’s important to let your people and your process design the technology and not the other way around.”

Melissa Dyke

Product Data Information Steward, Carhartt

inriver: The right PIM implementation journey for you

Managing the change between legacy systems and new systems is a crucial way of maximizing the most value out of any new software. However, this is especially true for your PIM, due to its role as an organization-wide tool. If you choose the inriver PIM platform, you also choose decades of PIM experience from both inriver and our global network of implementation partners.

Inriver and our network of implementation partners know the importance of change management and the impact it has on the successful adoption of PIM software. From overcoming change management to optimizing your PIM with revenue-enhancing functionality, our partners can help support you and your people as you begin your PIM journey. Discover the benefits of the flexible inriver PIM solution, the most complete PIM on the market, with a personalized demo of the platform.