Securing the future of product data governance
August 31, 2023In his latest blog post, inriver CEO Niels Stenfeldt looks at the role of PIM in the future of product data governance.
Recently, Inriver hosted a dynamic partner meet-up at the inriver headquarters in Malmö, Sweden with our local Nordic partners. Our leadership team met with PIM experts from partners like Diamir, Immeo, Avensia, Nexer, and strategic alliances including Optimizely and Microsoft. Many of these partners have been with Inriver since its the company’s inception in 2007, playing a pivotal role in our growth story. As these relationships evolve, we jointly drive our customers’ sustainable businesses with our new breed of PIM.
The discussion centered around the emerging challenges our customers face—across industries like B2B manufacturing, consumer goods, and retail—and how product data is increasingly becoming a compliance, sustainability, and growth issue. Our partners bring essential implementation expertise, ensuring every PIM solution is configured to drive measurable business value from day one. Their front-line perspective adds real-world insight into how modern enterprises are navigating the intersection of data governance, customer trust, and global compliance.
One consistent need inriver’s leadership hears is the ability for a PIM solution to evolve alongside our customers’ business changes. Customers like Michelin tell us that the elastic PIM data model that powers the inriver PIM solution uniquely enables their business to meet product information needs—today, and in the future.
As regulations evolve, flexibility in how product data is structured, governed, and shared has become non-negotiable. A composable PIM system is quickly becoming the backbone of compliant, transparent, and trustworthy product experiences.
Digital Product Passports are just the beginning
Governing bodies worldwide are introducing new legislation that directly impacts the requirements of a PIM system. The European Union’s introduction of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) aims to create transparency and unlock circularity by requiring manufacturers to share product information across the entire value chain—including data on raw material extraction, production, and recycling. Initial focus areas include batteries, textiles, and electronics—but more industries are expected to follow.
The DPP is not the only regulation impacting product data, however. California’s Proposition 65, enacted in 1986, requires companies to disclose when their products contain chemicals that can lead to cancer, reproductive harm, or birth defects should they leak into the water supply. And, in a completely different industry, it will be mandatory for all commercialized wines within the EU to show nutritional information and list ingredients beginning in December.
The growing need for business-critical data
In the US, inriver client SATCO | NUVO adapted its PIM strategy to keep pace with regulatory changes in the lighting industry. SATCO | NUVO Chief Technology Officer Jeff Beyer shared with the assembled experts that while environmental sustainability has always been a focus for SATCO, both the regulatory climate and evolving consumer demands elevate its importance year after year.
Staying on top of the dynamic federal and state regulations, including performance and reliability certifications such as EnergyStar, has been an increasingly burdensome and often manual process. With inriver, SATCO | NUVO now has a system for storing and effectively disseminating critical regulatory data—allowing leadership to focus on product innovation and efficiency.
As more regulations continue to impact the lighting industry, one thing is certain: Flexible, elastic data models are business-critical to meet regulatory needs—now, and in the future.
Complementing PLM for holistic data management
While product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions are part of the overall product management equation, they are not the complete answer. PLM software helps organizations design and launch new products, but something more is needed to manage the ever-changing downstream data, especially when disclosing it to consumers and regulators.
Inriver’s composable data governance platform, coupled with the expertise of our implementation and solutions partners, combines the raw data delivered by PLMs with the elastic modeling necessary to refine that data into presentable, transparent product information. This holistic approach ensures data quality and governance even as legislators introduce new regulatory mandates.
PIM is the foundation of Product Data Governance
PIM is at the center of the product journey and is uniquely positioned to deliver product data governance to meet regulatory needs to inform the consumers. By working together with our partners to configure and implement PIM solutions with a future-proof orientation, we can significantly impact the resilience of our customers and brands around the world.
Only Inriver powers the entire product journey at every touchpoint—including product data governance. Our configurable PIM solution with built-in digital shelf analytics generates a dynamic feedback loop of actionable insights. As a composable multi-tenant SaaS software, the Inriver PIM solution has integration capabilities to connect to digital ecosystems with flexibility and ease so it grows as our customers grow. With our partners, we continue to help brands, manufacturers, and retailers turn product information into a strategic asset, maximizing profitability at every touchpoint.
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frequently asked questions
how does a PIM solution contribute to strong data governance practices?
A modern PIM platform plays a central role in establishing robust data governance by enforcing consistent policies, maintaining data integrity, and providing a single source of truth. With configurable access controls and standardized workflows, PIM helps ensure that all product-related data adheres to governance protocols across your entire organization.
what is the difference between data governance and data management?
Data management focuses on the operational side of handling data—how it’s stored, processed, and retrieved. Data governance, on the other hand, is the strategic framework that defines who can access data, how it’s used, and how it’s kept compliant and accurate. A strong PIM system supports both by enabling centralized oversight and control over product information.
why is data quality essential for product compliance and customer trust?
Without high data quality, it becomes difficult to meet compliance requirements or deliver reliable information to customers. Poor-quality data can result in misinformation, delays, or regulatory risk. A PIM solution with validation workflows and version control ensures that only accurate, approved data is published across all channels.
how can businesses improve product information across systems using a governance framework?
Implementing a data governance framework within your PIM system allows businesses to define roles, responsibilities, and quality standards. This structured approach helps align teams, streamline processes, and improve data transparency and accountability across the product journey—from sourcing to customer delivery.
what tools support product data governance beyond PIM software?
In addition to a composable PIM system, supporting tools like data catalog platforms, analytics dashboards, and data governance programs can further enhance oversight. These tools help businesses track lineage, monitor usage, and generate insights for ongoing optimization—ensuring your product data stays complete, compliant, and competitive.
Powering a Sustainable Future: Notes from our CEO
inriver CEO Niels Stenfeldt explores the role technology can play in building a better future in his blog series "Powering a Sustainable Future: Notes from our CEO". He shares his thoughts on the PIM industry, its direction, the latest trends and innovations, and most importantly how brands and manufacturers can take advantage of this evolution to position themselves as market leaders.