Expression Engine: A new way to transform product data

Omnichannel commerce creates growing demands for product information. Each channel and syndication partner has their own specific data and formatting requirements. Businesses that haven’t invested in PIM software often generate this data manually. They take information from multiple source systems such as ERP or PLM, format it by hand, and input the required values into spreadsheets. Alternatively, they develop custom code to perform automated calculations.  

Neither approach is efficient, scalable, or cost-effective. That’s why inriver has developed Expression Engine, an innovative new feature in our core PIM platform. It enables you to easily configure rules to be automatically applied to your data, much like you would use formulae in a spreadsheet.  

Expression Engine is here 

By centralizing your product data in the inriver PIM platform, you create a single source of truth for every channel. With Expression Engine, you can improve your speed to market by quickly configuring the automatic processing of these individual data points into the product information your various channels require.  

Expression Engine can help with a wide range of use cases, for example:  

• Calculations. Add, subtract, or multiply two or more figures together to create a new value. For example, to determine the overall size, weight, or volume of a product based on data for multiple components. 
• Creating data strings. Combine the values held in different PIM fields to create a string of data, such as a product code, in the format required by a channel partner. 
• Applying rules. Make logical comparisons of the data in one or more fields to determine what value should go in another field. For example, the relevant recycling information should be populated if existing data indicates the product contains batteries.  

How does it work? 

The process of using Expression Engine will be familiar to anyone who has used a formula within a spreadsheet. Simply select the function(s) you wish to apply (multiply, subtract, etc.), then identify the PIM values within your unique data model that should serve as the input for the calculation.  

Expression Engine provides handy code completion suggestions and applies color coding for an intuitive configuration experience.

Expressions can be dependent on each other, making it possible to calculate one value based on another calculated value. Expressions will also dynamically update, so when you make a change to data in one part of your PIM, any other fields that rely on that data will also be updated.  

All PIM users can see the formula that was applied to generate each value, improving visibility of data provenance, and making it easy to troubleshoot any issues.  

The value of Expression Engine 

Some of the benefits of using Expression Engine in your product information workflows include:  

• Faster time to market. Increasing automation enables product information to be processed and delivered more quickly, even as your range of products and channels grows. 
• Increase visibility and data quality. Expression Engine’s dynamic calculations ensure data is rapidly updated as things change in your PIM, while users always know how any value has been derived, reducing the scope for human error and confusion.  
• Reduce custom development. Configuring automated expressions using our intuitive interfaces is more efficient and cost-effective than developing and maintaining custom code to meet data manipulation needs.  

Ready to tap into the power of automated transformations?  

The development of Expression Engine is further evidence of our ongoing commitment to enhance the inriver PIM with features that save our customers time and money, while helping them to operate more efficiently, even at enterprise scale. Want to take your first step towards more efficient and automated product information transformations? Expression Engine is now available to all customers as part of the core inriver platform. Are you an existing customer or partner who wants to learn more about this exciting new inriver offering? Speak to your inriver representative today and arrange a guided walk-through with one of our experts.