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case study

Manufacturer creates catalogs in a snap with PIM and print automation

Aerial view of wastewater treatment plant

This global manufacturer provides premium electric motors for industries such as manufacturing, HVAC, and water treatment. As leaders in digital transformation, they were driven to improve the customer experience and make processes easier and faster for their team.

The product catalog stood out as a critical starting point. The tedious internal process was often a bottleneck to updates. Worse, as the catalog manager left the company for retirement, so did her knowledge and effort. With sales at stake, they needed an automated solution that could run seamlessly and pull from consistent, trusted data.

Abstract illustration showing data flowing from six circular nodes on the left to a large circle representing Akeneo PIM on the right

Implementing a data foundation

The manufacturer partnered with Ntara to guide them through the process. The first step was to create a single source of truth for product data, using Akeneo PIM for its powerful features and user-friendly design.

To set the right foundation, Ntara conducted in-depth analysis. We ran a series of onsite workshops to gather requirements and learn how the business goes to market.

The workshops were a highlight for this company. They found the sessions highly collaborative and productive, so much so that they requested a second round. Their teams dove into learning, tapping Ntara as a true resource to equip them.

An agile PIM approach

Ntara used agile methodology centered around requirements for an MVP implementation. It included training, documentation, and an iterative feedback loop that allowed the company to use the system as it was being built.

As a result, their team felt fully empowered to manage PIM independently, with PIM users across IT, engineering, product management, marketing, and sales.

With clean, centralized data in place, the next step was to solve their catalog chaos. That’s where InBetween jumped in.

Abstract diagram depicting a phased agile PIM development process, beginning with a simple version of PIM shown in a red color scheme, followed by a more complex version of PIM in a yellow color scheme, and ending with an even more complex version of PIM in a blue color scheme.

Abstract diagram representing the flow of information from paper documents, to a spreadsheet, through multiple approvals, and finally to a printer.

Taming catalog chaos

This manufacturer’s legacy catalog process was an ordeal that relied heavily on manual work. Teams reviewed product attributes on paper, made updates in Excel, and ran an incredibly complex approval processes. Final files then got sent to an external printer, adding extra cost and delays.

By the time catalogs were printed, they were often outdated. Accuracy was also a challenge, as copying and pasting data caused frequent errors.

This company wanted to ditch spreadsheets forever. They aimed to produce one to two print catalogs annually while maintaining an efficient, accurate, and customer-friendly monthly digital catalog.

A total transformation

InBetween delivered a solution that fully digitized and automated the entire catalog process.

Today, the product data is pulled directly from Akeneo PIM to InBetween through an API integration. The data refreshes daily, pushing information to digital catalogs. Updates are near-instant, which eliminates the previous chaos of manual fixes.

New features also make digital catalogs extremely user-friendly for customers.

Every product number in the catalog includes a hyperlink to the website for more details, helping customers make a fully informed purchase.
The digital catalog includes bookmarks and page jumps, making the catalog easy to navigate, explore, and discover more products.

InBetween went above and beyond to automate every part of the process. For example, they found a way to automate editorial pages, which the manufacturer had long believed would always require manual effort. By converting them into images, these pages can now be pulled directly from Akeneo PIM to automatically populate new catalogs.

Abstract illustration showing Akeneo PIM on the left connected to InBetween on the right through an API integration represented by two arrows going in a circle around a gear icon

Major wins

The company can now produce a catalog on demand. It takes just 24 hours from the time they click a button to the final product.
Translations happen seamlessly. With data stored in both English and Spanish at the PIM level, catalogs are generated in both languages without the need for expensive external translation agencies.
Introducing new products into the catalog is simple and fast. By updating Akeneo PIM and clicking a button, the company can generate updated catalogs in just 24 hours, available in both languages.
They now have greater agility to meet customer needs. For example, at trade shows, they can quickly create brochures tailored to specific needs, such as food-safe motors for dairy processors. Templates make it easy to pull data and produce customized catalogs.
The data is always accurate and complete, which is essential for industrial companies where safety and compliance matter. Key details like voltage, wattage, and certifications are always up to date, available in catalogs, and linked to detailed online views. This ensures accuracy, supports compliance, reduces risk, and builds trust.

An end-to-end collaboration

This transformation was a true partnership between the client, Ntara, Akeneo, and InBetween.

With trusted, accurate data and a flexible catalog solution, this manufacturer is ready to continue leading their industry and adapting to changing demands.