FRÄNKISCHE and crossbase – PIM introduction successfully implemented
With crossbase, Fränkische has brought together product data, processes and teams in a central PIM system. The result: fewer errors, more efficient catalog creation and up-to-date data in all language versions at all times. In the video, those involved in the project talk about their experiences of introducing and working with crossbase.
Transcript of the video
Rudi Geier (product managers drinking water and heating installation): Each area worked differently the building services, drainage and electrical. We never came together, even though we have the same customer groups. And the crucial point was to purchase a PIM in order to have all the data in one place and establish a standardized process. Herby was our point of contact. The problem: we didn't want to simply spend another three months. And Herby said: "That's no problem for us. We have sample projects from you, sample products from you and that's what we'll give you. And then we'll just get started. And that was the decisive point for us to choose crossbase, because it was easy.
Eva Werner (Teamlead Strategic Marketing Projects): We went live in October 2024, where we regrouped our products, reclassified them and then rebuilt the whole thing piece by piece from the bottom up, making it easier for our graphic designers to work on catalog creation.
Thomas Link (graphic designer, Building Services Division): The advantage of working from a PIM system for us graphic designers is that we define templates in advance. We specify our layout rules, how which images, which text blocks should behave and thus masses of pages can be generated. We don't have to worry about any outdated databases or outdated images. And we have this consistency everywhere in the different language versions.
Rudi Geier: Yes, with the PIM we have a standardized data structure. A value only exists once. And if something needs to be exchanged today, such as a small attribute length of a component, it is immediately available everywhere. And that is the huge advantage of the PIM with the standardized database.
Eva Werner: That's one of the biggest pains we've had here at Fränkische, getting rid of those insecure Excel files and creating a system where all data is available at all times and can always be updated in different languages.
Thomas Link: It brings speed advantages, makes work easier, the sources of error are significantly minimized and slowly you can also say that it makes work more relaxed when creating catalogs.
Eva Werner: So the crossbase solution is relatively intuitive, you can find your way around it very quickly or when it comes to maintaining product data and also collaborating. If we have any challenges, problems or processes that aren't quite clear, we can contact crossbase at any time and they help us directly.
Rudi Geier: Not having any cost surprises, not having any technical surprises, for any questions or challenges we had during the implementation, we got a solution.
Eva Werner: So we would definitely recommend crossbase, based on all the experience we've now had in the project. That is, from the project setup to the project implementation and also the straightforwardness in the event of problems or questions. We got to the "you" level relatively quickly. It's uncomplicated, friendly, open and fun to work together.