English
Olgierd Mrozik
26.11.2025
5 min. reading time
A confession I hear from almost every new client, and the uncomfortable truth about what’s really broken in their business
“You’ve probably never seen a data mess this bad, have you?”
I hear this question at the beginning of almost every new client relationship. It’s usually spoken with a mix of shame and resignation, followed by a deep sigh as they reluctantly share their screen to reveal a product data spreadsheet that looks like a battlefield.
My answer is always the same:
Yes, I have.
I’ve seen “red,” “crimson,” and “rouge” all used in the same “color” field. I’ve seen product SKUs that were more like freestyle poetry than unique identifiers. I’ve seen data fields as empty as a bottle after a reunion with an old friend.
This isn’t “just you.” This is the industry “standard.”
But here’s the crucial part: your data mess is not a technical problem. It’s a symptom.
It’s a symptom of a deeper organizational illness:
- A lack of awareness that this chaos is generating real, tangible costs every single day.
- A lack of a clear owner for the data and the processes that govern it.
A New PIM Won’t Fix This. It Will Only Make It Worse.
This is the hard truth that many software vendors won’t tell you. A new, shiny Product Information Management (PIM) system will not fix your data problems.
It will only amplify them.
A PIM is an accelerator. If you feed it chaos, it will give you faster, more efficient, and more widespread chaos. It will shine a giant, unforgiving spotlight on every broken process and every missing piece of information.
That’s why our work doesn’t start with a software installation. It starts with cleaning up the mess. Without that, implementing a PIM is like building a beautiful villa on a swamp. It’s destined to sink.
So, if you think your data mess is the worst in the world, it probably isn’t.
And even if it is, that just means you’re the perfect client for us. Because we’re not afraid to get our hands dirty.
The Red Flag You Can’t Ignore
The key to solving this is to stop looking at product data as a technology purchase and start seeing it as an organizational change project. It’s about defining ownership, building processes, and creating a culture of data quality.
And this brings me to the most important piece of advice I can give you.
When you’re talking to a potential PIM provider, listen carefully. If they don’t start the conversation by asking tough questions about your data quality, your processes, and your team’s readiness for change, that is the biggest red flag you will ever see.
They’re not a partner. They’re a salesperson. And they’re about to sell you a very expensive shovel to dig yourself into an even deeper hole.
Bring order to your product data!
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