Product Data Stewardship Program

Definition

A Product Data Stewardship Program is a structured, organizational initiative designed to establish clear ownership, accountability, and processes for managing the quality, consistency, and governance of product information. While 'data stewardship' refers to the role of a data steward, a 'program' encompasses the overarching framework and ongoing activities. This program defines who is responsible for specific product data attributes, how data quality issues are identified and resolved, and the policies that govern product information throughout its lifecycle. It ensures that product data remains accurate, complete, and reliable across all systems and channels, supporting strategic business objectives and compliance requirements.

Why It's Important for E-commerce

In e-commerce, the integrity of product data directly impacts sales, customer trust, and operational efficiency. A robust Product Data Stewardship Program ensures that the vast amounts of product information required for online selling are consistently accurate and well-governed. Without such a program, data inconsistencies can proliferate, leading to customer dissatisfaction, increased returns, and compliance risks. By clearly assigning data ownership and defining processes for data quality, the program helps e-commerce businesses maintain a reliable single source of truth for their product content. This facilitates faster time-to-market, improves SEO, and provides a seamless, trustworthy shopping experience, ultimately driving higher conversion rates and protecting brand reputation.

Examples

• Establishing a cross-functional committee responsible for defining product data standards and resolving data conflicts.
• Assigning specific product managers as data stewards for their respective product categories, responsible for data accuracy.
• Implementing a workflow for new product data entry that includes data steward review and approval steps.
• Regularly auditing product data against defined quality rules, with data stewards addressing discrepancies.

How WISEPIM Helps

• Clear roles & responsibilities: WISEPIM's user management and workflow capabilities enable you to define and enforce data stewardship roles and approval processes.
• Centralized data governance: Establish and apply data quality rules, validation checks, and governance policies directly within the PIM system.
• Audit trail & accountability: Track every change to product data, providing transparency and accountability for data stewards.
• Improved data quality: Empower data stewards with the tools to maintain high-quality, consistent product information, essential for e-commerce success.

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