Bad Product Information is Rampant, Groundbreaking New Product Information Management Research from Ventana Research Shows

Business Wire, July 31, 2007

Research Report Details and Quantifies Product Information Management Business and Technology Trends

SAN MATEO, Calif. -- Recent quantified research on Product Information Management reveals that product information is rapidly becoming a significant issue for companies, and that companies are looking to improve their product information management to resolve both analytic and operational issues. Ventana Research's newly released research report, "Product Information Management: Business and Technology Trends," reveals:

Organizations lack confidence in the quality of their product data: An overwhelming four-fifths (80%) of survey respondents are not confident about the quality of their product data.

Standardizing product information is difficult: Almost three-quarters (73%) of the research respondents report they find it difficult or impractical to standardize product information.

Companies are focused on several key business initiatives for Product Information Management: The top priorities for improved product information are to support business intelligence initiatives (45%) and to improve customer support (45%).

Product Information Management Initiatives Are Gaining a Foothold: More than two-fifths (41%) of respondents reported that their companies have a PIM project planned or under investigation.

"Product Information Management includes both processes and technologies required to manage data about products, items or materials enterprise-wide," said Colin Snow, VP & Research Director at Ventana Research. "Given the costs associated with inconsistency of product information and the current lack of confidence in product data quality, we see a huge opportunity for new processes and technology to make major business impact."

Ventana Research will present the study results at a webinar How to Avoid Product Information Chaos on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 from 11:00am to noon (Pacific time).

Sign up for the webinar at http://www.ventanaresearch.com/webinars.> These findings are the result of research sponsored by technology providers DataFlux, Heiler Software and Silver Creek Systems that involved an analysis of 240 validated respondents from companies of all sizes and major market segments. The survey was conducted with the assistance of media partners BI Review, DM Review, Intelligent Enterprise, IT Business Edge, Montgomery Research as well as SearchCRM.com and SearchDataManagement.com.

About Ventana Research

Ventana Research is the leading research and advisory services firm focused on the intersection of people, processes, information and technology to enable breakthrough performance. By providing expert insight and detailed guidance, Ventana Research helps clients operate their companies more efficiently and effectively. To learn how Ventana Research Performance Management workshops, assessments and advisory services can impact your bottom line, visit www.ventanaresearch.com.