Speeding Up Product Localization and Time-to-Market with PIM Software

Expanding into new markets is exciting, but it also presents challenges.

Different languages, regulations, currencies, and product formats create complexity, and without a structured approach, delays can result in lost revenue and missed opportunities.

Every market has its own unique requirements — from product descriptions and translations to compliance and pricing adjustments.

Without centralized control, teams struggle with inconsistencies, errors and slow approvals, making it difficult to meet launch deadlines.

A structured localization process is essential for any industry looking to scale efficiently.

The goal? Speed up time-to-market, reduce manual effort, and ensure accurate, market-ready product data.

In this post, we’ll explore the biggest localization challenges and how product information management (PIM) software helps you launch products faster and meet market requirements.

By the end, you’ll have a clearer idea of whether PIM is the missing piece in your tech stack to improve your localization process.

Understanding Product Localization Challenges in Global Multi-Store Businesses

Some of the most common challenges associated with managing the Multi-Store environment are:

1. Inconsistent Product Information Across Markets

Different markets require different approaches to tailoring product content. Inconsistent product descriptions can mislead customers.

For example, a jacket labeled as ‘heavy winter wear’ in one country might be marketed as a ‘light autumn coat’ elsewhere, leading to confusion and potential loss of sales. This indicates that a single source of truth is missing, leading each country to create content based on different information.

Critical product documents, such as warranty policies, also vary across regions, with different terms and conditions depending on local regulations.

2. Translation Errors and Poor Localization

In many cases, multiple departments handle translations without a structured workflow, leading to errors and inconsistencies. For example, an SEO description might be missing in one language due to a lack of clear validation steps.

Even something as simple as date format can cause misunderstandings. 

Example of a common mistake: 03/05/2025

• In the U.S., this means March 5, 2025

• In Europe, it means May 3, 2025

3. Regulatory Compliance Issues

Not every market has the same game rules. Some require strict documentation based on predefined templates. For example, certificates need to be localized to ensure they comply with each market's regulatory guidelines.

Example: VAT (Value-Added Tax)

• VAT rates and rules differ across countries

• Certificates and warranty policies must be localized to meet regulations

Failure to comply can lead to fines or legal complications.

4. Managing Currencies and Units of Measure

Currency localization is crucial for global markets. In EU countries, the euro is primarily used as the official currency (except for a few, such as Switzerland, the UK, and others), while in the USA, the dollar serves as the official currency.

These variations necessitate currency localization driven by market demands.

The metric system is used in EU countries, while the imperial system is standard in the US. This means that if a customer is browsing the website in the EU, they should see measurements in metric units, and if they are in the US, they should see imperial units to avoid confusion.

5. Unstructured Collaboration Between Teams

When multiple departments collaborate on the same product, unclear responsibilities can hinder processes and prolong time-to-market. Without a structured workflow and approval system, it becomes difficult to track who is accountable for the next step.

6. Inconsistent Digital Assets Across Markets

Not every image or video is appropriate for the same audience across different markets; therefore, it must be adjusted to account for cultural differences as well.

For instance, colors carry different meanings in various cultures. White signifies purity and weddings in many Western countries but represents mourning in certain Asian cultures.

This emphasizes the necessity of localized content tailored to each market.

Here you can learn more about managing your digital assets with the Digital Asset Management System.

Translation vs. Localization: How PIM Simplifies the Process

Although they might sound very similar at first, translation and localization have different meanings. In this section, I’ll explain the crucial differences and provide examples to help you understand. 

What Is Translation?

Let’s begin with translation, a term that we all frequently use, not just in a professional setting but also in our personal lives. The Oxford English Dictionary defines translation as 

“The action or process of translating a word, a work, etc., from one language into another.” 

Translating the meaning literally is not always sufficient or accurate; instead, it is essential to adapt the meaning, considering cultural and linguistic nuances, so that the message remains both accurate and culturally fitting. 

What Is Localization?

Localization, on the other hand, involves adapting content to a specific market while considering the unique aspects of that country. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as:

 “The process of adapting a product or service to make it suitable for a new area.” 

To provide perspective, one of the most common localizations involves adapting different currencies for various markets. 

Examples of Localization in Global Markets

• Currencies: Most EU countries use the Euro (EUR), but some, like Poland (Polish złoty), and non-EU countries such as Switzerland (Swiss franc), use different currencies.

• Sorting Rules: Alphabetical sorting and number formats may differ between markets.

• Payment Methods: Some regions prefer credit cards, while others rely on digital wallets or cash on delivery.

• Sales and Promotions: Discounts and seasonal promotions may vary depending on cultural or legal regulations.

• Colors and Symbols: White represents purity and weddings in Western cultures, but mourning in some Asian countries.

• Legal Compliance: Regulations like GDPR in Europe require businesses to handle customer data differently than in other regions.

• Time Zones: Scheduling product launches or promotions across time zones requires careful planning.

How PIM Simplifies Translation and Localization

All the mentioned challenges with localization and translations can sometimes be difficult to manage and track without the right tool to handle all possible cases.

Some of these challenges can be managed via e-commerce platforms (if your business is e-commerce), CMS systems, or ERP systems, but they all have limitations when it comes to managing data and covering challenges that fall outside the regular features they offer. 

The best choice here is a PIM system that can provide out-of-the-box solutions and is completely customizable to adapt to unique business requirements.

This system will help you centralize all product-related information in one place, improve the efficiency of product preparation, speed up the time to market, and, of course, save your valuable resources by reducing errors and manual tasks.

Centralizing Data and Speeding Up Time-to-Market with PIM

If you have ever encountered a scenario in which your data is scattered throughout Word, Excel, Drive, different ERPs, e-commerce platforms you know how much it slows down your preparation process.

Teams waste time searching for the latest versions, correcting errors, and making manual updates. Without a centralized system, such as PIM, localization becomes slow and difficult to manage.

Bringing Structure to the Process

A fragmented approach leads to:

• Inconsistent product descriptions and attributes across markets.
• Delays in translation and compliance approvals.
• Manual, time-consuming updates that slow product launches.

In such cases, you need a system that stores your information in a centralized location, allowing easy access, accurate updates, and efficient collaboration.

This centralization eliminates the need for multiple systems and sources and reduces errors caused by inconsistent data.

Once data is structured and organized, it’s likely that multiple teams will work on the preparation and need to collaborate.

This is where workflows come into play, as they provide directions, trigger validations, and assist in the fast preparation of the product for the market.

With a well-structured process and all data centralized, launching a new product or expanding existing ones into new markets becomes much easier and faster.

Solving Market Expansion Challenges

One of our e-commerce clients faced a similar challenge, with the setup of multiple systems used to manage and prepare the product information.

Data was scattered, and it was hard to keep track of the most up-to-date version. 

Collaboration was difficult since the correct product data version was not always available to other teams. E-commerce platforms didn’t offer everything the markets required.

For example, product variants were not supported and the different category sorting wasn’t possible, which made localization more difficult, and they didn’t support any kind of integration that would help with translation preparation.

What Changed After Implementing PIM?

After implementing the PIM system, we provided a unique and centralized product data source. As a result, data is always accurate and up-to-date.

The product workflows, which consisted of multiple steps, helped in the collaboration of multiple teams that worked with the product.

Introducing products to a new market became fast, and the conversion rate increased.

For example, when they decided to enter a new market - the USA, measuring unit and currency conversion was smooth, as well as automated.

It was enough to define the conversion rate, and the system took care of the rest of the process.

Essential PIM Features That Simplify Product Localization

If your company aims to accelerate processes and eliminate error-prone manual tasks, these PIM features will assist you in achieving that.

Automated Measuring Unit and Currency Conversion

Converting from one unit of measure to another has never been easier with PIM. It has a unique tool to define all units used across the system and their conversion rates to different units.

The same applies to currency conversion, where the only manual task is to define the base unit and its conversion rate — after that, you're good to go.

The conversion is completely automated and processed in real time.

Improving Product Information Management Processes with Workflows

Collaboration between different teams working on the same product can be challenging and often results in delays.

At times, communication is slow, leaving everyone unsure about whose turn it is. Variations in language can add complexity and create further confusion.

By implementing clear and structured workflows tailored to the company’s processes, everyone understands who is working on the product and when it is their turn, even if the information is not communicated promptly.

Additionally, PIM’s grid view functionality allows for effective monitoring of progress across all languages and products. 

Market-Specific Product Variants 

Using product variants in different markets is a good practice since it allows efficient product management.

Rather than handling multiple standalone products, variants simplify data organization and maintenance. One of the biggest advantages here is a feature called "inheritance." 

It ensures that a common set of data is automatically inherited from the parent level to all child variants while the specific data is managed at the variant level.

If a shared attribute is changed on the parent, it automatically updates all child product variants as well. 

This approach saves time and eliminates mistakes caused by reusing the data across multiple variants.

For example, the US product variant stores sizes in inches, pricing in USD, and English text, while the EU variant shows sizes in centimeters, pricing in EUR, and translations to multiple European countries.

Integration with Third-Party Translation

Integrating a PIM system with third-party translation services makes it easier for businesses to expand globally.

It connects product data with translation tools, ensuring fast and accurate localization of product information.

Take example tools like Crowdin or DeepL; they use specialized language models and professional translators to ensure high-quality translations, reducing errors and maintaining consistency across different markets.

By integrating these services with a PIM system, businesses can automate the translation process, speed up time-to-market, and efficiently manage localized content without manual effort.

Localized Media and Digital Assets

If a specific market or market language requires its own assets, PIM software makes it easy to manage and organize these assets in a way that ensures they are adapted to the needs of different regions.

This includes storing and categorizing assets by language or market, allowing for smooth integration into localized product listings, marketing campaigns, and customer-facing materials.

By making it easier to link digital assets with market-specific content, PIM helps manage different versions without duplicates and ensures consistency across all localized materials.

To Conclude

Expanding into new markets comes with challenges, and a structured approach to localization is key to getting it right.

Product Information Management software simplifies the process — helping you manage translations, adapt digital assets, and ensure accurate unit conversions.

By using PIM, companies can eliminate inefficiencies, reduce manual work, and bring products to market faster, creating new opportunities for global growth and increased revenue.

Explore our PIM software solution to see how it helps manage product data, or simply schedule a free consultation if you'd rather get straight to the point.