The opportunity here is huge as delivery services evolve simply from a convenient way to get a burrito or iced coffee into a go-to option for everything from grocery staples to last-minute supplies, snacks to cover spontaneous cravings, or over-the-counter pharmaceuticals for a sick day at home. 

As shoppers flock to this new channel, they’re exposed to products in a completely new medium. Consumer brands need to be proactive to make sure their products are presented in the best possible light and maximize every sales opportunity in this fast-growing delivery app marketplace. 

An essential new shelf to conquer 

Delivery apps have exploded in recent years as infrastructure to support services and user bases have grown. Today, services like Doordash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Shipt, and more have enormous customer bases. In 2024 there were some 138 million online grocery delivery users in the US alone.  

Many of these solutions are making big investments in growing and deepening their user bases even further, laying the groundwork for even more adoption, from special promotions to high-profile Super Bowl ads. 

This new source of growth is a global phenomenon, with opportunities to captivate shoppers around the world across nearly all markets.   

How to get an edge on this new frontier 

The global online grocery delivery market is projected to reach $941 billion in revenue in 2025, and the general retail delivery space is not far behind at $729.83 billion. 

Despite the size and potential of these markets, the novelty of this channel and technology means the sophistication of the product experience on these apps and platforms has not fully matured compared to traditional e-commerce. 

That means consumer brands have a lot of ground to make up in the way their products are depicted across a fast-growing, fast-changing marketplace. It also represents an enormous opportunity for consumer brands to get out ahead of the competition and establish themselves as THE go-to brands on these platforms. 

Social networks and online review sites are full of complaints from disappointed or frustrated shoppers not getting the products they expect delivered. The causes of these issues are varied, but incomplete or inaccurate product listings are certainly a contributor. According to a finding in Syndigo’s “The State of Product Content” consumer experience survey, 43% of respondents were recently disappointed by a product they purchased that didn’t meet expectations set by online product content. 

Many product listings on delivery apps are based on content pulled from the sites of retailers they partner with and deliver from. But this content isn’t always optimized for the delivery app UI—images, information, and data submitted to a supermarket, convenience store or grocery chain might not translate to the product listings on Instacart or Uber Eats. 

That’s why it’s important for consumer brands to take control of their product experience on these channels. There are several immediate steps that can be taken to augment a brand’s presence on delivery storefronts and prompt sales growth: 

1. Upgrade your content delivery game 

Putting your product experience in the hands of whatever data a delivery app can pull from a retailer is a questionable choice.  

All the major delivery apps now offer the opportunity to directly manage item listings on their channels. The challenge is keeping up with all the different accounts, nuances requirements, platform nuances for your entire catalog. Uploading and updating item content for the entire delivery marketplace can quickly get unmanageable. 

The easy solution is content syndication through a reliable Product Experience Management platform that has direct connections to these apps and automatically delivers your assets and data from a single platform. 

2. Adapting content for mobile apps 

Every mobile app has its own UX and all the major delivery services are in tense competition to differentiate their shopping experiences not only from each other but from traditional e-commerce channels. That means different choices about how product information and images are displayed. Consider how similar products are depicted across different delivery channels; how might you adjust your content to make it more appealing above the fold for each one? 

A content syndication provider with custom data checks and validations for each delivery recipient can ensure your content is provided in the correct format.  

3. Monitor and optimize 

The retail and grocery delivery market is still young and maturing. New apps and services are likely to continue disrupting the market, and existing ones will shift and adapt to consumer behavior.  

That means you’ll need to closely monitor content performance, experiment to see what  works, and refine your product experience over time. Real-time analytics like content completion scores and Compare With Live can help you ensure your content is ready for performance in this new, fast-changing environment. 

The post How to master your product experience on the new frontier of commerce: Delivery apps  appeared first on Syndigo.

This presents a significant opportunity for brands to enhance their product experience and capture a larger share of the market. But as competition heats up in store and online, and consumers become increasingly discerning about purchases, they’ll have to work to stand out and engage shoppers.

Hurdling Obstacles in a High-Competition Industry

According to the latest Sporting Goods Industry Executive Pulse Check from the WFSGI (World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry), just 44% of industry executives are feeling optimistic about their growth opportunities this year.

Fast-changing markets and mercurial consumer preferences present a complex challenge for brands in these spaces. And stiff competition from both established brands as well as new disruptive newcomers is fragmenting the market. According to McKinsey research, for instance, the two largest incumbents in sportswear lost ground to new and existing challenging brands over the last five years.

Fortunately, there are reasons to be optimistic: both new and established brands have access to low-hanging fruit that can help them stand out to consumers. By establishing a strong product experience and cultivating it across the entire marketplace, businesses in athletic wear, outdoor, and sporting goods can get an edge and grow sales.

Scoring Big in a Competitive Market with Sporting Goods Content Syndication

Consumers consider products in athletic wear, outdoor and sporting good categories with different and often greater care than items in other verticals like CPG or fashion apparel.

Shoppers want to be confident their purchases will fulfill their needs in high-demand situations and be built to last in competitive sports or rugged outdoor environments. The stakes for every purchase could be very high, up to and including the comfort and safety of the shopper.

That expectation puts pressure on brands to supply an abundance of high-quality product content for every item, so a potential customer is never uncertain about what a product can do and whether it will fit their needs. That includes supplying everything from basic, fundamental information like a product’s weights and dimensions to comprehensive images showcasing it from every angle. Consumers are increasingly demanding even richer content: videos and imagery showcasing a product in use, comparison charts that help them pick out the right option from a product line, user guides and manuals, digital product tours, and more.

But despite the size and potential of the sporting goods and related markets, the sophistication of product experiences has not always fully matured compared to some other retail sectors. This represents an enormous opportunity for businesses to get a hot start off the block and establish themselves as the go-to brands in this space by taking a few key actions.

Level Up Your Content Syndication Game

Consistent, complete product depictions are essential for building consumer trust and standing out on competitive shelves. But keeping up appearances across channels can be a monumental challenge, especially in a space where a brand might get significant sales at big box supermarkets, regional and specialty retailers, and e-commerce platforms—all of which have their own unique content requirements and product environments.

The best way to ensure your products are featured accurately and in the best possible light at every consumer touchpoint is with automated product content syndication.

Syndication reduces the amount of manual effort required to upload new item information and updates to retail and e-commerce partners, making it possible to scale up your brand presence across channels and minimizing potential for errors.

The simplest solution is content syndication through a reliable Product Experience Management platform, preferably one that with a large recipient network that can connect your brand directly to all your most important retail partners from a single interface.

A content syndication provider with custom data checks and validations for each retail recipient can ensure your content is provided in the correct format, optimized for performance at every input.

Get Shoppers Over the Finish Line with Enhanced Content

Enhanced Content is transforming the way sporting goods brands engage with their customers online. By incorporating rich media elements such as high-quality images, videos, 360-degree views, and interactive features, brands can create a more immersive and engaging shopping experience on their product pages. This type of content not only captures the attention of potential buyers but also provides them with a deeper understanding of the product’s features and benefits.

Enhanced content can significantly improve conversion rates by addressing common customer questions and concerns right on the product page and helping them visualize the experience they’ll have using the product. For example, detailed product videos can demonstrate the functionality and durability of athletic gear, while 360-degree views allow customers to inspect every angle of outdoor equipment. It’s no wonder that product pages with Enhanced Content see an average 39% lift in add-to-cart rates!

Monitor and Optimize

The sporting goods market is still developing and maturing. New platforms and services are likely to continue disrupting the market, and existing ones will shift and adapt to consumer behavior. That means you’ll need to closely monitor content performance, experiment to see what works, and refine your product experience over time. Real-time analytics like content completion scores and Compare With Live can help you ensure your content is published and ready in this dynamic, fast-changing environment.

The post How to Win the Race for Shopper Attention in Sporting Goods, Athletic Wear and Outdoor appeared first on Syndigo.

Consumers now expect more than a basic description. They want to see how a product works, fits, looks, and feels—before it ever hits their doorstep. As e-commerce has grown, so has the demand for richer, more interactive content—and enhanced content has become one of the most powerful tools for brands looking to win on the digital shelf. 

So how did we get here—and where is product content headed next? 

From Bullet Points to Immersive Product Stories 

In the early e-commerce era, content creation was entirely manual. Teams wrote basic copy for each SKU and uploaded static images—one product at a time. It was a slow, tedious process that made scaling product catalogs a real challenge. 

Then came rich media—videos, 360° spins, comparison charts, lifestyle images. This ushered in a new phase: Enhanced Content. No longer just informational, product pages became experiential. Shoppers could explore how a product works, compare features, and envision how it fits into their life. 

And it worked: brands that embraced enhanced content began seeing real results—longer time on page, more conversions, and fewer returns. 

The AI Era: Creating Content Faster and Smarter 

Today, we’ve entered a new chapter—one powered by Generative AI. Brands can now generate SEO-friendly descriptions, product highlights, and image recommendations in minutes. AI isn’t replacing human creativity—it’s scaling it. It allows teams to A/B test at speed, localize content, and personalize experiences based on shopper behavior. Nearly 60% of consumers are already using AI tools to help make shopping decisions, bypassing traditional search engines in favor of smarter, more personalized recommendations. 

But here’s the thing: richer content is only powerful if it’s accurate, on-brand, and consistently delivered across every channel. That’s where strategy—and the right technology—makes all the difference. 

How Syndigo Helps Brands Deliver (and Win) with Enhanced Content 

Syndigo’s Enhanced Content offering doesn’t just help brands build better product pages—it helps them take control of their full content strategy. Whether you’re managing 50 products or 50,000, Syndigo gives you the tools (and services) to make every PDP count. 

Here’s what that looks like in practice: 

• Create 
  Don’t have a creative team? No problem. Syndigo offers experienced  Enhanced Content creation services, helping brands produce custom imagery, videos, comparison modules, and more—tailored to retailer specs and optimized for engagement. For teams looking to scale faster, Syndigo’s AI GoPilot™ accelerates content generation with smart product copy, SEO-friendly bullets, and enhanced descriptions—giving you a head start without sacrificing quality. 

• Manage 
  Through Syndigo’s Product Experience Cloud, brands can centrally manage and distribute Enhanced Content across hundreds of retail endpoints. Content stays consistent, up-to-date, and compliant with each partner’s taxonomy and display rules. 

• Measure 
  Enhanced Content isn’t “set it and forget it.” With Content Engagement Reporting, you get insight into how your content is actually performing—views, scroll depth, interaction rates—so you can continuously refine your strategy and improve outcomes. 

This end-to-end approach is what sets Syndigo apart. It’s not just about creating richer content—it’s about creating smarter content: content that’s measurable, manageable, and made to convert. 

Product content has come a long way—from simple text to immersive, AI-powered shopping experiences. And the brands leading the next chapter? They’re the ones investing in strategy, technology, and partners that help them scale. 

Syndigo’s Enhanced Content solution gives you the creative firepower, automation, and insight to build product experiences that convert—and keep customers coming back. 

Want to turn your PDPs into your top-performing storefronts? 
Talk to our team or schedule a demo to see what Enhanced Content (and Syndigo) can do for your brand. 

The post The Evolution of Enhanced Content: Powering Seamless Shopping Experiences  appeared first on Syndigo.

Optimizing NIS & PDP Updates: Wayfair & Syndigo Supplier Webinar

Learn how to enhance your product listings on Wayfair with expert guidance on New Item Setup (NIS) and Product Detail Page (PDP) updates. This on-demand session provides actionable insights and tools to help you manage your product content seamlessly—ensuring a compelling omnichannel experience that drives results.

What You’ll Learn:

• Core Content and Data Syndication
• How to create, enrich, and manage your product information to optimize experiences online and in-store.

Rich Media and Enhanced Content

Ways to engage customers using interactive visuals and media that can boost online sales performance.

Why Watch?

Discover how Syndigo’s solutions can help you publish essential item data—from marketing copy and feature bullets to images and videos—all from a centralized platform. Enhancing your PDPs with rich media has been shown to deliver up to a 39% increase in add-to-cart rates, especially on platforms like Wayfair.

Who Should Watch?

This on-demand webinar is ideal for suppliers and brands aiming to improve product content management and boost visibility and sales on Wayfair.

Watch the Webinar On-Demand

The post Optimizing NIS & PDP Updates: Wayfair & Syndigo Supplier Webinar appeared first on Syndigo.

Inconsistent product data can be a brand killer

Inconsistent product data is more than a minor inconvenience; it can lead to significant losses and customer dissatisfaction. When customers encounter conflicting information about a product, such as varying descriptions or mismatched images, it can create confusion and mistrust. This confusion often results in hesitation during the purchasing process, ultimately reducing cart conversion rates. For example, if a customer finds different details about a product on your website and a third-party marketplace, they may question the reliability of your brand and decide to look elsewhere. 

Furthermore, inconsistent product data can wreak havoc on the shopping experience. Picture this: a customer eagerly orders a product based on a compelling image, only to be disappointed when the item doesn’t align with the description or appearance they were expecting. This letdown not only sours the individual’s perception but can also erode the trust in your brand. Disillusioned customers are less likely to return and may share their negative experiences, further damaging your brand’s standing. 

The repercussions of inadequate product information ripple beyond the point of purchase. Discrepant data often leads to a surge in customer inquiries and returns. When products fail to meet expectations, customers are more inclined to seek assistance or initiate a return, straining both operational costs and customer relationships. Addressing these issues is a drain on time and resources, diverting focus from critical business activities. 

Measurable hidden costs of poor product data

Poor product data doesn’t carry vague nebulous costs. There are numerous tangible costs that a business can incur: 

• Lower Cart Conversion Rates: Poor product images can lead to fewer items being added to shopping carts, directly impacting immediate sales.
• Increased Returns and Support Costs: Inconsistent product descriptions and specifications can cause customer confusion, leading to higher return rates and increased customer support expenses.
• Limited Market Reach: The absence of effective syndication resulting from poor product data can result in inefficient and error-prone syndication, limiting the ability to list products on multiple platforms and reducing sales potential.
• Eroded Customer Trust: Inadequate product information can make customers hesitant to complete purchases, leading to abandoned shopping journeys and a decline in customer loyalty.
• Negative Brand Reputation: Over time, repeated issues with product information can tarnish your brand’s reputation, making it harder to attract and retain customers.

PIM and PXM give you a big leg up in maintaining data consistency

To address the challenges of inconsistent data, many organizations are implementing Product Information Management (PIM) solutions. These systems are essential to ensuring product information is not only accurate but also consistent across all channels. PIM centralizes product information, creating a single source of truth that can be accessed and updated by various departments. This centralization minimizes the risk of discrepancies and ensures that customers receive reliable and consistent product content whether they are browsing on a desktop, a mobile app, or in a physical store. 

PXM takes the optimization of product content a step further. It ensures that the content is not only accurate but also tailored to the specific needs of different users as well as devices and platforms. This is crucial in today’s multi-channel retail environment, where a seamless shopping experience is essential. By optimizing content for various touchpoints, PXM enhances the overall user experience, making it more likely for customers to complete their purchases. This optimization can significantly boost cart conversion rates by providing a frictionless and engaging shopping journey. 

After the management stage, content is swiftly disseminated across numerous platforms and to various endpoints, diminishing the time and resources needed for updates and upkeep. This not only minimizes errors and bottlenecks but also guarantees that every customer touchpoint is in sync with the most current and precise data. Regular system audits and updates are indispensable for the sustained consistency and relevance of product information. These measures are pivotal in identifying and rectifying any disparities, thereby upholding the reliability and timeliness of the data. 

One of the key differences between PIM and PXM is the feedback loop that PXM provides. Leveraging the power of Digital Shelf Analytics (DSA) enables marketing teams to understand how product content is performing in the market. By analyzing this feedback, marketers can make informed decisions about what changes to make, which can further enhance the shopping experience and drive higher cart conversion rates. This continuous improvement cycle is essential for staying competitive in a rapidly evolving retail landscape. 

Depending on your needs and existing capabilities, you need to can decide between implementing a PIM or a PXM for your business: a PIM is ideal for centralizing and standardizing product data, while a PXM excels in creating and delivering personalized, engaging product experiences. Select the one that best aligns with your business goals and customer expectations. 

Strategies to Improve Product Data Quality and Consistency

After implementing a PIM or a PXM system, here are some best practices you can implement to maximize the effectiveness of your solution.  

Conduct Regular Audits of Product Data:

• Identify and correct inconsistencies to maintain accurate and up-to-date information. 
• Involve cross-departmental collaboration with input from marketing, sales, and IT teams. 
• Proactively address issues before they impact the customer experience or lead to lost sales. 

Train Personnel in Data Consistency:

• Ensure employees understand the importance of precise and consistent product information. 
• Cultivate a work environment that values quality and accuracy, fostering a collective dedication to high standards of data. 

Measuring the Success of Your Product Data Management Efforts

• Comparing your metrics after implementation to before can give you an accurate sense of how effective your solution is.

Monitor PXM System Usage:

• Analyze system usage metrics to identify areas needing training or process improvements. 
• Address underutilization by providing additional support or resources to ensure smooth management of product content. 

PXM makes a big difference in elevating your commercial results 

The hidden costs of poor product information can silently but significantly impact your business, from reducing cart conversion rates and increasing return rates to eroding customer trust and damaging your brand reputation. Investing in high-quality product images, consistent content, and a robust PXM system is essential to mitigate these risks. 

 By ensuring your product information is accurate and comprehensive, you can enhance customer experience, build lasting trust, and drive sustainable growth. Don’t let poor product information hold your business back—take the first step today by evaluating and improving your product data management processes. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you optimize your product information and boost your bottom line. 

The post How to avoid the hidden costs of inconsistent product data   appeared first on Syndigo.

With so many choices available, incomplete or inconsistent product data can mean the difference between success and stagnation. The challenge is clear: How can retailers ensure their product data is optimized to drive engagement and sales? 

* Netguru. (2025). Key e-commerce trends for 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from

The Consequences of Poor Product Data Management 

Retailers who lack a centralized, scalable approach to managing product data face significant obstacles: 

• Low Product Visibility – products with incomplete or poor-quality data get deprioritized in search results, making it harder for shoppers to find them. 
• High Cart Abandonment Rates – 50% of shoppers abandon purchases when product pages lack essential details and high-quality images. 
• Inconsistent Branding Across Channels – without centralized data management, retailers struggle to maintain a cohesive brand experience. 
• Lost Revenue Opportunities – retailers without a content health system lack the insights to track and optimize product performance effectively. 

Winning with the Right Product Experience Management Strategy 

To stay competitive, retailers need an end-to-end Product Experience Management (PXM) solution. PXM is all about curating, optimizing, and distributing engaging product information and marketing content across digital marketplaces. It involves managing all product-related data, like images, descriptions, specification, titles and other rich media.  

By providing a seamless and engaging online shopping experiences, PXM boosts sales, enhances buyer satisfaction, and foster brand loyalty. The goal is to empower customers with accurate, complete, and converting product information to help them make informed purchasing decisions. 

Key Components of a Winning Product Data Strategy 

1. Enhanced Content: Elevating the Shopper Experience 

Retailers that incorporate Enhanced Content – rich media elements like videos, interactive product tours, and comparison charts – see 39% higher conversion rates on average. Enhanced Content bridges the gap between in-store and online shopping, helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions. 

2. Vendor Central & Vendor Scorecarding: Driving Performance Insights 

Vendor Scorecarding enables retailers to assess and optimize product data quality, ensuring that listings meet required standards for completeness and consistency. With real-time data visibility, retailers can track performance, identify gaps and take corrective actions to improve discoverability and sales. 

3. Seamless Retailer Connections for Maximum Reach 

A powerful hub with endless endpoints of retail connections provides a direct link between brands and retail partners, enabling seamless data syndication across multiple channels. This ensures that product listings remain accurate, up-to-date, and aligned with each retailer’s specific requirements. 

Future-Proofing Your E-commerce Success 

Taking fragmented approaches to product experience management is no longer an option for retailers in today’s competitive environment. Investing in a robust Product Experience Management (PXM) solution empowers retailers to: 

• Deliver consistent, engaging product experiences across all digital touchpoints. 
• Gain real-time insights into product performance and optimize accordingly. 
• Improve conversion rates and brand trust through better product storytelling. 

The question is: are you ready to transform your product data into a winning e-commerce experience? 

Don’t wait – get ahead of the competition today! Contact our team to see how Syndigo’s Product Experience Cloud for Retail can revolutionize your approach to product experience management! 

The post How to Transform Product Data into Winning E-commerce Experiences  appeared first on Syndigo.

At the helm of this series is Tim Marshall, Syndigo’s Vice President of Retail Partnerships with many years of industry experience working with the worlds’ largest retailers and brands across multiple segments. Tim will be your guide through retail trends and challenges and allow you to hear from some experts who are helping to shape the direction of our industry.  

In the dynamic world of e-commerce, standardized product content serves as the backbone for efficient product data syndication. A common language and set of standards facilitate consistency across platforms. But even so, the journey from supplier to retailer to consumer is fraught with challenges.  

Retailers rely on standardized content to maintain consistency, but also face the daunting task of convincing suppliers to align with their content requirements. The interplay between standardized, “above-the-fold” content and rich, “below-the-fold” content complicates the equation even further. 

Retailers’ Unique Challenges in Product Content Syndication 

For retailers, managing product content isn’t just about creating or displaying information—it’s about orchestrating an ecosystem of suppliers, processes, and platforms.  

This isn’t a cosmetic exercise—comprehensive, accessible product content is an essential ingredient in retail success. The 2024 State of Product Content report found that 91% of consumers are more likely to return to a retailer if they can readily find the product information they want while shopping. 

But delivering a powerful retail product experience is easier said than done. Several factors make approaching this particularly complex: 

Convincing Suppliers to Align 

Without standardization at the source, retailers risk receiving incomplete, inconsistent, or non-compliant data that requires extensive manual intervention. 

In order to get the data and content needed for effective product experiences, retailers rely on a diverse supplier base to submit content in a uniform, standardized format. Suppliers may vary widely in their technical capabilities, resources, and understanding of the retailer’s requirements, and getting them aligned toward a common goal is a significant hurdle. 

Beyond suggestions and persuasion tactics, retailers can take a more direct approach and require use of a customized vendor portal.  

A vendor portal can provide transparency to the retailer’s customized requirements for vendor onboarding and item submission, guiding suppliers to submit necessary information in the preferred format. While this route typically gets the needed content to the retailer, they must consider the experience for the suppliers. Unless the portal is intuitive and designed with an effective user interface, it may be frustrating to use. 

Considerations like constant and consistent investment in updates of the platform, and empowering suppliers to connect their own Product Information Management (PIM) systems must be paramount in the minds of retailers when balancing the need for great content and supplier experience. 

Managing Incoming Content 

The scope and scale of the challenge retailers face when approaching product data is daunting. A single brand may have a catalog of dozens, hundreds or even thousands of items to manage. But a retailer or marketplace often must deal with order of magnitude more, reconciling data, content and media files for assortments from its entire supplier community.  

The influx of product data from multiple suppliers must be ingested, validated, and organized. That means investing in tools and processes to ensure the data is accurate, comprehensive, and compliant with their platform’s standards. This phase often requires robust PIM systems and ongoing collaboration with suppliers to address data quality issues proactively. 

Transforming Content for E-commerce Performance  

Once product content is received, it needs to be tailored and enriched for consumer-facing platforms, often requiring additional layers of customization for specific channels.  

Shopper expectations about their online product experience perpetually rise, and they will abandon a site if they can’t find the content they desire. Syndigo found that 83% of consumers reported being ready to ditch an e-commerce site when they encounter a lack of product information.

Retailers must ensure that the content is optimized for search engines, adheres to channel-specific guidelines, and resonates with target audiences. The rapid pace of e-commerce necessitates agility, as delays in content readiness can lead to missed sales opportunities. 

The Symbiotic Relationship between Standardized & Enhanced Content 

Standardized and Enhanced Content are not competitors; they’re partners in crafting an exceptional product experience.  

Together, they provide a balance between efficiency and engagement: 

Above-the-Fold: Standardized Content 

This content delivers essential product information that enables discoverability and quick decision-making. Examples include product titles, SKUs, key features, pricing, and availability. Standardized content serves as the foundation for consistent messaging across platforms, ensuring customers can trust the data no matter where they encounter the product. 

Below-the-Fold: Rich Media Content 

Enhanced content, such as 360-degree image views, videos, customer reviews, and interactive elements, comes into play below the fold. This type of content helps tell a product’s full story, appealing to emotions and enabling a deeper understanding of the product’s value. Enhanced content is particularly effective for complex products, where additional context or use-case demonstrations can make or break a sale. 

The Symbiosis 

Standardized content gets customers through the door, but rich media content keeps them engaged and drives conversions. Together, they reduce cart abandonment, increase time on page, and build trust. Retailers who master the balance between these two types of content are better positioned to meet customer expectations and outpace competitors. 

Bridging the Gap- Key Strategies for Retailers 

To overcome these challenges and leverage the symbiotic power of standardized and rich media content, retailers should consider the following: 

Streamline Supplier Collaboration: 

Provide suppliers with clear, standardized processes and guidelines to simplify content submission. Offer training or resources to less tech-savvy suppliers to ensure compliance. Use collaborative tools that allow real-time feedback and correction of content discrepancies. 

Provide Options: 

Consider the suppliers’ perspective in your decision making. Most suppliers sell their products in many retailers and across multiple platforms. Understand the daunting task of optimizing their content for their brands across many retailers’ sites. The ability for a supplier to follow standardized and repeatable processes for sharing of standardized content is imperative for their efficiency as well.   

Invest in Scalable Infrastructure: 

Implement advanced PIM and Master Data Management (MDM) systems that can handle high volumes of incoming data while maintaining quality and consistency. Integrate automation to reduce manual workload and accelerate time-to-market for product listings. 

Optimize Content Distribution: 

Leverage content syndication platforms to seamlessly distribute tailored content to various channels while maintaining control over formatting and messaging. Use content health and vendor compliance analytics to track content performance and refine strategies based on consumer engagement. 

Combine Content Layers Thoughtfully: 

Prioritize “above-the-fold” content for accuracy and relevance, ensuring it meets customer needs at a glance. Invest in creating immersive below-the-fold experiences that deepen customer understanding and satisfaction. Test and iterate to find the optimal blend of standardized and rich media content for your audience. 

Standardized product content is critical for operational efficiency, but it’s only part of the puzzle. Retailers face the dual challenge of managing incoming content from suppliers and transforming it into consumer-facing experiences that resonate. 

Ultimately, success in e-commerce depends on mastering both the art and science of product content, ensuring it tells the full story while meeting the technical and emotional needs of today’s digital-first consumers. 

The post The Perfect Product Content Formula for E-Commerce Excellence  appeared first on Syndigo.

We surveyed 1,510 consumers who shopped during the weeklong period leading up to and through Cyber Monday to unwrap what they thought about the product experiences they encountered through a record-breaking peak season. Check out some highlights of the findings and get the complete results in Unwrapped 2024: Product Content Performance In Peak Holiday Periods. 

Content availability holds steady—with room to improve 

78% of peak holiday shoppers strongly or somewhat agreed that they were able to find the information they wanted about products they were considering this year. This figure is roughly flat with what Black Friday/Cyber Monday shoppers shared with us last year, indicating that brands and retailers have maintained a relatively high level of base content availability even as the holiday shopping climax widens and becomes more competitive.  

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement: When shopping during this year’s Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Cyber Monday week sales event from November 25th – December 2nd…

I was always able to quickly and easily find the product information I needed to feel confident about the products I was interested in.

Tips and takeaways 

Still, more than 1 in 5 shoppers indicated they weren’t able to readily source the content they sought to feel confident about a purchase decision, showing plenty of room for improvement. A content provider with a strong syndication network that appropriately tailors content to each retailer can ensure your products are depicted appropriately everywhere they are sold. 

Love at first sight 

Basic images of products and packaging are looked for much more often during the peak holiday season than the rest of the year. In The State of Product Content 2024, Syndigo found that 39% of shoppers noted ‘basic images of product and packaging’ were likely to influence a purchase decision online. During the peak holiday season, that figure spiked to 49%. For comparison, shoppers reported slightly less interest in basic product data like weight, measurements, and ingredients during the holidays (45%) than the rest of the year (52%). 

Tips and takeaways 

During a fast-paced phase of digital commerce packed with time-sensitive deals, holiday shoppers may be more inclined to shop visually. For brands and retailers that count on a big peak holiday, that makes it particularly important to have the latest, most-up-to-date product images available with multiple angles and perspectives for easy review across devices.  

Ratings and reviews rule 

Ratings and reviews of products were among the top product information sought by gift shoppers, with 45% of surveyed respondents saying it was one of the first things they sought out. 60% of peak holiday shoppers overall said ratings and reviews influenced purchase decisions very much or a little. 

During or near the Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Cyber Monday week sales event from November 25th – December 2nd…How much, if at all, did product recommendations and reviews from other shoppers influence your decision to purchase or not purchase any product?

Tips and takeaways 

Positive ratings and reviews can make all the difference in driving a purchase on both digital and physical shelves. Scoring scales and review systems can vary significantly from site to site, and it’s important to monitor performance across all of them and respond quickly to shopper questions and concerns. Rating and Reviews reporting makes it possible to keep an eye on all your items, act on concerning trends, and improve scores over time. 

The post What Holiday Shoppers Told Us About Your Product Experience  appeared first on Syndigo.

Central to executing these quick inventory shifts is improving how you manage the data displayed on content across your eCommerce platforms. Recent research by Syndigo found 73% of consumers consider inaccurate or incomplete content a strike against the retailer, while 1 in 3 said they’ve returned an item because it didn’t meet expectations based on available information online. 

When holiday celebrations are on the line, there’s no room for product page errors. Here are a few tips to better manage your data for a brighter customer experience. 

Put every data point in its place 

With a flood of new products in your inventory comes an overwhelming amount of data. Ingredients, nutrition facts, and product dimensions will all need to be cataloged and displayed on any page where the product is sold. Multiply that task across all your sales platforms, and keeping all that data straight becomes a full-time job, if not several! 

Instead, look to centralize this data. With Product Information Management (PIM) solutions, all incoming data can be sorted into the appropriate product profile and distributed across your network to all pages containing that product. This ensures customers don’t have to leave the website to do additional research and gives you peace of mind that your product pages remain up-to-date and consistent. 

Avoid the dreaded stock-out 

No one likes to discover the product they need is sold out. But customers will become especially frustrated if they’ve driven to the store only to find out the product that was supposedly in-stock according to the website is actually sold out.  

During the holidays especially, you need real-time out-of-stock alerts to help label sold-out items as quickly as possible. Integrate your master data management (MDM) solution with out-of-stock alerts to track trends in sellouts over time and ensure you have enough of your most popular products in-stock before peak season. 

Continually analyze your strategies 

Your eCommerce strategies are continually evolving — as are your rivals’. That’s why it’s important to look at the holiday season not only as the culmination of your year, but as a chance to gain key insights on your customers’ buying habits — and your competitors’ strategies — for January 1 and beyond.  

Keeping an eye on your digital shelf analytics can help you stay ahead of the game. You can work with data management partners to track pricing trends across your competitive landscape, understand buyer sentiment, and monitor how your business appears in search results, just to name a few capabilities. 

Win the shelf with smarter data management 

Buyers have plenty of options in an always-on economy, and they’re going to look to the retailers that offer as much data as possible before making a purchase. Technology can help you gain a leg up on your competition, ensuring your data is consistent and up to date across your platforms.  

With solutions such as PIM, MDM, and digital shelf analytics, you’ll be well-equipped to keep up with new inventory and meet customer expectations throughout the holidays.

*This article by Syndigo’s Benny Blum, SVP of Product, originally appeared in TODAY’S GROCER magazine.

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