FAQ

The “single source of truth” is a myth that forces you into a tunnel-vision view of your data. The reality is that you operate a complex Data Supply Chain with multiple systems of record: your ERP is the truth for finance, and your PLM is the truth for R&D.

A traditional PIM tries to replace them, creating conflict. Our Operating System orchestrates them. We help you build a connected Data Supply Chain that ensures data is “forwarded” from the source, through your organization, and out to your partners in sync with real-world changes. The goal isn’t one source of truth; it’s one version of the truth, available everywhere, always.

While most PIMs can link items, they still treat each item as a separate, flat “product.” A Golden Hierarchy is different. It recognizes that one core Product (the liquid, the formula) is the single source for ingredients and core attributes, which then powers an entire tree of Sales Units (ISUs, GSUs, TSUs).

This isn’t just a technical difference; it’s a strategic one. When you change the recipe of the core Product, the Golden Hierarchy understands that every single Sales Unit linked to it must be updated. It’s the difference between a simple list of links and a living, intelligent blueprint of your entire portfolio. It’s how you manage the “ripple effect” by design, not by manual effort.

“Active/Inactive” is simple, but it’s also the source of countless workarounds and spreadsheets. It forces you to answer three very different questions with a single “yes/no” answer:

• Can we physically make it? (Supply)
• Can we legally sell it here? (Trade)
• What information should be visible now? (Data)

The Triple Life Cycle isn’t more complicated; it’s clearer. It gives each team—Supply Chain, Commercial, and Digital—the precise control they need without disrupting the others. It replaces ambiguity with agility. You don’t have to shut down a product globally just because you’re delisting it from one customer. That isn’t complexity; that’s control.

Yes. And you’re right to be skeptical, because this is a unique and massive value proposition. The complexity of maintaining compliance with the ever-changing data models of GS1 in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and every other market is a huge, non-strategic burden.

We take on that burden. Our Data Distribution Center is a managed, multi-tenant hub. Our team centrally maintains the transformation and validation rules for all major data pools. When GS1-Germany updates its schema, we update the logic in the DDC, and that update is instantly available to all our customers. You focus on the quality of your source data; we guarantee it gets to every channel in the exact format they require.

We are the system that connects the two. Traditional PIMs are disconnected from the change process; they are the last step, where data is reactively “onboarded” or “enriched” after the real work is done. This is why data is so often out of sync.

Our approach ensures data is born correct. By integrating the data creation process into the go-to-market workflow (NPD, EPD, Private Label Tenders), we guarantee that data is captured “at the source” by the people who own it, as part of a governed process. It’s not about replacing your project management tool; it’s about making your data an active, integrated part of your innovation and change process, not an afterthought.

SyncForce is dedicated to supporting packaged goods manufacturers. We specialize in the CPG/FMCG sectors, including Food & Beverage, Pet Food, Personal & Home Care, and Building & DIY. SyncForce is suited for midsize and enterprise manufacturers, starting at €100 million in revenue. 

Most of our customers are internationally active across multiple channels. Unlike many PIM systems rooted in retail (eCommerce), SyncForce sets itself apart with 25 years of experience in manufacturing. Please note, we do not pursue industries such as fashion, automotive, wholesale, or retail.

SyncForce Circular PIM supports sustainability initiatives with its dynamic approach to product and packaging data for the circular economy. Our layered data model allows you to manage sustainability and packaging data at all levels in your trade hierarchies. This includes information on composition, sustainable sourcing, eco-performance, and resource recovery (including recycling and packaging tax data). By providing comprehensive tools to manage and report on sustainability metrics, SyncForce helps companies meet their sustainability goals and regulatory requirements.

SyncForce is not suited for small businesses (< €100Million Revenue). It is specifically designed for midsize and large companies that manage dozens or even hundreds of brands and have large, complex product portfolios varying by market (country). 

SyncForce has advanced capabilities to support the complexity of differentiation in multi-market, multi-channel commercial operations. This is in contrast to an omni-channel strategy typically used by retailers and wholesalers.

SyncForce is optimized for Packaged Goods, making it ideal for companies with a “make to stock” production strategy. It is not suited for engineer-to-order manufacturing. Most of our customers operate warehouses (ambient or conditioned) with large volumes of SKUs. 

Products are typically marketed in multiple variants, such as different sizes and localized packaging (including translations and legal adaptations for local markets). Our clients often manufacture both own brand and private label products. 

SyncForce excels with its advanced hierarchy management capabilities, allowing for the setup of unlimited trade hierarchies (e.g., pallet configurations for different markets or customers) with both single and mixed shipping units. 

Additionally, SyncForce supports data management at the trade item, product, and packaging component levels, which is essential for managing today’s sustainability data sets.

Managing international operations is one of the key differentiators of SyncForce. It starts with our advanced trade lifecycle management capabilities, allowing you to define local and even channel-specific portfolios. 

Having multiple life cycles per product or trade hierarchy is essential for internationally operating multi-channel brands. Additionally, SyncForce offers multiple ways to support product localization and adaptations. 

This includes workflow support, standard integration with translation agencies, and, starting Q3 2024, translations via AI models. Our pre-configured modules for managing regulated data also embed all national rules, ensuring compliance across different markets.

Yes, SyncForce integrates seamlessly with a variety of backend ERP systems (such as SAP, Dynamics, Infor, Oracle) and PLM systems (like Bestmix, Eclarion, Specpage, Siemens OP center). 

SyncForce can function as the system of record for most product data, where products are initiated within our workflow management modules, or it can receive new items from back-office systems and allow data enrichment within SyncForce by various departments (supply, R&D, specification management, marketing, sales, legal & compliance, finance). 

Additionally, SyncForce integrates with frontend systems like eCommerce platforms, WebCMS systems, and data pools such as GS1, SIM/ImpactBuying, PS in Foodservice, 2BA, and over 200 marketplaces via our standard ChannelEngine connector. 

SyncForce’s Adaptive Change Management covers not only workflow but also artwork proofing and approval, gate approval, and resource/budget management, providing a full end-to-end change orchestration of the go-to-market process.

A Product Information Management (PIM) system is a centralized platform that manages and distributes product data across various channels. It ensures that all product information, including descriptions, specifications, pricing, images, and compliance details, is accurate, consistent, and up-to-date. 

PIM systems streamline the process of collecting, managing, and enriching product information, making it easier for companies to maintain high-quality data. They facilitate seamless collaboration between departments, enhance data quality, and support the efficient distribution of product information to eCommerce platforms, marketplaces, print catalogs, and other sales channels. 

Ultimately, a PIM system helps companies improve their operational efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and enhance customer experience by providing reliable and comprehensive product information.

Data quality in manufacturing has many layers, and SyncForce Circular PIM addresses them comprehensively. SyncForce’s adaptive change management ensures that specialists are involved at the right moments in the go-to-market process to provide specific data. For example, supply chain specialists provide pallet stacking patterns, and specification management ensures certifications for sustainable production materials.

Data entry is primarily done using predefined values (with translations), driving consistency. SyncForce makes data entry easier in multiple ways: by allowing configuration of default values, and setting lead and derived values where entering one value automatically populates a range of other related values. Additionally, calculated fields enable the creation of values for other attributes based on one or more input values.

SyncForce offers multiple pre-configured modules for managing complex, often regulated data sets, such as packaging materials, label information, and claims. These modules have embedded validations. Before products are released for publication, SyncForce performs a mandatory field check to ensure all required fields have values. 

Furthermore, SyncForce’s advanced syndication engine validates product data per market, channel, or even customer, ensuring compliance with data quality standards specific to the markets in which the product is sold. This unique capability is essential for maintaining high data quality in multi-channel, multi-market commerce, where data quality standards vary by target market.

SyncForce Circular PIM offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to support the entire lifecycle of product information from development to distribution:

1. Advanced Data Model: Capable of handling layered, complex product portfolio structures.
2. Integrated Advanced Workflow: Supports the go-to-market process typical in manufacturing, ensuring all stakeholders are involved at the right moments.
3. Integrated Label & Artwork Proofing and Approval: Streamlines the creation and approval of labels and artwork.
4. Advanced Catalog Management: Supports multiple product, trade, and digital life cycles.
5. Advanced Rights Management: Ensures proper access and control over product data.
6. Integrated Portal: Features a product catalog and media library for easy access and management.
7. Integrated Digital Asset Management (DAM) System: Manages digital assets like images, documents, and videos linked to product information.
8. Syndication Engine: Advanced syndication support for transforming and validating target data requirements.
9. Database Publishing: Automatic creation of leaflets, pricelists, presentations, labels, and catalogs from the integrated database.
10. GS1 Connector: The most advanced GS1 connector in the market, supporting all local data models (every country has a different data model).

These features collectively ensure that SyncForce Circular PIM can effectively manage product information from development through to distribution, maintaining high data quality and compliance across all channels and markets.

No, with SyncForce, you do not need to log in to the GS1 web interface to distribute via GS1-GDSN. SyncForce has an integrated GS1-GDSN connector. You can assign target markets (countries) and/or targets (retailers/wholesalers) to every trade hierarchy (pallet configuration). Publication is done directly from SyncForce, which even offers a preflight option where all applicable validations are done before you publish to your customers. SyncForce handles the mappings to the local GS1 data models (each country has its own data model and validations) for products sold in multiple markets/countries, reducing the complexity for your users to just pushing a single button.

SyncForce Circular PIM consists of three pillars, one of which is adaptive change management. This Stage-Gate ready module is optimized to support the go-to-market process within product manufacturing. 

It supports multiple configurable templates, allowing all essential steps, related approvals, and checklists to be managed within SyncForce. 

This ensures that all involved functions and agencies provide the necessary information for a 100% on-time, in-full digital product launch, synchronized with the real-world product launch. This comprehensive approach ensures seamless collaboration across departments and external partners.

In e-commerce, having appealing and accurate product content is essential. In the digital age, commerce data fuels e-commerce success by including detailed product features, benefits, and commercial descriptions. Centralized management of this data enables precise localization and adaptation for various markets. SyncForce’s capabilities extend to optimizing localization and translation, ensuring language-specific content is created only for markets where the products will be sold.

The flexible data model of SyncForce allows for custom configurations of an unlimited number of fields per product class, enabling strategically important product relationships that are key for effective cross-selling and upselling within the manufacturing domain. 

Specific attributes for e-commerce, such as features, benefits, and product descriptions, can be configured in SyncForce and can include plain text or additional markup. Additionally, the SyncForce DAM automatically converts original images, documents, videos, and other assets into the various formats required for e-commerce, ensuring that digital assets are always ready for use.

SyncForce is highly customizable. You can set up an unlimited number of attributes with various data types, such as single select, simple HTML, range, multiple select, and number. Each attribute can have multiple settings, including default values, mandatory fields, and value validations. Additionally, you can configure both view and manage rights per attribute.

Beyond attributes, you can configure your own product classification with unlimited levels and assign relevant attributes to each product class, ensuring that product managers only see relevant data fields per product. You can link your custom classes to international standard classifications like CPG, ETIM, and eClass, simplifying data exchange.

SyncForce also allows you to assign custom-configured attributes to different levels (e.g., each/consumer unit, case, display, pallet) and configure master-variant structures. By setting up your own product teams, you can manage which teams are responsible for different parts of your product portfolio and channels.

SyncForce is ISO 27001 certified, ensuring the highest standards of information security. For more detailed information on our security measures, please visit https://trust.syncforce.com/.

SyncForce has an advanced import processor based on the IMDE standard, supporting data imports from ERP and PLM systems, as well as data received via GS1-GDSN. 

On the data distribution side, SyncForce has standard connectors to GS1-GDSN, ChannelEngine, 2BA, Installdata, SIM/ImpactBuying, Kramp, Nexmart, FAB-DIS, EZBase, IB, and APIs to integrate with eCommerce and WebCMS systems. 

SyncForce seamlessly becomes an integrated part of your digital supply chain, connecting to multiple internal and external systems.

Yes, SyncForce supports the setup of multiple variants per master product, each with its own trade lifecycle, allowing you to make specific products available in defined channels for a certain period (e.g., first order date, last order date). SyncForce also manages pricing, including current and future prices such as list prices and MSRP, as well as promotional prices. Promotional prices will override the standard price for a defined period, and once the promotion ends, the price will automatically revert to the normal price.

SyncForce is an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) with a certified partner network for implementation. The implementation process is carried out using proven methods with standardized workshops and templates. SyncForce also offers industry-specific templates, such as the Food Start template, which leverages our 25 years of experience with pre-defined data and process models. These templates can be customized to meet individual preferences and needs, ensuring a tailored implementation for each client.

SyncForce offers comprehensive support and training during and after implementation. We provide standard training materials for various applications to ensure users are well-equipped to utilize the system effectively. Additionally, we have a very active online user community where both SyncForce and our customers post valuable information and insights, enabling users to interact with their peers and share best practices.