Enhancement Request: Custom Attribute Visibility in Product Search and Syndication

1. Background / Current Situation

For customers who have purchased and implemented the Amazon API integration within Inriver PIM, the Amazon ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) is the primary product identifier used by teams undertaking day-to-day Amazon support and operational activities.

Within our PIM environment, approximately 95% of users primarily search for products using the EFB Business SKU code. Consequently, the Business SKU has been configured as the primary searchable identifier within the main product search.

However, this creates an additional challenge for the operational teams working specifically with Amazon, as they typically identify products using the Amazon ASIN rather than the Business SKU.

There are currently two areas where this creates inefficiencies:

A. Main Product Search

The main search functionality does not currently allow users to search directly using the Amazon ASIN.

A workaround is available by adding all Amazon products to a stored query and then filtering the results. However, this introduces additional steps and clicks to locate the required product, making routine Amazon support and maintenance activities less efficient.

B. Syndication Product Selection

Within the Syndication area, when selecting a subset of products for syndication, the available product information displays the product description and Business SKU.

The Amazon ASIN is not visible.

As a result, users working with Amazon must first identify which product an ASIN relates to within their own catalogue, before locating that product in the syndication selection screen using its description or Business SKU.

This creates unnecessary manual effort and increases the likelihood of selecting the wrong product.

2. Proposed Enhancements

We would like to request the following enhancements:

1. Additional Searchable Identifier – Amazon ASIN

Where the Amazon API integration has been purchased and enabled, provide the ability to search for products using the Amazon ASIN within the main PIM search box, alongside the existing Business SKU search functionality.

2. Custom Attribute Visibility – Syndication Product Selection

Provide the ability to display the Amazon ASIN within the Syndication product selection tab, allowing users to identify and select the correct products without having to cross-reference identifiers outside of the syndication screen.

3. Opportunity for Wider Customer Benefit

Although the immediate requirement relates to the Amazon ASIN, we recognise that other Inriver customers may have different operational requirements and rely on alternative product identifiers.

Our product data is already filtered using attributes such as Vendor Code and UOM. For example, where the Vendor Code is EURDH and the UOM is CASE, the corresponding identifier is held within an attribute called EURDH CASE ASIN.

Rather than developing functionality specifically for the Amazon ASIN, we would suggest exploring the ability for each Inriver customer to configure one custom attribute to be displayed within the relevant search and syndication areas.

This would allow customers to map their preferred operational identifier to the available display field, making the enhancement more flexible and beneficial across the wider Inriver customer base.

4. Expected Benefits

Improved operational efficiency: Reduces the number of steps and clicks required to locate products.
Improved user experience: Enables teams to work using the identifiers most relevant to their operational responsibilities.
Reduced manual cross-referencing: Removes the need to switch between product records and syndication screens to identify products.
Improved selection accuracy: Makes it easier to identify the correct products when managing syndication.
Wider customer applicability: A configurable custom attribute would support different customer requirements without requiring Inriver to develop individual solutions for each integration or identifier.

5. Requested Outcome

We would welcome Inriver's feedback on the feasibility of introducing a configurable custom attribute that could be made visible within the main product search functionality and Syndication product selection.

Our preference would be for this to be a configurable capability, allowing customers to determine which additional product identifier is most relevant to their operational processes.

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