Mark Smith's Analyst Perspectives

We are happy to share some insights about Salsify ProductXM drawn from our latest Value Index research, which assesses how well vendors’ offerings meet buyers’ requirements.

We published the Ventana Research Value Index: Product Information Management, the distillation of a year of market and product research efforts. To assess functionality, one of the components of Capability, we applied the Ventana Research Value Index methodology and blueprint, which links the personas and processes for PIM to an organization’s requirements.

In all of our Value Indexes, we utilize a structured research methodology that includes evaluation categories designed to reflect real-world criteria incorporated in a request for proposal and vendor selection process for PIM software. We evaluated Salsify and 15 other vendors in seven categories, five relevant to the product (Adaptability, Capability, Manageability, Reliability and Usability) and two related to the vendor (Vendor Validation and Total Cost of Ownership and Return on Investment). To arrive at the Value Index rating for a given vendor, we weighted each category to reflect its relative importance in an RFP process, with the weightings based on our expertise and research.

Salsify, a dedicated provider of technology to support the commerce of products, has continued to expand its efforts organically and through acquisition. It was categorized as an Exemplary Vendor, ranking fourth overall in the Value Index. Salsify was a Value Index Leader in TCO/ROI and Usability, and performed its best in TCO/ROI and Capability.

Salsify’s rapid growth in PIM has come from its emphasis on the experience of product information and where it is shared across the demand and supply chains of organizations. This was seen in the analysis in Usability, where it ranked second, and in Capability, where Salsify’s emphasis on commerce and supplier support was identified.

Salsify could improve in Adaptability and areas of integration that are more well-identified in an enterprise than outside. Smaller improvements in communication of its customer experience and services would help in Validation to ensure the fullest confidence from buyers.

This assessment was based on Salsify’s product information management applications available at end of April of 2021 — ProductXM’s March release. Since the release of the Value Index, Salsify acquired Alkemics, and launched an April release that added task generation notifications and increased locale support and support for Amazon Feed Specifications. Salsify’s May release included support for new integration with Microsoft Teams, and enhanced content and syndication with Wayfair UK.

The role of PIM for every organization is to ensure the most accurate and engaging information that supports customer, enterprise and product lifecycle requirements. Providing effective product information is the foundation to providing an engaging digital experience that meets the needs of marketing, commerce and the digital shelf. Organizations should make PIM and product experiences a priority for continuous process improvement, and perform an assessment of existing process and technological approaches, adopt best practices and ensure the effectiveness of product information being utilized for revenue, operations and supply chain processes.

This research-based index is the most comprehensive assessment of the value of product information management software in the industry. Technology buyers can learn more about how to use our Value Index by clicking here and included vendors that wish to learn more can click here. Read the report here.

Regards,

Mark Smith