List of software for information architecture of a product company
Published: 2023-07-31 09:08:12

Production and sales systems are increasingly complex. Offline and online, product omnichannel, automatic warehouse, product availability, process analysis, collection of sales and business strategic information, delivery optimization, marketing automation…


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From this situation was born the desire to tell my experience, learned in years of consultancy and implementation of complex IT systems, which had allowed clients to satisfy their desire to buy and at sellers to get their sales goals.

This first story is just the peak of the iceberg of infinite variables and interactions inside of the commercial flow, to bring the product into the customer's home.

**Software overview**

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In this schema is represented a system architecture standard without customization or highly vertical software.

It begins with the product life cycle management and it finishes with the delivery of the product and the analysis of the entire flow using BI software.

Below is the list of software and processes that build this IT system, the order represents the sequence in which the software appears in the business flow.

**PLM** or Product Lifecycle Management is a software solution to store, manage and distribute all information throughout the product life cycle or a global supply chain service. 

**WPM** or Wholesale Platform Management is the bridge between Brand and Retailer, it allows you to manage the pre-order campaign with a dedicated product catalog and price list personalized for each customer.

**ERP** or Enterprise Resource Planning is a platform companies use to manage and integrate the essential parts of their businesses. An ERP software system can also integrate planning, purchasing inventory, sales, marketing, finance, human resources, and more.
Many ERP software applications are not only used for their original purpose but also integrate processes not native to ERP.

**DAM** or Digital Asset Management is a software solution that's used to efficiently and securely store, organize, manage, and share digital files and assets across teams in organizations of all sizes.

**PIM** or Product Information Management is a system that lets users store, enrich, and manage complex product information. PIM tools centralize product-related data, streamlining the process of updating and managing accurate information throughout multiple sales and marketing channels.

**Warehouse Platform** is the software or service that provides the infrastructure and tools for building and managing a data warehouse.

**OMS** or Order Management System helps organize and automate key parts of the purchasing/fulfillment processes for you and the customer. After an order is placed and a delivery method is selected, an automated process is triggered for fulfillment. Whether it's shipping from the nearest and/or most cost-effective location, or preparing the item for in-store pickup, OMS platforms help fulfill orders quickly. It also helps to monitor inventory levels to avoid stockouts and backorders and even manage other steps in the customer lifecycle, such as returns. It enables your employees and customers to view and track each order from start to finish, and it helps you analyze the overall efficiency of the process.

**E-commerce platform** is a software that enables the commercial process of buying and selling over the internet.

**Marketplace platform** is an e-commerce site that connects sellers with buyers. It's often known as an electronic marketplace and all transactions are managed by the website owner. Companies use online marketplaces to reach customers who want to purchase their products and services. Examples of online marketplaces include Amazon, eBay, and Craigslist.
Retails platform is software that allows complete management of a physical store, from cashier management to warehouse inventory, through the application of discounts or fidelity cards.

**CRM** or Customer Relationship Management: is a software that allows the combination of practices, strategies and technologies that companies use to manage and analyze customer interactions and data throughout the customer lifecycle. The goal is to improve customer service relationships and assist in customer retention and drive sales growth. CRM systems compile customer data across different channels, or points of contact, between the customer and the company, which could include the company's website, telephone, live chat, direct mail, marketing materials and social networks. CRM systems can also give customer-facing staff members detailed information on customers' personal information, purchase history, buying preferences and concerns.

**BI** or Business Intelligence is software that ingests business data and presents it in user-friendly views such as reports, dashboards, charts and graphs. BI tools enable business users to access different types of data - historical and current, third-party and in-house, as well as semi-structured data and unstructured data like social media. Users can analyze this information to gain insights into how the business is performing.

**Middle Layer** is software used to connect different applications such as ERP, PIM and DAM. It is usually custom software that synchronizes data from different platforms.