From Paper Catalogues to Centralised Product Data
Industrial and automotive supply chains are discovering that their biggest bottleneck is not warehouse space, but information. Legacy, paper-based catalogues and scattered PDFs make it hard for engineers, technicians and sales teams to find accurate specifications quickly. This fragmentation slows product launches, complicates maintenance work and introduces downtime risk when teams rely on outdated print materials. Hydroscand’s move away from print catalogues shows how entrenched these habits have been: field technicians were carrying physical references that could not keep pace with frequent specification changes. In parallel, many dismantlers selling reused parts still depend on handwritten labels and manual lookups for part numbers and fitment. These analogue processes make product data hard to search and even harder to standardise. As supply chains become more digital and omnichannel, companies are recognising that product data management is a foundational capability rather than an administrative afterthought.
PIM Platform Benefits: Akeneo as a Single Source of Truth
Product information management platforms are emerging as a critical layer in supply chain digitization. Hydroscand’s deployment of Akeneo’s Product Cloud and Digital Showroom illustrates the shift from fragmented repositories to a single source of truth. Instead of maintaining separate catalogues, PDFs and website entries, the company now centralises more than 30,000 product records in one environment. Product management, marketing and sales access the same dataset, ensuring that any specification update flows instantly to digital channels and partner networks. This approach improves search precision, which is vital when customers must identify technically complex parts quickly to reduce equipment downtime. It also supports translations and localised data without duplicating effort. Beyond improved accuracy, such a PIM platform streamlines workflows: teams no longer reconcile conflicting documents, and new products can be launched faster. For many industrial firms, this is the practical upside of PIM platform benefits—less manual rework and more consistent, trusted information everywhere it is needed.
Digitising Used-Parts Inventory for Scalable E-Commerce
In the automotive dismantling sector, the core challenge is not demand for reused parts, but poor-quality inventory data. LekoTech argues that dismantlers often operate with incomplete databases, handwritten part numbers and inconsistent naming, making it difficult to identify and list components accurately. The result is a high risk of misfitment, customer queries and returns, all of which erode margins and confidence in reused-parts marketplaces. To tackle this, LekoTech offers dismantler-focused digitisation tools, pairing smartphone-based inventory capture with structured product data and fitment support. Dismantlers can photograph parts, then rely on LekoTech’s team and systems to enrich records with plate, VIN and OE-code searchability. The outcome is a more robust inventory management system that connects directly to institutional e-commerce channels such as eBay. By standardising fitment information and automating exports, recyclers can list stock online more reliably and at scale, supporting a more mature, data-driven reused-parts market.
Supply Chain Digitization and the End of Static Catalogues
The phase-out of Hydroscand’s printed catalogues signals a broader transformation in supply chain digitization. Live, digital product records now replace static documentation, enabling updates to be propagated across markets and channels in one move. Engineers, distributors and service staff gain confidence that the information they consult is current, significantly reducing the risk of incorrect product selection and associated service delays. This shift also lowers the operational overhead of producing and distributing physical catalogues, freeing teams to focus on higher-value tasks such as improving data quality and customer support. At the same time, dismantlers working with partners like LekoTech are moving away from manual forms and spreadsheets toward integrated digital workflows that connect dismantling, inventory capture and online listing. Across both new and reused parts, the trend is the same: supply chains that treat accurate, centralised product data as infrastructure are better positioned to support reliable, responsive e-commerce operations.
From Manual Processes to Intelligent, Data-Led Operations
Both Hydroscand and LekoTech highlight that digital transformation in supply chains is less about flashy interfaces and more about reducing manual processes. In reused-parts operations, complete automation remains difficult and risky, especially when misidentification can create costly returns and dissatisfied customers. LekoTech’s view is that artificial intelligence can assist, but human-led quality control and structured workflows are still essential for accurate digitisation. Similarly, Hydroscand’s close collaboration with Akeneo shows that off-the-shelf tools are often not enough; aligning a PIM platform with existing processes is key to unlocking value. As companies centralise product data, they gain clearer visibility into inventory, improve fitment accuracy and accelerate product search. Over time, these capabilities translate into leaner operations, fewer errors and a more resilient inventory management system. The direction of travel is clear: organisations that invest in robust product data management are better equipped to scale e-commerce and meet rising expectations for speed and precision.