Gedy centralizes data, assets and technical documentation with GMDE’s digital ecosystem

Gedy  is an Italian company with a long history in the bathroom furnishings and shower accessories industry, renowned for the quality of its design and the breadth of its product catalog. The company operates in both domestic and international markets, with a portfolio comprising thousands of product references managed across ERP, CMS and digital repositories.

As the catalog expanded and the need arose to deliver consistent information across every channel, from print to digital, Gedy faced the complexity typically experienced by established manufacturing companies.

The objective was to establish centralized governance of product information and digital assets, eliminating manual tasks and redundant processes. The main challenges included:

• data distributed across different systems;
• decentralized digital assets;
• manual updates to technical documentation;
• the risk of inconsistencies between products, images and published materials;
• lengthy production times for technical data sheets and catalogs.

From fragmented data to an integrated ecosystem

The project designed by GMDE was delivered in phases, transforming Gedy’s operational requirements into a robust, scalable and automated digital system.

1. Data analysis and governanc
   GMDE conducted an in-depth analysis of the company’s existing information sources, including the ERP, CMS and file servers. The starting point was not simply to map the available data, but also to define priority rules and accuracy criteria for each attribute, establishing a comprehensive product information governance framework.
2. PIM: a single source of truth
   All product information was centralized within a Pimcore-based PIM (Product Information Management) system. A unified product hierarchy was developed to harmonize classification structures that were initially highly diverse, with direct integration into the ERP and CMS.
3. DAM: every asset in the right place
   Images and documents stored on the company’s file servers were imported, classified and automatically linked to the relevant products through the DAM (Digital Asset Management) system. Gedy’s digital assets are now organized within a centralized hub and can be distributed across every publishing channel.
4. Structured workflows for approvals and product statuses
   GMDE implemented operational workflows to manage approvals, product statuses and internal processes. This was also a key step towards greater standardization and certification, reducing untracked activities and the risk of misalignment between departments.
5. Web2Print module: automatically generated technical data sheets
   Thanks to the Web2Print module, technical data sheets are automatically generated using the information stored in the PIM. Every update to product information is immediately reflected in the documentation, ensuring that content remains consistent, up to date and easy to distribute.
6. Smart InDesign module: faster production of catalogs and price lists
   To support the production of catalogs and price lists, GMDE implemented Smart InDesign, a solution that connects Adobe InDesign to the centralized data stored in Pimcore. The team retains full creative control over page layouts while working with validated, up-to-date content, significantly reducing manual tasks, transcription errors and production times.

A flexible, integrated digital ecosystem built to scale

The benefits of this innovative approach include a more consistent data infrastructure, faster processes and a scalable architecture capable of supporting future digitalization initiatives.

1. A single source of truth
   Product data is centralized in Pimcore, ensuring consistent and up-to-date information across the ERP, CMS and every output channel.
2. Assets organized and linked to products
   Images, videos and marketing materials are classified, searchable and ready for distribution in just a few clicks, eliminating the company’s reliance on unstructured file servers.
3. Traceable workflows and controlled approval processes
   Internal processes are standardized through product statuses, clearly defined responsibilities and complete approval histories. This results in fewer internal emails, fewer manual errors and greater control.
4. A scalable architecture ready for future developments
   The implemented architecture can be seamlessly integrated with B2C e-commerce platforms, marketplaces and new digital channels.
   
   

• Time to Market: 20% 
• Time saved in data maintenance: 50% 
• Duplicated Data: 70%

Gedy has embarked on an important transformation journey in product information management through the implementation of a PIM platform. Before the system was introduced, technical data, images, marketing content, catalogues and price lists were distributed across different applications and repositories, with creation and updating methods that were not always consistent. This made it difficult to keep information aligned across the various business functions and increased the risk of using outdated or inconsistent data.

The implementation of the PIM has enabled us to integrate all product information into a single environment, creating a centralised, reliable and shared source of data. The project went beyond the digitalisation of content: we redefined roles, responsibilities and the way information is shared between different business functions, introducing structured workflows for the creation, review and validation of information. These workflows are certified and integrated into our Quality Management System.

Today, the PIM is an essential tool for ensuring traceability and control throughout the entire product development and management process, while supporting review and continuous improvement activities. Having technical data, images and marketing content available within a single system significantly reduces the time required to create and update catalogues, price lists, technical data sheets and sales materials, while also improving the reliability of the information published across the company’s various channels.

The PIM will become a central point of reference across the organisation, fostering collaboration between the functions involved and transforming product information management into a structured, shared and efficiency-oriented process.

Dalila Romano, Marketing Manager at Gedy and Project Sponsor