From data to design - spotlight on Perfion’s report tool

For companies that own a Perfion system, there is great value to be gained by reusing product data in as many value-creating contexts as possible.

Once a product is created and enriched, it makes sense to leverage it across as many customer-facing channels as possible. And here, we’re not only thinking about classic digital channels such as apps and webshops but also more traditional sales channels like catalogs and price lists. Printed materials are still widespread, both in print and digital form, as they support the daily work of sales and marketing departments.

Leverage your product data in new formats

Whether you need to create catalogs, price lists, or product sheets, Perfion’s report tool can make the process of reusing product data simple and cost-effective.

With the report tool, you can design documents directly within Perfion’s report interface without the need for expensive third-party solutions. In this post, we provide an overview of Perfion’s report tool and some of the typical uses we see among our customers.

If you are considering whether the report tool is something you should invest in, it can be helpful to ask yourselves the following questions:

• Product Lists
  • Do you have customers who want to receive visual overviews in the form of product lists (either as PDFs or in physical form)?
  • The report tool allows you to segment catalogs so that recipients only receive the products/overview that THEY specifically need.
• Product Sheets/Catalogs
  • The report tool lets you create catalogs or product lists in the formats you need.
  • Whether it’s price lists, catalogs for trade shows, or similar, the report tool can help you make your product data and products accessible to your customers.
• Compliance
  • Are you subject to EU legislation that requires documentation of how your products are manufactured/disposed/recycled?
  • Perfion’s report tool can help prepare and present "Declarations of Performance" (DOP) and other important compliance documents.
• Internal Reports:
  • Do you have an internal need to visualize which data a given product is missing?
  • Internal reports can help decision-makers and product teams continuously evaluate data quality and bottlenecks. For example, is it always the same supplier missing images?
• Marketing Materials:
  • Do you need to design targeted sales or marketing materials using product data stored in Perfion?
  • Different companies and industries have varying needs for marketing materials. Whether it’s product flyers for trade shows, price lists in multiple languages, printed or digital catalogs, Perfion’s report tool can be a quick way to get your product data out and in use.

If you see the need for even one of these formats, the report tool might very well be worth considering.

Once you have structured your product data, it is often easy to use this product data across multiple contexts without having to do the “legwork” of onboarding and enrichment again.

Once you have identified the need to create a report, there is typically a fairly fixed process for producing your output (printed or digital).

Setting up design templates and identifying data

With the report tool, you can set up a design template where the layout and appearance of your product data can be configured according to your needs and preferences.

For example, your template might need to resemble a product page on your webshop, where you want to include an image, a title, a description, and a number of specifications in your template.

It is important to validate that the data you need is available in Perfion. We see many customers who choose to create a field for something like “Catalog Description,” since the space available on an A5 or A4 page is usually much smaller than the space available digitally. Therefore, a short and precise presentation of the product’s primary features is typically necessary.

Mapping data – from template to data model

When your template is finished, the report tool automatically fetches data for one or more products and inserts it into your template, leaving you with the finished product (either as a physical document or in PDF/HTML format).

The tool gives you the flexibility to design reports that perfectly fit your specific needs, whether it’s sales presentations, technical documentation, or internal data analysis.

Create product datasheets and customer-specific catalogs – digitally or in print

Imagine being able to offer your customers tailored documents containing precise product information and visual elements that make it easier for them to make decisions. Or providing detailed overviews that fulfill regulatory requirements and ensure you are always compliant.

Internal reports and status overviews of, for example, data quality and bottlenecks

Internally, you can use reports to identify and fill data gaps, optimize product development processes, and improve collaboration between departments. Perfion’s report tool allows you to deliver the latest data to your customers and stakeholders without waiting for daily runs or manual processes.

Let Perfion help you create tailored reports that match your specific needs and improve your workflows. With the right tools and a bit of creativity, you can transform your data into valuable insights and presentations that make a difference for your employees, partners, and customers.

SuperQueries – get sharp at finding the right data in your Perfion!

If you’re excited after reading this post, here’s a little exercise you can try before you start your report work – SuperQueries!

SuperQueries can be used to prepare the data foundation for your report. SuperQueries usually follow the same syntax, and the following visual guide helps you identify the individual components of your SuperQuery and enables you to validate whether you have all the features you need before you start building your template.