Architectural products are anything but simple. From surface materials and fixtures to advanced building systems, they need to meet strict technical requirements, comply with regional regulations, and cater to diverse design preferences.
Compared to industries like consumer electronics or automotive, where data is relatively straightforward and standardised, architectural products bring a whole new level of complexity. Think of fire ratings, acoustic performance, finish types, sizing, installation notes, environmental certifications (and more) — all for just one product.
These challenges don’t just slow things down; they cost suppliers and distributors valuable time and opportunities. In this short article I’ll explain why this hits distributors the hardest and how companies can turn it around.
Identifying complex data
Architectural products are far more complex than most other products. Take consumer electronics: a typical product would typically have 5-10 main data points, like dimensions, power consumption, and warranty details. Even automotive parts, with their detailed specs, have standardised attributes that keep things manageable.
Now, compare that to architectural products like tiles, textiles, wood, cladding, bricks etc. A single product often needs dozens of data points:
- Technical Data: Fire ratings, thermal resistance, slip resistance, acoustic properties and many more
- Compliance Details: Certifications like LEED or BREEAM, plus compliance with building codes that change by region.
- Design Features: Finishes, textures, materials, and customisation options.
- Digital Files: High-resolution images, CAD/BIM files, installation guides, and performance certificates.
And that’s not even the full story. Many architectural products come with endless variations. It’s very common for products to have 20+ versions based on size, colour, finish, and performance properties. Compare that to a smartphone, which might only have three or four variants or to clothes, which may have different sizes and colours, but that’s it really. This level of complexity makes architectural products incredibly hard to manage.
Distributors, especially, are stuck in the middle of this data overload. They’re not just managing the complexity for one manufacturer—they’re dealing with it across dozens, sometimes hundreds, of manufacturers.
Why is this a problem for distributors more than anyone else?
Distributors / suppliers don’t have the luxury of focusing on one product line. They’re tasked with pulling together data from multiple manufacturers, each with their own way of doing things. Here’s why that’s a nightmare:
1. Different standards and formats
Manufacturers use different systems, formats, and terms, which makes it a huge challenge for suppliers to reconcile all the data. For example:
- Similar attributes and values are defined differently by different manufacturers.
- Performance and sizing standards are different (think certifications and sizing methods, for example)
- Assets such as BIM files, technical sheets and certificates arrive in various formats and levels of detail.
This mismatch creates a massive time sink for product teams, who end up manually fixing, formatting, and cleaning up data. And without proper tools, these inconsistencies often lead to bigger issues, like sharing incorrect specs with architects. When that happens, it’s not just a delay—it’s a hit to your credibility.
2. The pressure to handle bigger catalogues
Suppliers are almost always under pressure to add more SKUs to cover a wider range of customer needs. But more products mean more data to manage, and many teams are already stretched thin. Without the right systems in place, scaling up often leads to mistakes, slowdowns, or even avoiding new opportunities altogether.
The result? Missed business and potential damage to your reputation when you can’t deliver accurate, reliable information.
3. Speed Matters
Architects, designers, and contractors expect fast, accurate answers. They’re looking for fire ratings, BIM files, and compatibility details on the spot. If you’re stuck digging through Excel sheets or waiting on updates, you’ll lose out to competitors who can respond faster.
And it’s not just about answering questions. Getting new products to market quickly is critical, but without streamlined processes, it takes far too long to get everything ready for a launch. That’s lost revenue right there.
How are suppliers addressing these challenges today?
Most distributors are still using outdated methods to manage their product catalogues. Here’s what that looks like:
- Excel Files: Great for quick fixes but a nightmare for scaling. They’re clunky, prone to errors, and nearly impossible to keep consistent across teams.
- ERP Systems: Useful for inventory and logistics, but they weren’t built to handle the depth and variety of architectural product data.
These workarounds take a ton of manual effort, slow things down, and leave room for mistakes. It’s not sustainable.
What can organisations do?
To stay competitive, distributors need to rethink how they manage data. Here’s how you can start:
1. Standardise your data inputs
Create templates for your manufacturers to follow when they share data with you. Many manufacturers tend to object this way of working, but even getting a few of your partners aligned will save time and make the first step of the process smoother.
2. Centralise your information
Bring all your data into one place, whether it’s a database or a central catalogue system. This makes updates easier and reduces the risk of errors. However, it doesn’t fully solve the problem of sharing data efficiently with stakeholders.
3. Invest in Product Information Management (PIM) software
The best way forward is adopting a PIM system. With PIM, you can:
- Streamline data ingestion: Quickly absorb and standardise supplier data, no matter the format.
- Create a single source of truth: Manage all your data in one place, ensuring it’s accurate and up-to-date.
- Distribute data across channels: Instantly update information across your online catalogues, sales materials, and marketing platforms.
The bottom line
Managing product data in the architectural sector isn’t just difficult—it’s critical for suppliers who wish to remain competitive. As your product lines grow and architects demand faster, more accurate answers, the old ways of managing your catalogue just won’t cut it.
A PIM system is your best bet to simplify your operations, improve your responsiveness, and stand out as a reliable partner to your suppliers and customers. The industry is moving toward digital—don’t get left behind.
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At Stylib we’ve built the world’s only PIM system designed for architectural product suppliers and manufacturers. We make ingesting product information, managing it and sharing it with teams, partners and customers a simple task that saves time and drives sales.