The Hidden Costs of Poor Product Data — And How to Fix Them

Picture this: you’ve spent months preparing for a festive season launch. The campaigns are live, budgets are burning, customers are clicking… …and then the angry calls start.

• The price listed on Amazon doesn’t match the promotion you’re running.
• Product images are missing on Flipkart.
• A spec sheet error leads to hundreds of returns on your D2C site.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

For many brands, poor product data isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a silent revenue killer. Let’s break down the hidden costs brands pay every day and how you can fix them.

The Real Costs of Poor Product Data

1. Lost Sales Opportunities
   
   When product titles are incomplete, images are missing, or specs don’t match, customers abandon carts. Research shows that inaccurate product content can lead to 20–30% lower conversion rates.
   
   👉 Every inaccurate listing = lost sales you’ll never recover.
   
   
2. Higher Returns and Refunds
   
   Shoppers buy based on what they see. If the size, color, or technical specs don’t match reality, disappointment leads to returns. Returns not only cost logistics but also hurt brand trust.
   
   👉 Bad product data = higher returns = higher costs.
   
   
3. Compliance Risks and Penalties
   
   Marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, or Flipkart enforce strict listing requirements. A single wrong attribute can trigger delisting or penalties — sometimes right in the middle of peak season.
   
   👉 One small error can shut down your biggest sales channel overnight.
   
   
4. Wasted Marketing Spend
   
   Imagine running ads for a product that has the wrong price or missing images. You’re paying for clicks that will never convert. Poor data means performance marketing ROI drops instantly.
   
   👉 Ad spend is only as good as the product data behind it.
   
   
5. Team Burnout and Inefficiency
   
   Without a central system, teams spend endless hours chasing spreadsheets, updating listings manually, and firefighting last-minute errors. This slows innovation and drains morale.
   
   👉 Poor product data doesn’t just cost money — it costs people too.

How to Fix Poor Product Data

The good news: these hidden costs are fixable. Brands worldwide are solving them with Product Information Management (PIM) systems designed for scale and accuracy. Here’s how a modern PIM like eGenie fixes these issues:

1. Centralized Product Data
   No more scattered spreadsheets. A single source of truth keeps all teams aligned.
2. AI-Powered Content Enhancement
   Generate optimized titles, descriptions, and attributes that boost SEO and marketplace ranking.
3. Content Syndication Across Channels
   Ensure instant, accurate updates across Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, Flipkart, Magento, and quick commerce platforms.
4. Listing Automation
   Launch thousands of SKUs in bulk without manual errors slowing you down.
5. Product Lifecycle Management
   Track every stage of your product journey — from creation to retirement — with full accuracy.
6. ERP/MDM Integration
   Seamlessly connect with SAP, Oracle, and Dynamics to keep enterprise systems in sync.

eGenie PIM: Turning Hidden Costs Into Growth

At eGenie PIM, we help global brands eliminate the silent costs of poor product data and unlock growth.

• Fewer returns, fewer penalties
• Higher conversion rates from enriched content
• Faster time-to-market through automation
• Reduced team workload with AI and error detection

👉 Instead of bleeding revenue due to poor data, brands see measurable ROI within months.

Final Word

Poor product data isn’t just a back-office problem. It’s the reason sales targets are missed, customers get frustrated, and teams burn out. The hidden costs add up — but so do the benefits of fixing them. By investing in the right PIM system, you can transform product data from a liability into a competitive advantage.

👉 Want to uncover how much poor product data is costing your brand? Book your Free PIM Health Check today and take the first step toward error-free, revenue-driving product content.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)