10 Tips for Successful Print Catalog Automation

1
10 Tips for Successful Print Catalog Automation
2
10 Tips for Successful Print Catalog Automation
There are big advantages to catalog automation as
compared to the traditional method of printing
catalog. One can easily create tailor-made
catalogs. Representatives and dealers can make
their own catalogs in no time without any special
skills. Changes in data and location can be
easily and automatically updated in the catalog.
This helps achieve accuracy. However, the process
of catalog automation can be made efficient if
the following points are borne in mind.  
3
1. Use images as attributes at product
level A picture is worth a thousand words. A
complex idea or in this case the product details
with all features can be easily conveyed with use
of just a single image. It makes it possible for
the customer to absorb large amounts of data
quickly. It is useful for displaying
certifications, source indications.   2.
Use different product views into the same
image It becomes easy for the customer to gauge
the actual product if all views of the product
are assimilated into one. A single composite
image reduces the confusion and time taken for
customers to make a decision. Moreover, the
catalog automation takes care of the placement of
the picture according to the length and type of
description. 3. Show more differences between
product variants The tabular format of
differences between product variants lets the
customer make quick purchase decisions. He is
more often than often not curious to know the
features that he would receive or miss out on. A
glance at the stacked rows of product features
helps in analyzing the product range available in
the market in no time. Automation also ensures
that the error in representing such complex data
is considerably reduced.
4
4. Show descriptions as bullet points which make
it more readable A customer tends to gets lost in
the mire of long product descriptions. Busy
customers prefer getting the essence of the
matter in the shortest possible way. Bullet
points of the long descriptions make them more
readable. If length of the bullets is specified,
automation takes care of the space management
accordingly.   5. Use the auto layout feature for
best positioning of the product Overall look of
the catalog makes or break the customer interest.
It is thus best to let the software figure out on
how to best position the products with images and
descriptions. Force fitting the products manually
is not only time consuming but also might not
lead to the best fit.   6. Design simple headers
and footers to make catalogs more
professional. Deluge of data makes the customer
wary of the product catalog. It is thus advisable
to stick to minimalistic headers and footers. It
must be able to capture the core idea of the
catalog.  
5
7. Use simple grid layouts to fit maximum
data Bulky catalogs can discourage a customer
from picking them. It is always better to use a
simple grid layout so that maximum number of
product images and descriptions can fit in a
page. This will make the catalogs easier to
handle and read. Automation helps in easily
permuting with the number of rows, columns,
margins, spacing between the cells etc.   8.
Address Customer Needs A customer wants to know
if his purchase decision is the best in the
market. Print catalogs give customers all-out
clarity on pricing, descriptions, features,
comparisons, reviews etc. Catalog automation lets
you address many such customer needs all at once.
9. Personalization Options A customer is most
delighted when he gets individual attention from
the seller. It lets him know that he can hope for
long term relation. To impress the customer, one
can provide them a catalog with their own part
number. Automation makes such personalization and
customization easy to cater to different
customers.  
6
  10. Multiple Publications Customer requirements
vary in terms of the type of catalogs, be it
pamphlets, brochures or booklets. Automation
makes it possible to make different types of
publications for different purposes.