“We manage 750,000+ SKUs across multiple channels with zero headaches”

When you're distributing quarter-million SKUs across multiple sales channels, each requiring different product subsets and access levels, your PIM system becomes the nerve center of your entire operation.

about-rbi

About RBI Corporation

RBI Corporation, originally chartered in 1919 as Richmond Battery & Ignition, has evolved from a four-employee battery maintenance service for electric cars into a premier distributor in the outdoor power equipment and arborist industries. What started with automotive aftermarket services has grown into a sophisticated operation spanning multiple warehouse facilities and serving dealers nationwide.

From becoming a trusted Briggs & Stratton distributor in 1946 to expanding into comprehensive outdoor power equipment distribution, RBI has continually adapted to meet market demands. Today, the company operates from multiple warehouse locations including their 53,000 square foot headquarters in Ashland, VA, plus facilities in Albany, GA and Louisville, KY.

250K+

Product SKUs

100+

Year in Business

91K

Square feet

24/7

Technical Support

rbi-logo

“Outstanding service to the outdoor power equipment aftermarket is made possible by an excellent, loyal and committed independent service dealer network."

— RBI Corporate Philosophy

vermeer-corporate-values

The Challenge: Orchestrating Complex Multi-Channel Distribution

RBI Corporation, a distributor with over 250,000 SKUs and multiple sales channels, needed a single source of truth that could be used to drive truly headless eCommerce websites across multiple sales channels. Each sales channel was limited to various product lines and SKU subsets.

RBI Corporation's product data would need to be maintained using automated loads from business systems, and be able to import product fitment and attribute data provided by its suppliers, as well as allow manual editing from the PIM user interface.


The Multi-Layered Complexity

Managing a quarter-million SKUs across different sales channels created unique operational challenges. Each channel—whether retail, wholesale, or dealer-focused—required access to specific product subsets with tailored pricing, availability, and specifications. The traditional approach of maintaining separate databases for each channel was becoming unsustainable.
The company needed a solution that could seamlessly integrate with their existing business systems while providing the flexibility to accommodate supplier data feeds and manual enrichment processes. Most importantly, the system had to deliver this complex data to multiple headless eCommerce platforms in real-time without performance degradation.

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The Solution: PIMinto PIM's Advanced Architecture

PIMinto was selected due to its standard features, API speed and functionality, providing exactly what RBI needed without custom development.

"We needed a system that could handle our scale and complexity without breaking a sweat. PIMinto delivered performance where others couldn't."

Building the Data Foundation

The implementation focused on creating robust, automated workflows that could handle RBI's complex data requirements.

Automated Business System Integration

PIMinto was configured to import data from external business systems on a scheduled basis. New SKUs are automatically added to the product dataset. Existing SKU's attribute subsets are automatically updated when modified in the external business system.

Enhanced Data Enrichment Workflows

RBI data management staff consistently utilizes the PIM user interface to enrich product data, ensuring that each SKU contains comprehensive information for customer decision-making.

Supplier Data Integration

RBI utilizes the PIM "View" feature to visually map import files provided by its suppliers to import and update SKU-specific attribute data. This visual mapping capability eliminated the need for complex technical integrations while maintaining data accuracy.

Multi-Channel API Performance

RBI's retail and wholesale eCommerce sites were integrated with PIMinto API to allow real-time data integration. The system's fast API response times ensure that customers across all channels access current product information without delays. The architecture supports different access levels for each sales channel, automatically filtering the vast SKU catalog to show only relevant products while maintaining optimal performance across all touchpoints.

The Results: Seamless Multi-Channel Excellence

By implementing PIMinto PIM and integrating with their eCommerce sales channels, RBI Corporation effectively leveraged their product data across multiple sales channels leveraging multiple data enrichment paths and providing an enhanced customer experience.

"We transformed from managing multiple disconnected systems to operating one powerful platform that serves all our channels flawlessly."

Operational Transformation Achieved

The implementation delivered comprehensive improvements across RBI's entire distribution ecosystem. Successfully automated data flows from business systems, eliminating manual data entry errors and ensuring SKU information stays current across all 250,000+ products.

Established seamless supplier data integration through visual mapping tools, allowing non-technical staff to manage complex data imports efficiently. Implemented real-time eCommerce integration that serves different SKU subsets to appropriate sales channels without performance impact. Enhanced data enrichment capabilities through intuitive user interfaces, enabling staff to continuously improve product information quality.

Created a scalable architecture that supports RBI's multi-warehouse operations across Virginia, Georgia, and Kentucky while maintaining unified data standards. Delivered fast API performance that powers both retail and wholesale eCommerce platforms simultaneously.


The Strategic Impact

The solution provided RBI with a future-ready platform that scales with their business growth while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to changing market demands. Instead of managing complex integrations across multiple systems, RBI now operates from a single source of truth that efficiently serves all stakeholders. The system's ability to handle automated business system updates, supplier data feeds, and manual enrichment through one unified platform has transformed RBI's operational efficiency while enhancing customer experience across all sales channels.

Ready to master multi-channel distribution like RBI?

Discover how PIMinto PIM can streamline your complex product data operations while delivering exceptional performance.

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