Properly using collections in PIM

 

When working with a Product Information Management System (PIM) and eCommerce, structuring and managing data effectively is paramount. A common example of this is how collections of data are stored.  To demonstrate this concept we will discuss a common data element that can potentially contain multiple values: "bullet points" or key product features for an eCommerce site.

 

Bullet points serve as a brief and easy-to-read rundown of the product's key features. They are usually displayed prominently on the product page and are often among the first things a potential customer will read when considering a purchase. They're often featured prominently on the product page, providing crucial information to potential customers. Given their importance, it's essential to handle these pieces of data properly.

 

Traditionally, one might be tempted to store each bullet point as a separate variable. For instance, BulletPoint1, BulletPoint2, BulletPoint3, and so forth. This approach, however, tends to result in unwieldy code and data structures, and adds unnecessary complexity when trying to manipulate, import, export,  or iterate over these bullet points using code.

 

On the other hand, storing bullet points as an array (a collection of data) can offer significant advantages. With an array, we group these bullet points together under a single variable, say, Bullet_Points[]. Each bullet point then becomes an element within this array. One of the benefits of using an array is that the storage medium, in this case a PIM, does not care if their is one bullet point, ten or more.  When bullet points are stored as separate variables only the maximum number of bullet points can be defined as there are variables defined. Using an array the limitations imposed by naming each bullet point variable.

 

This approach offers several advantages:

 

Simplicity: Arrays or collections are easier to manage, as you're dealing with a single variable rather than several separate ones.

 

Scalability: If the number of bullet points changes, a collection can easily accommodate this. Adding or removing a bullet point simply involves adding or removing an element from the collection. No need to add additional bullet point attributes or variables.

 

Efficient Iteration: If you need to loop over the bullet points for any reason (such as to display them on the web page), you can do so with a simple loop over the collection, rather than having to write separate code for each variable and check to see if it exists or has a value.

 

Improved Data Operations: Many programming languages offer powerful built-in methods for manipulating arrays, such as sorting, filtering, and mapping. This can result in cleaner, more efficient code with collections.

 

Consistent Data Structure: A collection ensures a consistent data structure which is easier to work with, particularly when integrating with other systems or when working with JSON or SOAP, common data interchange formats.

 

Thus, by treating related data points, such as eCommerce bullet points, as a collection (or an array) rather than separate variables, your external connected systems can integrate with more manageable, efficient, and effective code, while enhancing the overall data management capabilities in your PIM.

 

In practical terms, you can think of an collection (or array) like a row of lockers. Each locker (an element in the collection or array) is the same size and has a unique number (the index), starting from zero in most programming languages. This allows you to easily access the contents of any locker.