Frequently Asked Questions

eCommerce Catalog Management Fundamentals

What is eCommerce catalog management?

eCommerce catalog management is the systematic organization, categorization, and maintenance of product information across digital channels. It ensures that accurate and up-to-date product details—such as descriptions, prices, images, and specifications—are consistently available to customers across all platforms, supporting a seamless omnichannel shopping experience. [Source]

Why does eCommerce catalog management matter for online retailers?

Effective catalog management enhances customer experience by making it easy for shoppers to find relevant products, leading to higher engagement and conversions. It also improves operational efficiency by centralizing and streamlining product data, reducing manual errors, and accelerating time-to-market. In a competitive landscape, it helps retailers showcase unique offerings and retain their customer base. [Source]

What are the main challenges of legacy catalog management tools?

Legacy catalog management tools struggle with handling large volumes of product data, managing dynamic updates, tracking user behavior in a privacy-centric world, achieving omnichannel consistency, and coordinating cross-functional stakeholders. These limitations can lead to data silos, manual errors, slow updates, and inconsistent customer experiences. [Source]

How can modern catalog management tools improve eCommerce operations?

Modern catalog management tools automate complex data entry, enable real-time synchronization, and facilitate integration with systems like PIM, DAM, and ERP. This results in accurate, up-to-date product data across all channels, improved scalability, and the ability to deliver dynamic, personalized experiences to customers. [Source]

What best practices should businesses follow for eCommerce catalog management?

Best practices include providing accurate and comprehensive product information, breaking down data silos through unified APIs, building consistent digital experiences with modular content, and leveraging catalog and inventory management tools to centralize and synchronize product data. [Source]

How does catalog management impact customer experience and conversions?

A well-managed catalog helps customers quickly find relevant products, supports a seamless shopping journey, and ensures inquiries are addressed promptly. This fosters trust, satisfaction, and higher conversion rates. According to PwC, a single bad experience can cause a business to lose 32% of its customers. [Source]

What role does omnichannel consistency play in catalog management?

Omnichannel consistency ensures that product information is accurate and up-to-date across all customer touchpoints, including websites, mobile apps, and social media. This is essential for delivering a unified brand experience and meeting modern consumer expectations. [Source]

How can breaking down data silos improve catalog management?

Breaking down data silos by integrating various data sources through a unified orchestration layer allows businesses to streamline operations, access all data through a single API, and eliminate the need to switch between multiple legacy systems. This improves productivity and data consistency. [Source]

What are the benefits of using modular content in catalog management?

Modular content enables businesses to reuse content blocks across multiple platforms and content types, accelerating time-to-market and reducing developer hours. Updates to individual modules can be made universally, saving time and ensuring consistency across all channels. [Source]

How does Hygraph support eCommerce inventory and catalog management?

Hygraph offers an API-first approach to eCommerce inventory and catalog management, allowing businesses to standardize data from sources like PIM and DAM into a consistent schema. This enables the delivery of personalized Product Detail Pages (PDPs) with rich content experiences, such as product sliders, previews, and promotions, to drive conversions and customer engagement. [Source]

Features & Capabilities

What are the key features of Hygraph for eCommerce catalog management?

Key features include a GraphQL-native architecture for flexible data retrieval, content federation to unify data from multiple sources, modular content for reuse, robust API integrations, and support for omnichannel delivery. Hygraph also provides localization, asset management, and Smart Edge Cache for performance optimization. [Source]

Does Hygraph support integration with PIM, DAM, and ERP systems?

Yes, Hygraph enables seamless integration with Product Information Management (PIM), Digital Asset Management (DAM), and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, allowing businesses to unify and synchronize product data across all channels. [Source]

What types of APIs does Hygraph offer?

Hygraph provides multiple APIs, including a Content API for read/write operations, a High Performance Content API for low-latency delivery, an MCP Server API for AI assistant integration, an Asset Upload API, and a Management API for project structure. [Source]

What integrations are available with Hygraph?

Hygraph offers integrations with leading DAM providers (Aprimo, AWS S3, Bynder, Cloudinary, Imgix, Mux, Scaleflex Filerobot), Adminix, Plasmic, and supports custom integrations via SDKs and APIs. The Hygraph Marketplace provides pre-built apps for commerce, PIM, and more. [Source]

How does Hygraph ensure high performance for eCommerce catalog delivery?

Hygraph delivers high performance through its High Performance Content API, Smart Edge Cache, and continuous measurement of GraphQL API performance. These features ensure low latency, high throughput, and reliable content delivery for demanding eCommerce environments. [Source]

What technical documentation is available for Hygraph users?

Hygraph provides extensive technical documentation, including API references, guides on schema components, references, webhooks, and AI integrations. Resources are available at Hygraph Documentation.

How does Hygraph handle localization and asset management?

Hygraph supports localization for global teams and provides robust asset management capabilities, including unlimited asset storage, integration with DAM systems, and support for large-scale product catalogs with multiple locales. [Source]

What security and compliance certifications does Hygraph have?

Hygraph is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant (since August 3, 2022), ISO 27001 certified, and GDPR compliant. It offers enterprise-grade security features such as granular permissions, audit logs, SSO, encryption, regular backups, and dedicated hosting options. [Source]

How easy is it to set up and start using Hygraph?

Hygraph is designed for quick onboarding, offering a free API playground, a free forever developer account, structured onboarding calls, training resources, and extensive documentation. Case studies show projects can launch in as little as 2 months. [Source]

Use Cases & Customer Success

How has Hygraph helped eCommerce businesses improve catalog management?

Hygraph has enabled eCommerce businesses like Lick to achieve a 20% increase in "Add to Bag" conversion rates by providing a global content API for unified catalog management. Burrow used Hygraph to manage over 20,000 product variations, and Dr. Oetker centralized infrastructure across 40+ countries. [Lick], [Burrow], [Dr. Oetker]

Can you share examples of customer success with Hygraph in eCommerce?

Yes. Samsung used Hygraph to boost its loyalty program by 10% and increase customer engagement by 15%. Lick improved conversion rates, and Burrow streamlined inventory management for over 20,000 product variations. Dr. Oetker eliminated data silos and improved local marketing in 40+ countries. [Samsung], [Lick], [Burrow], [Dr. Oetker]

What industries use Hygraph for catalog management?

Hygraph is used across industries such as SaaS, marketplace, education technology, media and publication, healthcare, consumer goods, automotive, technology, fintech, travel and hospitality, food and beverage, eCommerce, agency, online gaming, events, government, consumer electronics, engineering, and construction. [Source]

Who are some notable customers using Hygraph?

Notable customers include Samsung, Dr. Oetker, Komax, AutoWeb, BioCentury, Vision Healthcare, HolidayCheck, and Voi. These organizations have leveraged Hygraph for scalable, modern content management and catalog solutions. [Source]

What business impact can eCommerce companies expect from using Hygraph?

eCommerce companies can expect improved operational efficiency, faster speed-to-market, cost savings, enhanced scalability, and better customer engagement. For example, Komax achieved a 3x faster time-to-market, and Samsung increased engagement by 15%. [Komax], [Samsung]

How does Hygraph address common pain points in eCommerce catalog management?

Hygraph addresses pain points such as developer dependency, legacy tech stacks, content inconsistency, workflow challenges, high operational costs, slow speed-to-market, integration difficulties, and performance bottlenecks through its user-friendly interface, GraphQL-native architecture, content federation, and robust integrations. [Source]

What feedback have customers given about Hygraph's ease of use?

Customers praise Hygraph for its intuitive user interface, ease of setup, and ability to empower non-technical users to manage content independently. Real-time changes and custom app integrations further enhance usability. Some users note that complex projects may require more technical expertise. [Source]

How quickly can a business implement Hygraph for catalog management?

Implementation timelines vary by project complexity, but case studies show businesses like Top Villas launched new projects in just 2 months. The onboarding process includes structured calls, training, and documentation to accelerate adoption. [Source]

What roles and company types benefit most from Hygraph?

Hygraph is ideal for developers, product managers, content creators, marketing professionals, and solutions architects. It serves enterprises, agencies, eCommerce platforms, media companies, technology firms, and global brands needing scalable, flexible content management. [Source]

Pricing & Plans

What pricing plans does Hygraph offer?

Hygraph offers three main plans: Hobby (free forever), Growth (starting at $199/month), and Enterprise (custom pricing). Each plan includes different limits and features tailored to individual, small business, and enterprise needs. [Source]

What features are included in the Hygraph Hobby plan?

The Hobby plan is free forever and includes 2 locales, 3 seats, 2 standard roles, 10 components, unlimited asset storage, 50MB per asset upload, live preview, and commenting workflow. [Source]

What features are included in the Hygraph Growth plan?

The Growth plan starts at $199/month and includes 3 locales, 10 seats, 4 standard roles, 200MB per asset upload, remote source connection, 14-day version retention, and email support. [Source]

What features are included in the Hygraph Enterprise plan?

The Enterprise plan offers custom limits on users, roles, entries, locales, API calls, and components, plus version retention for a year, scheduled publishing, dedicated infrastructure, global CDN, SSO, multitenancy, backup recovery, custom workflows, and dedicated support. [Source]

How can I try Hygraph before committing to a paid plan?

You can sign up for the free Hobby plan or request a 30-day Enterprise trial to explore Hygraph's features and capabilities before making a purchase decision. [Source]

Competition & Differentiation

How does Hygraph differ from traditional CMS platforms?

Hygraph is the first GraphQL-native Headless CMS, enabling flexible schema evolution, content federation, and seamless integration with modern tech stacks. Unlike traditional CMS platforms that rely on REST APIs and monolithic architectures, Hygraph offers modular, API-first solutions for omnichannel delivery. [Source]

What makes Hygraph unique compared to other headless CMS solutions?

Hygraph stands out with its GraphQL-native architecture, content federation capabilities, Smart Edge Cache, user-friendly tools for non-technical users, and proven ROI demonstrated by customer case studies. It is recognized for ease of implementation and scalability. [Source]

How does Hygraph address integration challenges compared to competitors?

Hygraph offers robust GraphQL APIs, content federation, and a marketplace of integrations, making it easier to connect with third-party systems and unify data sources. This reduces technical complexity and accelerates project delivery compared to platforms with limited integration options. [Source]

What industry recognition has Hygraph received?

Hygraph ranked 2nd out of 102 Headless CMSs in the G2 Summer 2025 report and has been voted the easiest to implement headless CMS four times. [Source]

Why should a business choose Hygraph for eCommerce catalog management?

Businesses should choose Hygraph for its flexible, scalable, and secure platform, proven ability to accelerate time-to-market, reduce operational costs, and deliver consistent omnichannel experiences. Its unique features and customer success stories demonstrate tangible business value. [Source]

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The what, why, and how of eCommerce catalog management

We will explain the what, why, and how of eCommerce catalog management within the ever-evolving world of online shopping.
Sabika Tasneem

Written by Sabika 

Jul 27, 2023
The what, why, and how of eCommerce catalog management

The way consumers shop has changed dramatically in recent years. Gone are the days when people only shopped in brick-and-mortar stores. Today, more and more people are shopping online. This shift has posed a new challenge for businesses: how to provide a seamless customer experience across all these new channels?

In the dynamic landscape of eCommerce, efficiently managing product catalogs is crucial for maintaining this seamless consistency. As consumer expectations continue to evolve, traditional catalog management approaches fall short in delivering consistent digital experiences.

In this blog, let's explore the significance and intricacies of eCommerce catalog management within the ever-evolving world of online shopping.

#What is eCommerce catalog management?

At its core, eCommerce catalog management involves the systematic organization, categorization, and maintenance of product information across digital channels to provide a seamless omnichannel eCommerce experience. It ensures that accurate and up-to-date product details, including descriptions, prices, images, and specifications, are consistently available to customers across platforms.

Blog Image - The essential guide to ecommerce content management.png

View eCommerce catalog management in full resolution

As consumer expectations continue to evolve, traditional catalog management systems built on web-centric legacy stacks are no longer sufficient. The previous approach of manual data entry in static web shops falls short in delivering dynamic experiences required by modern consumers.

According to the PwC Future of Customer Experience Survey, a single bad experience can result in a business losing 32% of its customers, emphasizing the costly impact of errors in catalog management.

To address these challenges, modern catalog management tools empower eCommerce retailers by automating complex data entry and facilitating efficient management of diverse catalogs. These tools enable seamless integration and accurate representation of product data stored in various systems, such as Product Information Management (PIM), Digital Asset Management (DAM), and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, across multiple channels.

#Why does eCommerce catalog management matter?

Enhanced customer experience

A well-managed product catalog enables customers to find relevant products quickly, leading to higher engagement and conversions. It ensures a seamless shopping journey, where customers are always supported, and their inquiries promptly addressed, fostering a sense of trust and satisfaction.

Improved operational efficiency

By centralizing and streamlining catalog management, businesses can eradicate manual mistakes, minimize unnecessary duplication of efforts, and boost overall efficiency, ensuring faster time-to-market.

Increased competitiveness

The rise of D2C businesses is upon us, and established eCommerce players are facing more competition than ever. With better margins and agility, D2C brands pose a grave threat to selected eCommerce retailers. To stay competitive, online retailers must manage and optimize their product catalogs effectively, showcasing their unique offerings, highlighting their brand value, and ultimately retaining their customer base.

#Challenges of legacy catalog management tools

Handling large volumes of data

ECommerce businesses face the daunting task of managing and organizing large-scale content entries of product-related data. The sheer scale of data makes it crucial for online retailers to implement robust catalog management systems that can seamlessly handle the complexities of synchronizing, streamlining, and updating product data.

Businesses can effectively tackle this challenge to enhance customer experience, boost conversions, and reduce churn rates. Lick, a home decor eCommerce retailer, achieved a 20% increase in the “Add to Bag'' conversion rate after the adoption of Hygraph to launch their new webshop.

Hygraph provided them with a global content API, enabling unified catalog and product management through a single orchestration layer, improving scalability and site performance.

Dynamic catalog updates

With frequent product updates, price changes, and inventory fluctuations, managing a dynamic catalog manually through simple spreadsheets can be time-consuming and error-prone. Your business needs a modern tech stack with real-time synchronization and automated product catalog updates across channels.

Tracking user behavior

In a cookieless world, tracking and analyzing user behavior becomes complex, requiring user consent through various touchpoints in loyalty programs with members-only content to keep customers up-to-date regarding product innovation. Delivering such personalized experiences is critical for customer retention. Your eCommerce catalog management tool must be able to link to such marketing platforms, enabling you to gather valuable data to understand customer preferences better and make product decisions accordingly.

By leveraging Hygraph, Samsung experienced a significant boost in its loyalty program with around 10% more members joining, resulting in an approximate 15% rise in overall customer engagement. Additionally, the streamlined processes for content updates have reduced the number of developer hours required for such tasks.

Achieving an omnichannel experience

To deliver consistent experiences across various channels, including websites, mobile apps, and social media, eCommerce businesses must overcome the limitations of traditional tech stacks. One effective solution is implementing an API-first eCommerce catalog management system, like Hygraph. This advanced system facilitates the seamless integration of microservices and APIs, ensuring a cohesive and consistent eCommerce experience across all platforms. The API-first approach enables smooth and unified interactions no matter which platform that customer chooses to access business-related information.

Cross-functional stakeholder management

Catalog management involves collaboration among internal and external stakeholders involving various departments, including marketing, sales, and IT teams. A unified catalog management approach is required to achieve seamless coordination, empowering cross-functional teams to work efficiently with consistent messaging.

#ECommerce catalog management best practices

Provide accurate product information

Ensuring accurate and comprehensive product information is crucial for building customer trust and making informed purchasing decisions. Businesses can centralize and standardize product data, ensuring consistency across all channels. This approach guarantees that customers receive reliable and up-to-date information from a single source of truth, fostering trust and confidence in the brand.

Break down data silos

One effective strategy for efficient catalog management is breaking down the data silos between different systems and departments. Integrating various data sources through a unified orchestration layer, like Hygraph, allows businesses can streamline operations and access all their data through a single API.

This eliminates the need to switch between multiple legacy systems or disparate tools, improving organizational productivity and efficiency. Burrow, a high-growth D2C online furniture retailer, used Hygraph to build an agile eCommerce solution to manage product inventory with over 20,000 variations:

Initially, we started using Hygraph just to handle product content for our website. Today we also use it almost as a PIM – where Hygraph provides all the shipping estimates, customer notifications, and product variations.”
Kabeer ChopraCo-Founder & CPO at Burrow

Build consistent digital experiences

To deliver a seamless omnichannel experience, brands must use modular content to match customer expectations with increased content velocity. Hygraph empowers businesses to reuse content modules across multiple platforms and content types, enabling faster time-to-market while minimizing developer hours.

Furthermore, updates to individual modules can be made universally, saving time and effort by simultaneously implementing changes in all relevant instances.

Utilize a catalog and inventory management tool

To overcome the challenges of managing large volumes of data, frequent updates, and multiple stakeholders, businesses can leverage eCommerce catalog and inventory management tools like Hygraph. These tools provide a centralized hub to organize, update, and synchronize product data, ensuring accuracy and consistency across all channels.

#What's next?

Hygraph offers a comprehensive solution for eCommerce inventory and catalog management, revolutionizing online retailers' operations. By embracing Hygraph's API-first approach, you can standardize data points from sources like PIM and DAM into a consistent schema. You can then deliver personalized and unparalleled Product Detail Pages (PDP) with seamlessly integrated rich content experiences, including product sliders, previews, promotions, and compelling CTAs to captivate your audience, drive conversions, and foster lasting connections.

Dr. Oetker used Hygraph to eliminate data silos by removing the legacy tech stack they previously used. With Hygraph’s microservice-first platform, Dr. Oetker managed to centralize infrastructure and streamline local marketing units in 40+ countries, improve the end user experience of their Recipe platform, and swiftly launch into new markets by simply replicating the current environment.

To experience the power of Hygraph in transforming your eCommerce business, request a demo today.

Blog Author

Sabika Tasneem

Sabika Tasneem

Content Writer

Sabika is an experienced Product Marketing Professional passionate about crafting engaging content. Beyond her professional pursuits, Sabika loves immersing herself in the world of literature, exploring diverse cultures, and fueling her creativity through writing.

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