Our experience in WordPress development has taught us that every project presents an opportunity to optimize processes and reduce manual workload. This approach has led us to look for opportunities to implement automation in product management whenever possible.
A prime example is a recent project with MadCave, a comic book publisher that wanted to add a digital reader to its website so users could read the comics they purchased online.
When we began working with them and understanding how their content was structured, we realized they needed to simplify and streamline product management on their website.
This post outlines how we identified their needs, implemented a custom solution, and the benefits they gained as a result.
How We Spotted Inefficiencies in Product Management
During our initial meetings with MadCave, we noticed that their team was spending a lot of time on manual product uploads.
They didn’t explicitly mention it, but by analyzing their workflow in detail, we identified a significant bottleneck: the team had to enter each product twice, once in their editorial system (Biblio) and then on their WordPress site.
This meant an unnecessary duplication of work and opened the door to human errors, impacting the consistency of information on their online store. After identifying this inefficiency, we started exploring ways to automate this process to free up the team’s time and reduce human errors.
Explore Your Client’s Workflows to Detect Opportunities for Product Management Automation
From there, we understood that while adding the Digital Reader was important for their users’ experience, we also had to address the larger issue: improving product management to reduce the MadCave team’s workload in maintaining their site.
To find an effective solution, it was crucial to understand MadCave’s processes deeply. Through a series of interviews, we discovered that the team’s main pain point was the considerable time spent on product management.
The primary goal then became to avoid data duplication between Biblio and WooCommerce and reduce errors in product descriptions, prices, and images.
Our collaboration allowed us to identify key areas where automation could make a significant impact. Beyond focusing on integration with Biblio, we mapped out every step of their product upload and update process, pinpointing where we could streamline and automate.
Implementing a Fully Customized Product Management Automation Workflow
In addition to incorporating the requested digital reader, we proposed an integration between Biblio and their WordPress site, which enabled complete automation of product creation and updates on the online store.
This covered both physical and digital products, including variants like special editions and related products.
To make the process even smoother, we customized the workflow to ensure the automation adapted to the specific tools they used (such as Biblio and Google Drive) and the unique products they managed.
Automation in WordPress Product Management Means Less Manual Work and Greater Accuracy
The results were evident from day one. Before the automation, the MadCave team managed product data manually, duplicating efforts between Biblio and WordPress.
With the new integration, we automated this entire process, saving the team hours of work every week. Now, they only update information in Biblio, which automatically syncs with the website.
The MadCave team also highlighted the improvement in the accuracy of the information: there were no longer discrepancies between Biblio and what appeared on the site.
This allowed them to focus on more strategic tasks, such as content creation and new initiatives, instead of spending time on repetitive tasks that weren’t particularly meaningful.
A Development Project Turned Into a Productivity Overhaul
This project is a clear example of the consultative approach that characterizes high-quality WordPress consultations.
Initially, MadCave approached us with a different objective in mind, as they were focused on adding the digital reader. However, by analyzing their workflow, we identified pain points the team wasn’t aware of.
Our ability to actively listen and map their processes allowed us to provide a solution that met their initial expectations and also addressed a problem they weren’t aware they had.
Our process didn’t stop at implementing a technical integration; rather, we worked closely with MadCave to understand their day-to-day operations, identify bottlenecks, and then design a solution 100% customized to their needs, streamlining content management on their site.
This continuous collaboration was key to ensuring the solution aligned with their objectives and provided maximum value.
Product Management Automation in WordPress Saves Time, Reduces Errors, and Optimizes Workflows
Thanks to the solutions we implemented, MadCave now manages products more efficiently, saving time and focusing on business growth while ensuring website users can access the digital reader to read its comics online.
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While this is a single example, this is our approach to every client. Our team delves deep into our clients’ workflows and spots opportunities for automation in every project.
Automating repetitive tasks saves considerable time and money in productivity costs, so we always look for ways to implement them when they would benefit our clients.
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