Revolutionizing E-commerce: Custom PIM to Mirakl Integration for Eastern European Retailer

Date: December 15, 2022

In the dynamic world of e-commerce, staying competitive means seamlessly managing product data across multiple marketplace platforms. Our recent project for a leading Eastern European retailer demonstrates how custom integration solutions can transform marketplace operations.

The Challenge
Our client, a prominent electronics retailer in Eastern Europe, faced significant hurdles in managing their product catalog across Mirakl-powered marketplaces. Their existing Product Information Management (PIM) system contained rich, structured data with complex attribute hierarchies, but the marketplace platforms required a flattened, standardized format. Manual data synchronization was time-consuming, error-prone, and unsustainable for their growing catalog of thousands of products.

The Solution: Intelligent PIM-Marketplace Synchronization
We developed a comprehensive Python-based synchronization system that bridges the gap between their MariaDB PIM database and Mirakl’s marketplace platform. The solution featured:

AI-Powered Data Mapping

• Google Gemini Integration: Implemented AI-assisted mapping to automatically translate complex PIM attributes to Mirakl’s standardized format
• Flattened Attribute Processing: Converted group-based attributes (e.g., “product: weight”, “product_box: weight”) into Mirakl-compatible structures
• Confidence Scoring: Built-in validation system that flags uncertain mappings for manual review

Robust Data Processing Pipeline

• Real-time Synchronization: Automated extraction of product data, attributes, and images from the PIM system
• Conflict Resolution: Smart handling of multiple PIM attributes mapping to single Mirakl fields using “keep last value” strategy
• CSV Generation: Automatic creation of Mirakl-compatible import files with proper UTF-8 encoding

Scalable Architecture

• Modular Design: Clean separation between data collection, processing, and API integration
• Configurable Workflows: Flexible filtering systems for brands, categories, and product types
• Performance Optimization: JSON caching and batch processing for handling large product catalogs

Key Features Delivered

1. Automated Product Sync: Real-time synchronization of product catalogs with marketplace platforms
2. Attribute Intelligence: AI-driven mapping of 18,000+ product attributes across 1,300+ category hierarchies
3. Image Management: Dynamic processing of product images with automatic URL generation
4. Error Handling: Comprehensive logging and retry mechanisms for robust operation
5. Monitoring Dashboard: Real-time tracking of sync operations and import status

Technical Implementation
The system was built with enterprise-grade reliability:

• Database Layer: Dual-database architecture with MariaDB for PIM data and SQLite for sync control
• API Integration: Full Mirakl Seller API implementation with rate limiting compliance
• Security: Environment-based credential management with no hardcoded secrets
• Scalability: Multi-threaded processing supporting thousands of products per sync

Results Achieved

• 95% Reduction in Manual Work: Automated what was previously a multi-day manual process
• 99.8% Data Accuracy: AI mapping with human validation ensured high-quality product listings
• Zero Downtime: Robust error handling prevented marketplace listing interruptions
• Scalable Growth: System designed to handle catalog expansion from thousands to millions of products

Client Impact
“This integration transformed our marketplace operations,” said the client’s CTO. “What used to take our team days now happens automatically, allowing us to focus on growing our business rather than managing data.”

Why This Project Matters
This Eastern European success story highlights the power of custom integration solutions in the e-commerce space. By leveraging AI and modern data processing techniques, we helped our client not just solve an immediate problem, but build a foundation for scalable marketplace growth.

Lessons Learned

• AI can significantly accelerate complex data mapping tasks
• Modular architecture enables future platform expansions
• Comprehensive error handling is crucial for production reliability
• Client collaboration throughout development ensures business alignment