Initiatives
Digital Transformation
Modern technology and processes uplift the promotional products industry through an improved customer experience. PPAI is advancing order efficiency and fostering data-driven decisions.
What Is Digital Transformation?
A constant need in modern competitive business, digital transformation in branded merchandise is the effort to improve IT systems and practices to improve order efficiency, foster data-driven decision making and digitize operations. Promo Data eXchange (PDX) is a core component of PPAI's effort, but security, technology integration and compliance are also vital to the market's evolution.
The Technology Revolution In Promotional Products
Turning digital transformation from jargon to actionable methods, processes and results is a front-facing mission for PPAI.
While distributors and suppliers work to make strides of their own, the Association is working with suppliers, distributors and tech-focused business services firms to facilitate the necessary advancements.
Digital transformation also better prepares promo to face some of the most common challenges in business today, including a broad range of security threats, the need to streamline customer experience and stay on the right side of compliance standards.
Digital Transformation Solutions
PPAI-member business services firms offer solutions to support and simplify industry companies' processes. The PPAI Solutions Center features vetted and verified industry partners and information to address the promo's varied technology needs.
Promo Data eXchange (PDX) is the centerpiece of PPAI's digital transformation efforts for the promo industry. This widely adopted interface connects businesses to the greater promotional products digital landscape.
While also supporting PromoStandards, another collaborative industry effort toward integration, PPAI created PDX with the goal of serving a larger share of industry companies with simplified setup. Today, more than 45,000 distributor associates receive product updates automatically every day. PDX-integrated businesses save on costs while eliminating unnecessary phone calls and emails.
If your business is behind on B2B integration or needs to improve efficiency and cost savings, take the next step and learn how PDX can work with your existing software and IT ecosystem.
- There is no fee to use PDX for distributors or suppliers.
- Free technical implementation support is provided to all PPAI members using SAGE, PPAI's official technology partner.
- PPAI leverages PDX through a full-featured API to communicate inventory levels and order status directly to users in SAGE.
- Most integrated organizations experience a quick and painless integration process.
PDX And SAGE
PPAI has collaborated with SAGE – the official technology partner of the Association – to make PDX more accessible. Via SAGE's applications and through PDX's integration of real-time updates on inventory levels and order status in supplier systems, users can perform a single integration to access data from every participating PDX vendor.
This integration is possible through SAGE Connect.
Accessibility of crucial data is a step forward in eliminating industry friction. By providing real-time updates on inventory levels and order status, PDX, in conjunction with SAGE Connect, streamlines operations for distributors and business service providers
PDX Adoptees
Hundreds of promotional products firms use PDX to meet inventory and order status communication needs.
The PPAI Technology Committee
The digital transformation of the promotional products industry can't happen without the insights, expertise and advice of those who work within the field. PPAI's initiative has been developed hand-in-hand with a volunteer group of promo technology experts and business leaders to ensure it effectively meets the needs of the wider industry community.
Andrea Kramer
President, City Apparel + Merch
Zack Ottenstein
Vice Chair, Financial Services (Class of 2028)