It’s rare in technology to work with the same platform for three decades — and still feel genuinely excited about it. But that’s my story with the STEP platform.

This month marks 32 years since I first walked through the doors at Stibo Systems — or Stibo Datagrafik, as it was called back then.

I eventually left Stibo Systems twenty years later to start my own business, but my work with STEP never stopped. From the very first versions of the platform, STEP has been a defining part of my career.

From Graphic Production to Product Data

Back in the early 90s, Stibo Systems was known primarily for its roots in graphic production and catalog publishing. I joined the company at a time when technology was just beginning to transform how product information was managed.

I saw the first versions of STEP take shape. At the time, none of us could have fully imagined how central product data would become to enterprise operations worldwide. But even in those early releases, STEP was already about more than just publishing — it was about building structure, consistency, and governance into data that had traditionally been messy and siloed.

How STEP Has Evolved Over 30+ Years

The STEP platform didn’t stand still. Over the years, it’s continuously evolved to anticipate and meet new demands:

• From Print to Multichannel: Moving from print-centric publishing to supporting e-commerce, omnichannel marketing, and now AI-driven data needs.
• From Product Data to Multi-Domain: Expanding beyond SKUs and catalogs into full-fledged MDM with support for multiple domains.
• From Small Teams to Global Enterprises: Scaling workflows, security, and integrations to serve some of the world’s largest organizations.
• From Static Data to Dynamic Processes: Supporting automation, validation rules, and workflows that enable data to flow reliably across complex ecosystems.

Plenty of other solutions have come and gone, but STEP has only grown stronger.

Why STEP Still Stands Out

For me, STEP’s story is a reminder that when you build on solid foundations, the results can stand the test of time.

Other systems have tried to patch things together or chase short-term trends. STEP, on the other hand, has always been built on strong fundamentals:

• A flexible data model capable of handling today’s complexity.
• A workflow-driven governance engine ensuring data quality and compliance.
• A visionary approach to treating product data as a true business asset.

That’s why, after 32 years, I’m still just as excited about the platform today as I was when I first walked through those doors.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

Working with STEP for more than three decades has taught me some valuable lessons:

• Innovation matters, but stability is priceless. A system that evolves while preserving its foundations earns long-term trust.
• Data is never “done.” Every new channel or business model creates new demands on how data is structured and managed.
• Partnership is everything. The STEP community — customers, consultants, and developers — has been key to its success.

Helping Customers Get the Most Out of STEP

Today, my journey with STEP continues through Unit of Measure, where our focus is on helping organizations unlock the full potential of their STEP implementations.

Over the years, we’ve seen how STEP can adapt to different industries and business models — but only when it’s implemented with a deep understanding of both the platform and the customer’s needs. That’s where we come in.

We help our customers:

• Configure STEP to support their specific product data and digital asset requirements
• Design workflows that streamline collaboration across teams and geographies
• Apply governance and business rules that ensure data quality and integrity
• Build solutions that are scalable, future-ready, and aligned with business goals

For us, it’s not just about technology — it’s about enabling STEP users to work smarter, faster, and with greater confidence in their data.

Final Thoughts

Not many platforms stand the test of time in the world of enterprise software. But STEP is an exception.

For me, it has been more than just a system — it’s been a defining thread running through my career, shaping the way I think about product data, governance, and digital transformation.

And that’s why I’m still excited today — because the story of STEP is still being written, and through our work at Unit of Measure, we’re proud to help customers write their part of it.