Product organization in a physical store comprises shelf-facing and POS stands. Product organization in an e-commerce store entails managing digital material. The best product information management (PIM) software system can assist you in organizing this content on a consolidated cloud-based platform. This article will assist you in comparing and evaluating the best Product Information Management (PIM) software solution as well as other master data management (MDM) solutions.
What is Product Information Management (PIM)?
Product information management (PIM) is the process of managing and enriching product information and related digital assets across many teams to deliver an engaging product experience and sell the product successfully across multiple sales and marketing channels. A PIM solution is a process-driven, master-data-fueled tool for collaborating on product material. It acts as a centralized platform for collecting, managing, governing, and enriching product information and content before distributing it to marketing, sales, and eCommerce channels.
How Product Information Management Works
Product Information Management systems combine data from ERPs, CRMs, and practically any other product-related business platform imaginable. Shared data is processed and de-duped after it has been incorporated. All of this happens at the same time, eliminating the need to manually enter or update data and lowering the possibility of redundancy and error.
PIM users can organize product information into catalogs and link those catalogs to channels once the data has been gathered. PIM administrators can organize data in a way that various parties can readily digest, allowing them to quickly access the necessary information. This improves efficiency by removing bottlenecks and eliminating data silos.
Product marketing teams may create more engaging content with a complete PIM setup. Sales teams will be able to sell more effectively, and product teams will be able to use data to extend product offers in response to changes in consumer behavior and other market trends. As a result, customers will feel more linked to the things they purchase, resulting in increased loyalty and happiness.
What is PIM Software Solution?
PIM software is a technology or group of tools that assist e-commerce companies in creating and managing product content for various digital platforms. PIM software is a type of information management system that is used to track the specifics and data of commercial products. It provides a one-stop shop for product information such as technical specs, usage guidelines, product stories, media files, and cataloging information.
Who is in Need of a PIM Software Solution?
For many businesses, products are an important aspect of their operations. If they sell, it benefits everyone in the organization. A PIM solution benefits the entire organization by assisting workers in a variety of positions in improving their day-to-day work in many ways, all of which contribute to increased companywide revenue. We will look at a few of the jobs and organizations that can benefit from a PIM software solution in the sections below.
#1. Product managers
A PIM solution is used by product managers to offer correct product information to the marketing team. If a product’s specifications change at any point during its lifecycle, the product manager can update data in the PIM tool, prompting an automated alert to collaborators.
#2. Product marketers
The PIM system is used by product marketers as a single source of truth for product information. Using a unified PIM and DAM solution, they request and allocate copywriting, photography, and videography for new items. Product marketers link the best copy and digital assets to the main product listing within a PIM system while keeping product positioning and strategy in mind.
#3. Creators
Copywriters, photographers, videographers, designers, and other creators rely on the data housed in a PIM system to guide their work. A PIM solution provides creators with on-demand access to the data they require to produce accurate, strategic outcomes. Their work is then reviewed and proofed in a solution such as Acquia DAM (Widen), our combined DAM and PIM application, for faster, more efficient workflows.
#4. E-commerce managers
Product listings from a PIM system are sent to e-commerce syndication platforms and publishers by e-commerce managers. When product data or content in a PIM system is updated, an alert is generated for the e-commerce manager to spread the new information.
#5. Agencies
PIM software is used by agencies to access and enhance their clients’ product information for distribution to marketplaces, print publishers, and other e-commerce channels. Agencies optimize product descriptions, feature lists, and other marketing information within the PIM system. They associate digital assets with product information while using a combined DAM and PIM solution.
Why Do I Need a Product Information Management (PIM) Solution?
Whether you sell B2B or B2C, providing compelling product experiences is critical to your company’s success. Customers demand extensive, relevant, and trustworthy product information to be available across channels and digital touchpoints so they can make an informed purchase decision.
However, product information is frequently insufficient, fragmented, and inconsistent across apps, siloed systems, business divisions, and channels. Digital marketing, merchandising, product management, and eCommerce teams do not have a comprehensive picture of all product information. They spend an inordinate amount of time manually managing product data or exchanging emails about product content, both internally and with external organizations such as suppliers or creative agencies.
Companies that are unable to successfully manage and communicate their product information miss opportunities, lose revenue and market share, and, more significantly, struggle to offer the engaging product experiences required to build brand loyalty.
PIM aids in the standardization of the increasingly complex demands of product content. It makes it simple to syndicate reliable, enhanced, and high-quality product information to sales and marketing channels. With the right PIM strategy and a consistent, accessible source for product information, you can shorten workflows and reduce time to market; quickly identify and assess product data quality issues; capitalize on emerging market opportunities; and, ultimately, provide a positive product experience to customers.
Information Managed in a PIM System
Product characteristics are all of the various forms of information that businesses manage in a PIM system to help them promote, market, and sell their products online. Data, marketing descriptions, pictures, videos, and any other material that describes and supports an organization’s product catalog are all examples of product attributes. The difficult part? Product qualities are rarely derived from a single department, source, or piece of software.
A PIM system collects distributed information and provides businesses with a unified view from which to manage it. Here are a few examples of information that organizations can manage with a PIM system.
#1. Product data
Product data is the raw, objective data that businesses use to describe their products. Engineering and product teams generally manage and define product data within their systems [e.g., enterprise resource planning (ERP) and product lifecycle management (PLM) tools], which is then synced with the PIM platform. Product data contains critical information such as SKUs, weight, sizes, colors, materials, ingredients, and other product specifications.
#2. Digital assets
Digital assets are pieces of information that have been packaged digitally. Videos, photos, 360° images, graphics, logos, and text like as user manuals, product instructions, sell sheets, and more are examples of digital assets. Marketers can utilize a PIM system to import or link product-related digital assets to product profiles, which they can then use in conjunction with other forms of information to better serve customers and promote and describe their offering.
#3. Marketing content
Marketing content contains product feature and benefit summaries, which are often found on a product information page, as well as other sales-driven highlights and copy. While factual facts are frequently used in this context, subjective messaging may also be used to represent the worth of the product and inspire a client to make a purchase.
#4. Marketing data
Marketing data is information that enables businesses to successfully start, optimize, and run their marketing operations. Also, Marketing data examples include search engine optimization (SEO) keywords, personalities, and brand guidelines. This marketing data helps to create better copy and assets.
#5. Localized and regionalized data
Product qualities particular to a market or geographic location are included in localized and regionalized information. This data comprises language variations for marketing or legal writing, currency and measurement translations, culturally appropriate imagery, and more.
Important Product Information Management (PIM) Software Platform Features
There are a few things to check for when selecting a PIM for your organization to ensure it works for you. Any worthwhile PIM system should include at least some (if not all) of the following features:
- Product data gathering might be done manually or automatically.
- Capability to manage a large number of SKUs
- Product descriptions, product features, sizes, and so on can all be customized.
- Management of substitutes, replacement parts, and accessories
- Workflow automation
- Product content and marketing material management
- Integration with your CMS, IMS, ERP, 3PL provider, and other e-commerce ecosystem components
- Workflows that can be tailored to specific departments and segments of the supply chain
Essentially, if you have a broad product range and/or a complex range of diverse product kinds, using a PIM is a must. It will save you a lot of time entering data manually and will keep you from getting confused between multiple SKUs when things get hectic.
Best PIM Software
#1. Jasper PIM
Jasper PIM consolidates all of the critical information about your products into a single, powerful solution. It will hold pictures, videos, and marketing materials for each product on the customer side, and supplier, inventory, and category data will be stored behind the scenes.
#2. Akeneo
Akeneo is a comprehensive product information management system that claims to organize and enhance your whole product portfolio. It is intended to meet a variety of business objectives and strategies, including direct-to-consumer, click-and-collect, and in-store shipment.
#3. Plytix
Plytix is intended for team collaboration so that everyone has access to the relevant product knowledge at the right moment. Nobody will be confused about the status and specifications of a product when they utilize Plytix, from supply to logistics to sales and marketing.
The Plytix team is proud of its user experience and design. The software is more visually appealing and easy to use than most of the competition (which is not always the case with back-end e-commerce company platforms).
#4. Sales Layer
Sales Layer is a product information management system for product marketers that is cloud-based. It’s a user-friendly PIM platform that promises to improve the customer experience by serving up correct material and data.
Sales Layer’s PIM places a strong emphasis on analytics: you can use it to assess the quality of product information in your catalog to verify that no data is missing or wrong. This is very beneficial for complex product lines.
#5. Catsy
Catsy is an easy-to-use product data management tool that specializes in assisting you in the creation of catalogs. Its database operations are very customizable and may be used to create flyers, price books, spec sheets, catalogs, and more. Its import wizards make it especially simple to add new goods and content without the need for manual entry.
#6. Salsify
Salsify is a product information management (PIM) system that provides product data to the full “digital shelf”—the multiple touchpoints that consumers see in their approach to making a purchase. “Product Information is the New Brand,” according to Salsify, and it takes information quality very seriously.
Because the data it feeds is so critical to the overall customer experience, Salsify markets its PIM as ProductXM—product experience management. It’s one of the more comprehensive solutions, geared toward larger brand producers, merchants, and distributors.
What Is an Example of Pim?
PIM, or Product Information Management, is a system that assists organizations in managing product information such as descriptions, specifications, photos, and other pertinent data. Here’s an example of how PIM might be put to use:
Assume a corporation sells a diverse range of goods, such as apparel, electronics, and home appliances. Each of these product categories has its own set of characteristics that must be maintained and updated. Clothing products, for example, require information on sizes, colors, fabrics, and care instructions, whereas electronics products require information about technical specifications and compatibility.
The organization may concentrate all of this product information in one place using a PIM system, making it easy to maintain and update. Additionally, the PIM system helps ensure that information is consistent and correct across all channels, such as the company’s website, mobile app, and physical stores.
What Is the Role of a Pim?
A PIM, or Product Information Management, system assists organizations in managing and centralizing product information. Here are some of the key roles and benefits of a PIM system:
- Centralize product information
- Improve product data quality
- Enable multichannel sales
- Increase operational efficiency
- Facilitate product innovation
What Is a Pim Specialist?
A PIM specialist is a specialist who manages and optimizes a company’s Product Information Management (PIM) system. This individual is in charge of ensuring that the PIM system is correctly configured, maintaining the quality of product data, and ensuring that the system is used successfully to accomplish the company’s business objectives.
Why Do Companies Need a PIM?
A PIM, or Product Information Management system, is required by businesses for a variety of reasons. Here are a few of the main reasons why a PIM is essential for businesses:
- Centralized product information
- Improved data quality
- Multichannel sales
- Increased efficiency
- Facilitate product innovation
What Kind of Data Is in a Pim?
A PIM, or Product Information Management system, often stores a large amount of information on a company’s products. Here are some of the most common forms of data found in a PIM:
- Product Attributes
- Pricing and inventory data
- Product relationships
- Localization data
- Digital asset management
- Product history and versioning
Is Pim an Erp System?
PIM (Product Information Management) is not the same as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). While both systems manage data relating to a company’s products, their functions and purposes are distinct.
Conclusion
A PIM solution may be exactly what you need if you want clients to feel more confident buying your items through any channel. When customers have access to enough high-quality product information to replace the in-store experience, your business may improve sales, establish brand loyalty, and sell across additional channels. PIM systems enable you to launch goods faster, automate content development and syndication processes, and prepare your items for omnichannel distribution.
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