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PIM are used to manage different types of data

Author name: Anton Koroid
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In the fast-paced world of e-commerce and information management, businesses need to maintain a tight grip on the vast amount of product information they handle. This is where Product Information Management (PIM) systems come into play. PIM systems are an indispensable single source of truth for product data that enable organizations to streamline and organize data to improve their efficiency and competitiveness in the market and improve the customer's product experience. In this editorial, we'll delve into the significance of PIM platforms and explore the various types of data they manage.

A PIM stores Product Information.

Product information is vital for businesses that sell physical goods or digital services. It includes various details such as identification, specifications, marketing materials, and distribution. This comprehensive accurate product data forms the foundation of any product-selling enterprise. This data becomes the central source for product catalogs, sales channels, product listings, and product descriptions in order to deliver compelling product experiences.  

Definition of PIM

Cutting-edge e-commerce arena uses a comprehensive system that centralizes, organizes, and synchronizes quality product information, product content and provides digital asset management . It’s called Product Information Management (PIM). It acts as a single source of truth for all product-related data, ensuring consistency and accuracy across various sales channels and touchpoints. PIM systems empower businesses to efficiently create, update, and distribute product information across different platforms and marketplaces.

The Importance of Using a PIM System

Product attributes are essential for e-commerce as they provide crucial information to customers about your products. Throughout the buying process, consumers seek out specific features in their research. Product attributes present product specifications in an organized manner, allowing customers to easily determine if the item meets their needs and adds to the deliver compelling product experiences.

Clearly defined attributes also enable products and services to secure more advantageous positions in search results and filtered catalogs on corporate platforms, online stores, and large aggregators. In today’s competitive landscape, businesses cannot afford to mishandle their product information. The importance of using a PIM system cannot be overstated. Here are some key reasons:

  • Consistency. PIM software ensures that product information is consistent across all channels, enhancing the customer experience and building trust.

  • Efficiency. Managing product data manually can be time-consuming and error-prone. PIM software automates and streamlines these processes, saving valuable time and reducing the risk of errors.

  • Scalability. As businesses grow, so does the volume of product information. PIM software systems are scalable, accommodating the needs of both small startups and large enterprises.

  • Multichannel distribution. PIM software facilitate the seamless distribution of product information, product catalogs, and digital assets to various sales channels, including e-commerce websites, marketplaces, and print catalogs.

  • Digital Asset Management.  A PIM, DAM or PXM with digital asset management features is a software solution that provides a systematic approach to efficiently storing, organizing, managing, retrieving, and distributing an organization’s digital assets or asset management.

Data managed by PIM

PIM software systems are responsible for managing a wide variety of product content, enabling businesses to effectively leverage marketing data to sell their products. These systems handle crucial types of information necessary for successful operations.  This includes data used in enterprise resource planning, product listings, product catalogs, product guides, and product and marketing data published across sales channels as well as digital asset management.

  • Product ID. A unique identifier for each product.

  • Categories. Organizational tags that classify products.

  • Prices. Pricing information for different markets or customer segments.

  • Detailed sales and marketing products. Descriptions, specifications, and marketing content.

  • Languages. Translations of product data for global markets.

  • Execution options. Information on how products are produced or delivered.

  • Product specifications. Details like weight, size, materials/ingredients, and compatibility.

  • Product Descriptions.  Essential information about a product. It typically includes details such as features, benefits.

  • Digital assets. Images, videos, and other multimedia content.

  • Product images and videos. Visual assets to showcase products.

  • Points of sale. Information on where products are available.

  • Marketing Data.  Information used to create product catalogs, or product brochures

  • Enrich product listings. Product content that is used to enrich the potential customers overall shopping and product experience. 

Speeding up the processing of product information in PIM

Efficiency is crucial when managing product information with a PIM system. To speed up the processing of product information, consider the following tips:

  • Data automation. Utilize automation tools to import and update data from various sources and better integrate with enterprise resource planning.

  • Data quality checks. Implement data and quality product information checks to identify and rectify errors or inconsistencies.

  • User training: Ensure that your team is well-trained in using the PIM software's data entry interface effectively, including data entry, ability to import data and use other and PIM Tools .

  • Regular updates: Keep product information up to date to reflect changes in your product offerings.

  • Integration: Integrate your PIM system with other business tools and platforms to streamline data flows.

Worthy PIM solution

Some experts do not recommend transmitting inventory and pricing data through a PIM system. There is an opinion that it is much more effective to manage this information through an Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and then send it directly to the e-commerce platform via an API. Inventory and pricing metrics should also come directly from the source. This is especially true for large enterprises.

Typically, business owners experience at least a 15-minute delay in product data transmission from one external system to another. This includes 15 minutes for data transfer from ERP to PIM and another 15 minutes for further transfer from the PIM system to the e-commerce platform. In practice, this results in a delay of half an hour or more for even the smallest data updates. This can not only lead to data loss but also a decrease in sales.

These drawbacks are not present in PIM in e-commerce based on SaaS technology without API restrictions with fast data-serving API architecture. The PIMinto PIM system provides a Data Streams feature that increases its performance by more than 10 times. Data Streams allow website developers to connect to Piminto providing product information directly through the e-commerce platform. Data streams offer dynamic filtering, search results, a user interface, and product category elements directly from the PIMInto data stream.  With this technology, e-commerce systems do not import data from the PIM.  Product content is fetched live from the PIM solution based on the requirements to deliver compelling product experiences to the e-commerce shopper. This provides a boon for e-commerce managers.

Conclusion

In an era where information is power, managing product information efficiently is a competitive advantage that no business can afford to overlook. PIM systems play a pivotal role in ensuring that product data is not only organized but also leveraged for better customer experiences and increased sales. By centralizing and managing various data types with PIM, businesses can stay ahead in the dynamic world of commerce. Embracing this technology is not just a choice; it's a necessity for success in the digital age.

In the ever-changing world of e-commerce and information management, businesses must effectively handle the vast amount of product information they deal with. This is where Product Information Management (PIM) systems come into play. PIM systems are vital tools that assist organizations in optimizing their efficiency and competitiveness by streamlining and organizing data. In this article, we will explore the significance of PIM systems and delve into the various types of data they manage to help companies stay ahead in the market.

Product Information Management (PIM) is a cutting-edge solution in the e-commerce industry. It centralizes, organizes, and synchronizes product data, serving as a reliable source for all information and digital assets. With PIM systems, businesses can ensure consistency and accuracy across multiple channels and touchpoints. These systems enable efficient creation, updating, and distribution of product information on various platforms and marketplaces.

Having clearly defined attributes is crucial for products and services to rank higher in search results and filtered catalogs on corporate platforms, online stores, and large aggregators. In today's competitive market, mishandling product information is not an option. Therefore, utilizing a PIM system is essential. It helps businesses manage their product marketing data effectively and ensures that e-commerce managers stay ahead of the competition.

In today's information-driven world, effectively managing product information is a crucial advantage that no business can afford to ignore. PIM systems play a vital role in ensuring that product data is not only well-organized but also utilized for enhanced customer experiences and increased sales. By centralizing and efficiently managing various types of data with PIM, businesses can stay ahead in the ever-changing realm of commerce. Embracing this technology isn't just an option; it's imperative for achieving success in the digital era.



Modified on: 10/16/2023