PIM Product Attributes

 

A Product Attribute in the Product Information Management System (PIM) refers to the specific characteristics or details that define a product. These attributes can include tangible aspects such as size, color, weight, and material, as well as intangible elements like brand, price, availability status, or SKU. For example, in the case of a smartphone, the product attributes might consist of its model name, screen size, operating system, processor type, RAM size, color, weight, price, and so on. These attributes are crucial elements within a PIM as they provide the detailed, structured data necessary for effectively managing, searching, and categorizing products in the inventory. They also play a significant role in driving sales and customer satisfaction by providing detailed product information to consumers, enabling informed purchasing decisions. Efficiently managing product attributes in a PIM is fundamental to successful product information management and e-commerce operations.

 

It is important that you define product attributes properly in your Product Information Management System. Properly defined attributes return structured data to data end points and web site and can be better utilized across channels, including in eCommerce. For more information please see the topic: Understanding Product Attributes in PIM.

 

In a Product information Management System, product attributes generally represent different types of data. It is important to understand a few simple key concepts when working with product attributes: 

 

Data that consists of only a single element and is not part of a collection is typically referred to as a "simple or standard attribute". This term is used to describe a scenario where a specific data item has only one value and will not contain multiple data values for any one SKU in the PIM.  This differs from a "collection" where multiple data values are grouped together or assigned to a collection.  In the Product Information Management Systems (PIM), a "simple attribute" might refer to the "title" or "brand" where a collection may refer to a list of product bullet-points or multiple product images.  "Brand" should be defined as a simple attribute in your PIM and "Product Images" should be defined as a collection because "Product Images" attribute will most likely reference multiple product images for one SKU.  In the case where multiple items will be stored in a collection then the items should all be of the same type.  For example, multiple images or multiple bullet points.  You cannot mix bullet points and images together in the same collection.

 

Another key concept when working with PIMInto PIM is the "Complex Attribute." Not all PIM can store complex attribute data.  A "Complex Attribute" is a type of attribute in a Product Information Management System (PIM) that can hold multiple associated data values. In contrast to a standard attribute, which typically holds a single piece of information, a complex attribute allows for more nuanced product descriptions and categorizations by encapsulating a set of related information.  For instance, in the context of a kit with multiple components, each component could be described by a complex attribute. This complex attribute might include a quantity value and a part number for each individual component.  As an example, let's say we have a furniture assembly kit. A complex attribute for a single component of this kits could look something like this:

 

 

"Complex Attributes" can be stored in collections just like most other attribute types. In the example, of the attribute "FurnitureKit" there are multiple components.  By defining an attribute names "Components" that is a collection of complex attributes (part number and quantity) the PIM can store an array of components, each of which has a part number and a quantity.  This kind of data structuring within a PIM can significantly enhance the depth and accuracy of product information, leading to more effective inventory management, and providing customers with more detailed and useful product descriptions.  In the example of "FurnitureKit" each kit component consisting of a "part number and quantity" represents a "Complex Attribute."  The collection of complex attributes is demonstrated below:

 

 

For more information please see the topic: Properly using collections in PIM.

 

Attributes can have 'Labels' defined and the value of the attributes 'Label' is passed through the API along with the data that is associated with a specific attribute.  Connected Applications and web sites connected to the PIM API can display the value of the attributes 'Label' property in the user interface.  This makes the display of product attributes data truly dynamic and data driven.  For example on an eCommerce site's product page where the attributes 'brand', 'short_desc' and 'product_detail' is displayed the attributes' corresponding 'label' values which may be defined as "Brand', 'Description' and 'Details' can be displayed along with the attribute data, informing the shopper what the information displayed represents similar to what is displayed below.