PIM System: What It Is and Which Businesses Need It
PIM (Product Information Management, PIM system) is a system that helps companies centrally manage and distribute product information across various sales and marketing channels. The main task of PIM is to ensure the accuracy, relevance, and consistency of product data, making it available to customers and partners on all platforms: from online stores and mobile apps to printed catalogs.
Catsy.com PIM system shows the percentage of product card readiness
What is a PIM system? Do you need it?
Manually filling out and updating product information takes a lot of time, and the human factor often leads to data errors. PIM systems help automate these processes, eliminate routine tasks, reduce inaccuracies, and make products more attractive to customers.
Let’s take a closer look at what PIM is and why its use is relevant not only for large companies.
PIM is a product data management system. Its goal is to combine all product information in one place and provide convenient content management for distribution to various sales channels.
In the early stages of a business, data management can be organized using simple tables like Google Sheets. But over time, as the range of products grows and the number of platforms increases, it becomes difficult to maintain order. Errors, discrepancies, outdated descriptions, or poor-quality images lead to financial losses.
A PIM system is a single catalog where everything is stored: product descriptions, characteristics, photos, prices, and stock levels. It allows you to adapt data to the requirements of different platforms and automatically send it to websites, marketplaces, or other channels.
To store all customer and product information in one place, try CDP Altcraft. The platform allows you to upload product and order information from various marketplaces for customer interaction.
Do you need a PIM system?
As your business grows, managing your assortment manually becomes increasingly difficult. Errors appear in product descriptions, inventory control is lost, and this leads to order cancellations.
A PIM system is essential in various industries. For example, if you sell furniture, it is crucial that every detail is accurately described and matches reality. If your business involves selling sports equipment, where precise specifications and photos play a key role, it is important to provide complete and reliable information so customers can make an informed choice. Even for a bookstore, a PIM system can be beneficial: up-to-date covers, correct annotations, and complete book data help attract more readers.
A PIM system will be useful if:
- You sell on multiple platforms, such as Amazon, and are developing your own online store.
By the way, how does online promotion work in e-commerce? Read the article: Internet Marketing in E-commerce: Examples and Strategies.
Your product catalog includes complex items with many parameters, and the data is scattered across different tables and services.
You need to speed up the listing of new products — uploading them to all platforms from a single system.
You currently sell on only one platform but plan to expand to new channels.
You need a convenient way to synchronize product data from different platforms and quickly update information.
You want your stock levels, prices, and promotions to always be up to date and products available to customers.
Advantages of PIM systems
A product information management system helps automate processes and reduce the likelihood of errors. You no longer need to manually duplicate the same actions across different marketplaces. The risk of mistakes decreases, directly impacting sales and accounting efficiency.
What does using a PIM system offer?
Time savings. Routine tasks such as updating and uploading product data are automated. This allows the team to focus on more important tasks. A PIM system serves as a universal repository for product data, simplifying management and updates. Instead of handling multiple separate databases, maintaining order in just one is enough, which is especially crucial for business growth.
Accuracy of information. Errors and inconsistencies disappear, ensuring that customers always see up-to-date and correct product details.
Improved customer experience. Detailed and well-structured product listings make the shopping process more convenient and increase trust in your store.
What other ways can enhance the user experience? Read the article Usability: What It Is, Why It Is Necessary, What Are the Criteria for Evaluation, and How to Improve It.
Faster product launches. With all data centralized, bringing a product to market or expanding to a new platform becomes much quicker.
Fewer returns. Complete and accurate information helps customers clearly understand what they are purchasing.
Increased sales. High-quality content across all channels helps customers make decisions faster.
Consistent storefront appearance. Product listings look uniform across all platforms, strengthening your brand and attracting buyers.
Performance monitoring. You can easily analyze the profitability of each product across all sales channels, including detailed metrics. This simplifies marketing planning and revenue calculations for all business segments.
Available PIM systems
Akeneo PIM
Usage options. The free version with limited functionality is suitable for installation on a private server. Paid versions are available under the PaaS model (cloud services where the system operates via the internet without requiring installation on private servers). The pricing depends on specific requirements and is discussed individually. The cost of paid versions is quite high, making this option suitable only for large companies.
Functionality. Supports large product catalogs and integrates well with eCommerce platforms, including Magento and Shopify. Akeneo PIM provides user-friendly tools for creating and editing product listings. It allows automatic or manual data entry, multimedia content management (photos, videos), and data quality checks. The system also supports role and access management for users. A built-in version control mechanism enables tracking changes and reverting to previous versions if needed.
Features. Intuitive interface, flexible customization, and a well-developed module ecosystem.
PimCore
Pricing. A free version is available for self-installation. Paid versions start at €20,000 per year (with limited functionality) and go up to €80,000 per year for the full version.
Functionality. In addition to PIM, it includes DAM (digital asset management) and CMS (content management system). It is suitable for companies looking to unify product and content management within a single system.
Features. The free version lacks integrations with marketplaces as well as some additional features and support.
Catsy
Format. Available only as a cloud-based solution. This system is designed for medium and large businesses.
Pricing. No free version is available, and pricing information is provided only upon request.
Functionality. The system enables product data management and integrates with popular platforms such as Shopify, Amazon, and Salesforce. The basic versions are tailored for Shopify, while more advanced versions are designed for Amazon.
Features. Easy integration, user-friendly interface, and high-speed performance when handling large catalogs.
PIMworks
Pricing. The free version supports up to 5,000 SKUs. Paid plans start at $500 per month. The company focuses on affordability and ease of use for small and medium-sized businesses.
Format. Cloud-based system with no option for local installation.
Functionality. Integrates with marketplaces (Amazon, Walmart), CMS platforms (Shopify, Magento), and other eCommerce tools. Suitable for managing large volumes of data, as well as for product listing analysis and optimization.
Features. Easy implementation, transparent pricing, and a strong focus on marketplaces and eCommerce.
Salsify
Pricing. No free version is available. Paid plans start at $25,000 per year.
Format. Cloud-based solution with no option for local installation.
Functionality. Provides centralized product data storage, content customization for various platforms, and integration with marketplaces and social commerce platforms.
Features. Efficient data management, real-time content accuracy checks, data collection and analysis for product optimization, and adaptation for different sales channels.
How to choose the right PIM system?
When selecting a PIM system, consider the scale of your business, automation needs, the volume of product data, and required integrations. If you are just starting out, the free versions of Akeneo or PIMworks can be an excellent entry point. For large companies with diverse processes, PimCore or Catsy may be a better fit.
If you want to combine customer data management with product information in a single system, try Altcraft. The platform consolidates all data sources into a unified interface, ensuring complete digital independence for your company. If you have specific security requirements, the system can also be deployed on your own server.
Conclusion
A PIM system is a tool that helps efficiently manage product data. It allows businesses to centralize information, keep it up to date, and streamline operations across various sales channels.
With PIM, many processes can be automated, product launches can be accelerated, and data accuracy can be ensured—directly impacting revenue and customer satisfaction. Such systems are especially beneficial for companies looking to optimize their processes, reduce errors, and remain competitive in the digital marketplace.