An Introduction to Product Information Management
What is PIM?
Product information management (PIM) is the process of, and technology behind, collecting, managing, and enhancing all of your product information in a centralized, accessible location. This valuable information can then be accessed to distribute its data through various channels, including eCommerce, online catalogues, your website’s product detail pages, and more.
How does a PIM solution work?
A PIM platform can either be integrated with your website’s CMS or ERP solution, or in some enterprise solutions, may be built in to an end-to-end toolkit. For each product entry, you have the ability to collect and store a wide variety of information: SKUs, serial numbers, product descriptions and specifications, MSRP, keywords and metadata, photos, schematics, owners manuals, wholesale and MSRP pricing, or any other important dataset you want to record and catalog. Need to update product information? Update the file in your PIM and all resources that link to it are automatically updated.
A PIM is not for every company or situation. If you are a smaller organization, you don’t have a large quantity of products or services, or you don’t require an eCommerce solution, a PIM might not be necessary.
PIM solutions vary in pricing and sophistication, from budget-friendly open source options to enterprise-grade solutions costing several thousand dollars a month. Regardless of the specific solution, a PIM is an efficient and effective single-source way to manage all of your company’s data relating to its products and services.
Equally as important to who sees your information is who does not. PIM solutions allow you to grant access to your company’s product data for those that need it, as well as keep your data secure from those who do not.
What role does a PIM play in your marketing strategy?
A PIM is the backbone of your organization’s product or service offerings, serving as the central repository for all of your valuable data and providing direct access for your omni-channel marketing needs.
What are the benefits of having a PIM?
In business, efficiency is the name of the game. Having all of your organization’s product data housed in a PIM for easy management and distribution allows you to focus your attention on your marketing and sales goals instead of the whereabouts of your most valuable assets.
Keep Reading
Learn more about related tools, methods, and best practices in the Marketing Toolkit: