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Product Information Management (PIM) refers to the process of collecting, centralizing, and streamlining product information. This involves enriching the data and disseminating it for both internal usage and marketing. Additionally, PIM supports the selling of products through the organization’s distribution channels. PIM provides a single repository of data or a golden source of truth from where consistent, complete, and accurate product information can be relayed to various customer touchpoints.
A PIM system is a business application that centralizes and manages product data and digital assets in heterogeneous data environments and complicated software landscapes, streamlining data distribution via multiple marketing and selling channels. It enables transactional and bidirectional data synchronization to support unique business processes and interconnected customer-to-supply-chain networks.
The biggest differentiator of a Product Information Management (PIM) system is that it focuses on sales and marketing. Product Data Management (PDM), on the other hand, is designed to manage product development and manufacturing data. Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) addresses the entire lifecycle of a product — from conceptualization, service, and support until the product is no longer sold. An MDM system harmonizes company’s core data, encompassing each person, place, or thing in a business, including customer data, supplier data, and product data, for better insights, decision-making, and efficiency.
Even though PIM is a subset of MDM, it extends and enhances product information exclusively to support merchandising, marketing, and sales.
| Data Collection | Data Consolidation | Data Enrichment | Data Dissemination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Importing data from multiple sources, formats, years of operations, and existing systems like ERPs, CRMs, OMSs, warehouse systems, etc., followed by mapping it to specific product attributes and finally transforming it.
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The collected data is assessed for duplication. Data is cleaned and completed, and the instances, as well as the information, are consolidated. This is done to build the foundation of a single source of truth for product data.
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Enrichment refers to categorizing (i.e., placing data into categories and sub-categories), classifying (i.e., grouping product attributes), enriching (improving product data), relating (creating relationships within data) and attaching it to their designated media. | Product information is mapped, customized, exported, and published on various customer-facing channels and touchpoints, such as eCommerce, marketplaces, print catalogs, point of sale, social channels, mobile apps, websites, brand portals, and smart devices. |
Several signs can trigger the need for a PIM, such as:
PIM consolidates all product data, making it correct, contextual, and consistent so it can be effectively syndicated across various outbound channels. A PIM is essential because:
No department in the value chain is entirely untouched by a Product Information Management system, but many of them are its active users like:
With precise and coherent product data, PIM not only powers compelling product experiences but also builds efficiencies, achieves strategic agility, and offers a competitive edge by:
With product experiences taking center stage, PIM has metamorphosed into an experience-centric discipline referred to as Product Experience Management (PXM), which is focused more towards creating compelling buying journeys through engaging, contextual, relevant product content. PXM is about generating and managing product experiences from the product discovery stage to the post-purchase stage in an omnichannel environment.
Definition: PXM is a framework of applications and capabilities that can be delivered in a composable fashion to optimize the creation, delivery, activation, and analysis of product content and data on first-party or third-party channels.
Simply put, PIM provides the foundation for PXM, and PXM builds on it further by closing the gap between products and customers.
| PIM | PXM | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To centralize and improve the quality of product-related information. | To craft context-rich, appealing, and relevant product narratives. |
| Function | To describe “what” by clearly defining the products. | To describe “how” by showcasing descriptions in a captivating manner. |
| Focus | On accuracy, completeness, consistency, and syndication of product data. | On personalized interactions, customer sentiments, and fulfillment throughout the customer journey. |
| Important for | Data management, operational efficiency, scalability, global reach, automation, and distribution of product information. | Contextualization, personalization, impeccable CX, upselling, cross-selling, and customer retention. |
| Idea behind it | To deliver the highest-quality product data. | To deliver the most appealing product data. |
PIM is evolving rapidly alongside the transforming technology landscape; it supports businesses through:
PIM is currently helping several industries to streamline their product data, for instance:
Retail: PIM plays a pivotal role in the retail industry by centralizing, enriching, and distributing product data across multiple customer-facing channels. It manages millions of SKUs and assets, easily organizing them into categories and classifying products based on shared attributes.
PIM also facilitates scalability, allowing retailers to manage extensive product catalogs efficiently while adapting to changing market demands. Overall, by delivering high-quality, enriched product information, PIM empowers retailers to stay competitive and drive business growth.
By 2026, the speed of digital innovation will improve by 60%, relative to 2022, for organizations that have established mechanisms to reuse composable digital commerce modules.
– Gartner
By 2027, 50% of the top 10 consumer goods manufacturers by revenue will implement digital product passports for at least one of their product categories.
– Gartner
PIM Market size is expected to reach USD 36.91 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.41% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
– Mordor Intelligence
With modern business landscapes demanding agility, accuracy, and scalability in managing product information, PIM solutions have evolved dramatically from static, on-premises tools with limited capabilities to dynamic, cloud-native, and composable platforms that can cater to diverse business needs.
A few significant trends driving PIM adoption now are the integration of advanced AI capabilities (including generative AI), ML, and DSA. These innovations revolutionize content creation, enabling organizations to produce accurate, consistent, and tailored product information at scale. This is invaluable for businesses managing large catalogs or operating in multilingual and multichannel environments. Besides, the automation of repetitive tasks like product classification and optimization frees up resources, allowing teams to focus on strategy and creativity while maintaining a cohesive brand voice.
Moreover, PIM solutions bridge the gap between internal and external functions, supporting stakeholders across merchandising, marketing, operations, and even legal or manufacturing teams. They ensure seamless handoff from design to commercialization, offering a comprehensive approach to product data management.
Additionally, with the emergence of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and the need for product source and transparency, PIM’s role has become even more critical in fostering trust and compliance; this would aid the larger goal of product sustainability as further product attributes would be created.
Therefore, as businesses strive for competitive differentiation, the ability of PIM solutions to centralize, optimize, and syndicate data at scale positions them as indispensable tools in driving efficiency, trust, and unparalleled customer experiences.
An ideal PIM solution must be aligned with your business goals. And though some PIM providers may boast of offering certain exclusive features, a few capabilities in a PIM system are indispensable, such as:
Effortless integration with your current technology stack — like CRMs, OMS (Order Management Systems), eCommerce platforms, or ERP systems — is essential. A well-designed PIM ensures fast implementation with minimal disruption, allowing business operations to continue uninterrupted.
An integrated DAM in a PIM system simplifies the management of not only product data but also digital assets. This synergy reduces costs, saves time, and guarantees consistent messaging and visuals across platforms, thereby enhancing customer engagement and operational efficiency.
A sound PIM comes with multi-country adaptability, making it easier to sell products internationally to suit location-specific pricing and needs. This feature is vital for businesses looking to expand into global markets.
Businesses should look for PIM solutions with pre-configured connectors for popular platforms. These integrations enable smooth data exchange and synchronization between systems, minimizing manual effort and boosting overall efficiency.
Automated workflows for tasks like reviewing and approving product data updates ensure that all modifications undergo proper checks before publication. This helps maintain accuracy and uniformity in product information across all distribution channels.
A powerful rule engine is critical for automating tasks like data validation, consistency monitoring, and dynamic transformations. This feature ensures data precision, adherence to compliance and standards, and reduces manual errors for streamlined workflows and enhanced efficiency.
A secure PIM system provides detailed role management to define user permissions. This feature restricts access to sensitive data and editing rights, offering enhanced security and better operational control.
A versatile PIM supports the creation of tailored product descriptions to meet the unique demands of various marketplaces and sales platforms. This ensures optimized content delivery and improves customer engagement across diverse audiences.
Evaluate the level of support offered, including documentation, tutorials, user forums, email assistance, dedicated support channels, and account managers. Reliable support ensures seamless PIM adoption and continued success.
Evaluate costs like subscriptions, support, training, and extras against the potential ROI due to enhanced accuracy, faster launches, or efficiency gains. See if it aligns with your priorities to determine investment feasibility.
Our seamless PIM implementation can transform any product data complexity into simplicity.
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