How We Re-envisioned PIM: Smart, Flexible, Progressive.

Why Now? The Market in Transition

The PIM market is constantly growing. And many things that came to be in the past were just right for the demands of its time. The world, however, moved forward and so did expectations towards speed, flexibility, and interconnectivity. Customers are more informed and demanding, expecting a personalized experience across all channels. Product returns leave their mark on profits, social commerce shifts the rules of the game, supply chains are ever so fragile, and new technologies such as AI turn everything upside down. In short: The market is moving faster than many systems can keep up with. The old answers no longer match the new questions.

To be able to do justice to the far-reaching changes in market dynamics, one thing was certain to us: It is no longer sufficient to keep expanding existing systems with new features or a modernized UI. We want to rethink Product Data Management – from the ground up, from the user’s perspective, and with a keen grasp on today’s and tomorrow’s requirements. This is the beginning of the story of ATAMYA.

 

ATAMYA as the Answer

We did not ask ourselves: “What new features can we add?” Instead, we asked: “How do our customers want to work with product information today and in the future?”

The answer was clear: Refactoring the status quo is not going to make the cut. We wanted to re-envision Product Data Management, and we wanted to do so from the perspectives of our users.

It was to this end that we decided not to expand, but to rebuild from scratch. ATAMYA is the result: A platform with a modern architecture, open, flexible, and ready for growth. Today, ATAMYA Product Cloud is a platform that does not only keep pace with the market, but is also driving it forward.

 

Why ATAMYA is Different

Put an End to Monoliths: Cloud-native from the Ground Up

The age of the large footprint systems is no more. Those who trust in monoliths today will pay in the form of costs, time, and flexibility. ATAMYA is designed to be Cloud-native from the get-go and well-grounded upon microservice architecture – slim, scalable, and updated automatically. For companies, this means: Less effort, more agility, always up-to-date.

The Power of MDM in a Compact Solution

We also completely rethought the topic of data models – flexible and multi-domain. In ATAMYA, you can bring together multiple data worlds – products, customers, suppliers, media assets – in a single platform. Multi-domain means: Everything can be linked with everything, without the baggage of separate systems. What used to be only possible with large, expensive master data systems is now possible in a much more compact manner without being forced to compromise when it comes to performance.

Open, Integratable, Composable

Formerly, integrations were projects lasting for months. Today: An API knows no limits. ATAMYA Product Cloud is developed based on the API-first principle. The system is open for every connection, can be expanded in a flexible manner, and can also be seamlessly integrated into established system infrastructures. The result is real composability. Companies plan their architecture exactly how they need it, without IT marathons and without compromising.

One Interface, Intuitive for All

Technology is only successful when there are people using it.
With ATAMYA, we break up complexity and render it intuitive: Our well-thought-out UI/UX design makes Product Data Management accessible for everybody – not only data experts. Be it marketing, e-commerce, or IT, each and everybody will be quick to find their way around and enjoy using the software. The result: Efficient processes, higher acceptance, better data quality, and visibly more speed in daily business.

Our Vision: Data for Every Channel, Automation for Every Process

The Right Data for Each and Every Channel

Product information unfolds its value only if it can be effective in the right spot at the right time. Today, we must supply more channels than ever before: Shops, marketplaces, social commerce, apps, B2B portals. On top of that, each channel comes with its very own requirements, formats, and rules.

Our vision goes even further: A PIM that does not only export data to channels but does so in a smart manner, while also automatically identifying how such product information can be put to use optimally.

Automation with AI

Many talk about AI, we talk about processes which run automatically. ATAMYA connects smart workflows with AI-assisted functions to automate recurring tasks, for example: data onboarding, data quality optimization, and text generation. The goal is to decrease repetitive routines and increase genuine productivity. Teams should no longer invest their time into copy-paste or formatting, but strategy, storytelling, and innovation.

ATAMYA thinks of Product Data Management as an automation engine for processes running on their own and for companies that want to focus on what truly matters: Customer experience and growth.

 

Courage to Change

Product Information Management will continue to be a central success factor in retail, yet the rules of the game have changed. What matters today is tempo, flexibility, and simple processes. With ATAMYA, we have created a platform that was designed exactly with this in mind. We bring experience to the table – and courage to rethink PIM. Cloud-native, modular, user-friendly, future-oriented.

With ATAMYA, we want to accomplish no less than defining anew Product Data Management down to its very foundation: radically simple, smarter, and ready for the future. We want to support companies to perceive product information no longer as a burden but as a chance. To this end, we build the platform that turns data into experience and companies into winners in digital retail. Precisely this is what our brand message stands for: Simply Smarter.

 

Your Journey with ATAMYA

Our history does not end with this vision, it is, much rather, the starting point. ATAMYA grows with our customers’ requirements and evolves continuously. Teams in marketing, e-commerce, IT, or product and data management are going to achieve better results with much less effort. For decision-makers, this means: Future-assurance thanks to modern technologies, projection of investment, facilitation of processes, and the unlocking of growth.

ATAMYA is already AI-assisted today: Automation, smart data processing, and workflows alleviate the burden shouldered by teams, making space for speed in daily business. This is just the beginning, however. In the future, artificial intelligence will contribute even more to providing product information faster, more precisely, and in larger varieties – from automatic text creation, through translations, to both data validation and personalized distribution. AI is no longer a buzzword but an enabler: For less routines and more focus on strategy, productivity, and customer experience.

We continue to develop ATAMYA further and further with a clear goal in mind: Capitalize on the opportunities provided by AI in order to shape the Product Data Management of tomorrow.

Order, Efficiency, and Scalability in Product Data Management

Product portfolios grow, the diversity of variants becomes richer, and, at the same time, the pressure on companies to release new products faster and more smoothly on the markets increases ever so more. Customers expect comprehensive and personalized product information in multiple languages for their channel of choice. Many companies, however, are still stuck in manual processes involving isolated data, fragmented systems, and tedious release approvals. The consequence: this results in data gaps, unnecessary delays, and higher error rates. Additional factors such as new innovative technologies, artificial intelligence, or lack of expert personnel further magnify this challenge.

A modern Product Information Management system (PIM) helps you in mastering such complexity: It enables you to collect product information in a well-structured way, strategically enrich it, and distribute it to all relevant sales channels. However, only automated, continuous, and scalable processes will turn this into a true competitive advantage. And it is here where a PIM such as ATAMYA comes into play, given its integrated workflow engine and automated central processes from data import to channel-overarching distribution.

How Workflows Transform Product Data Management

Flexible PIM workflows fundamentally change the way how users work with product data in the PIM system – not only on the technical level but, in particular, on the organizational level. Instead of distributing responsibilities within the company to individual persons who then manually edit related data, check it for completeness, or distribute it as tasks to the team upon request, the PIM handles all process steps automatically. This way, work processes are carried out in a more structured and trackable manner as part of a clearly defined workflow. And such workflows can be modelled visually with the established BPMN standard.

Workflows increase efficiency and reduce errors in product data processes. Companies profit from smarter processes since they gain better transparency, shorter process runtimes, scalable procedures, and since they are overall more adaptive.

 

Preconditions for Workflow-Controlled Processes with a PIM

To allow companies to tap into the full potential of automated processes in PIM, some requirements are to be fulfilled:

• Clear Process Definitions: Only those who know what ought to happen and when can go about automating processes. Objectives, procedures, and responsibilities within the team must be defined clearly. Additionally, an understanding of how a workflow is to be structured is also of essence.
• Well-structured Data Foundation: A consistent data model with defined attributes, validation rules, and mandatory pieces of information form the foundation for all automation.
• Workflow-compatible Modelling: An integrated visual editor for modelling workflows – e.g., on the basis of BPMN 2.0 – facilitates understanding even complex processes. Equipped with this, your team can comprehend workflows visually at a glance.

Building on a solid strategy concept and clear responsibilities, there are no obstacles left in your way for realizing the automation of product-related processes.

 

How BPMN and PIM Ideally Complement Each Other

The technological basis for this automation is modelling with BPMN 2.0 (Business Process Model and Notation), a standard for the graphical representation of business processes used worldwide.

BPMN enables you to model processes visually and in a standardized manner, while being intuitively understandable to all teams. In the PIM, you can connect product data processes with BPMN models: every task can be connected with attributes, rules, responsibilities, or external interfaces.

With all this, a continuous, flexible, and traceable process logic comes to life, easily adjustable and scalable anytime.

 

Applied Examples of Smart PIM Workflows

With a flexible PIM system such as ATAMYA, you can realize and control all sorts of workflows and processes – ad hoc, scheduled, or fully automatically.

Typical real-life scenarios:

1. AI-based Text Generation

Is a product text incomplete, inconsistent, or do you need to create a context-based variant for it? In a PIM, this can be identified automatically to trigger an AI-based workflow so that an optimized text can be generated based on the relevant product attributes managed in the system (e.g., measures, properties, materials). Depending on the specifications provided in the AI prompt, such a text can be factual, emotional, or even humorous. Subsequently, the workflow can also initiate the release or translation of this text.

2. Translation Workflow for International Markets

After the successful release of a text, the workflow can check which of the text’s language variants are currently unavailable and forward this content to a connected translation tool such as DeepL or other service providers. The translated texts are then written back into the system without manual assistance.

3. Automated Datasheet Generation

Datasheets can be generated out of the workflow. Once a product is released, for example, the workflow can automatically trigger the generation of the suitable datasheet or transfer it over to the relevant channels. This saves time and guarantees that all data is always up to date.

4. Intelligent Task Distribution

As part of a release process, an employee receives a task such as ‘Text OK content-wise?’ Depending on the response submitted, the system automatically initiates the next steps: e.g., for releasing it or returning it to technical writers for further review.

Besides the aforementioned practical examples, the ATAMYA workflow engine allows for the realization of many more individual use cases. This way, you can map even complex requirements of your product data management in a flexible and efficient fashion.

 

Conclusion: Product Data in Flow – Future-Proof and Automated

Product data processes are becoming more complex rather than simpler: more markets, more sales channels, more content, higher requirements, and more and more new technology. Those who still trust in manual procedures today lose valuable time and potential in their product data processes.

With a PIM system like ATAMYA and an integrated workflow engine, companies automate central product processes, accelerate their time-to-market, secure the data quality, and create a basis for sustainable digital growth.

This is How Your Project for Efficient Product Data Management Will Succeed

The implementation of a Product Information Management system (PIM) is one of the decisive measures for companies that want to manage their product data efficiently and be successful in e-commerce. A PIM system centralizes all relevant product information, improves the quality and consistency of data, and accelerates the time-to-market. In this article, you learn which steps are required to successfully realize your PIM project and which pitfalls you must avoid.

 

Choosing the Right PIM System

The PIM selection is the first step in a successful PIM project. There is a large number of providers on the market offering diverse solutions. In principle, a PIM should not only fulfill your company’s current requirements but also be well-prepared to face future developments. It should grow together with you and be flexible when it comes to adapting to market conditions. In the light of this, the following factors are important when choosing your PIM system:

• Scalability: Make sure that your system can grow with your company. It should be able to handle even larger product catalogs and user groups.
• Integration: The PIM software must be integrated smoothly into your existing IT infrastructure, e.g. ERP or CRM systems.
• User-Friendliness: An intuitive user interface guarantees that your team is quick to accept the tool and use it efficiently.
• Functionality: The PIM should offer all required functions such as multi-channel publishing, data validation, and multi-linguality.

The choice of the right system requires thorough analysis of your requirements and existing functions of the system. A premature decision may lead to later discovering that the system is missing key functionality you need or that it is not scalable with your needs of tomorrow.

 

Choosing the Implementation Partner

Besides deciding on a suitable PIM system, choosing the right implementation partner is also decisive for the success of your PIM project. The partner should not only be a technology expert but should, ideally, also have experience in the specific industry sector of your company and its requirements. Accordingly, look out for the following criteria when selecting the implementation partner:

• Experience with PIM Implementations: The partner should already have carried out successful implementations, ideally in your industry branch.
• Competence in Process Optimization: The partner should not only support you on the technical side of things but also when it comes to optimizing your processes.
• Customer Support and Trainings: Post-implementation, it is important that your partner also offers software trainings for your employees and guarantees reliable support.

Make sure that the partner defines clear milestones and communicates project objectives in a transparent manner. A realistic time schedule and a detailed plan for resource allocation are also crucial. The PIM agency NETFORMIC, for example, boasts years’ worth of expertise in PIM implementations and has extensive experience in PIM projects for a variety of industries.

 

PIM Implementation Steps

The PIM implementation encompasses a number of central steps that are connected with one another. Each step should be planned with utmost care and executed accordingly in order to avoid problems later on. The following provides you with an overview of the essential steps of a PIM implementation.

 

1. Setting Up the Data Model

The first step of implementation is creating a solid data model. This is about how to structure and categorize product information. This is one of the most important phases since a good data model is the basis for effective management and use of data. Import considerations include:

• Categorization of Products: Determine how to divide your products into categories and sub-categories.
• Attribute Definitions: Define which data attributes are required for each product (e.g., price, color, size, material).
• Inheriting Attributes: When specific product attributes apply to multiple products at the same time, you can set up your data model accordingly to avoid redundancy.

A well-structured data model guarantees that product information is consistent and easy to manage.

 

2. Importing Data

After the data model is created, the data imports are next. To this end, existing product data is transferred from various sources such as Excel, ERP systems, or databases into the PIM system. This step requires:

• Data Cleansing: Make sure that all data is correct and complete before importing it into your PIM system.
• Automation: Wherever possible, use automated import processes to maximize efficiency and avoid errors caused by repetitive manual steps.

 

3. Connecting Systems

A PIM system only functions effectively when it is connected to other systems in your IT environment. Of particular importance are:

• ERP Systems: They deliver information such as prices, stock counts, and order statuses.
• E-Commerce Platforms: Here, the product data is provided for sales to end consumers.
• Marketing and Sales Systems: Even CRM systems and marketing tools should be connected to the PIM system.

The interfaces between systems must be efficient and stable in order to secure a continuous and error-free flow of data.

 

4. Exporting Data

An important step in the PIM implementation is data exports. This is all about distributing the product information into the various sales channels, including online shops, marketplaces, catalogs, or apps. This should happen automatically and at regular intervals so that up-to-date and consistent data is always available everywhere.

 

5. Testing

Prior to the definite launch, the PIM system should be thoroughly tested. This entails:

• Functionality Test: Checking whether all functions of the system work as intended.
• Data Integrity Test: Assuring that all data is correctly exported and displayed in the systems.
• User Acceptance Test (UAT): Your employees should test the system first-hand to guarantee that it is user-friendly and matches their own requirements.

 

6. Roll-Out and Go-Live

After the system is tested and all adjustments are implemented, it can go live. The transition from the old processes to the new PIM system should be smooth without any gaps. Factor in sufficient time and resources to be able respond to any unforeseen variables quickly.

 

What Happens After the Completion of the PIM Project?

After the PIM implementation, the project is not yet completed. There are some important tasks that must be carried out continuously:

• Data Maintenance: Even after the go-live, product data must be updated and managed constantly.
• Training and Support: Make sure that your employees are trained regularly to optimally use the PIM software.
• Optimization: After the first live operation, further adjustments may be necessary to make the system run even more efficiently.

 

Pitfalls of PIM Implementations

Carrying out a PIM project is a complex affair with some potential pitfalls you need to watch out for:

• Missing Integration: Make sure that the PIM system is smoothly integrated in other essential systems (e.g., ERP, e-commerce).
• Insufficient Data Quality: When your product data foundation is not clean and complete after the initial phases, the PIM implementation will become a problem.
• Unrealistic Time Plans: A PIM project requires time. Do not narrow down your time frame too much.
• Lacking Employee Acceptance: When the employees do not accept the system or are not familiar enough with its functions, this can significantly interfere with productivity. Because of this, it is important to offer software trainings and get your colleague on board as early as possible in the implementation process.

 

Conclusion

A PIM project is a complex long-term process requiring careful planning and execution. When you choose the right systems, find the suitable implementation partner, and diligently carry out all phases of the project, you will come to profit from the benefits of a PIM system: improved data quality, faster time-to-market, and even higher efficiency for your company.

PIM and CMS in Focus

Customer expectations increase, sales channels are becoming more diverse, and competition intensifies – companies stand under ever-growing pressure. Those who want to successfully market their products and services today, must do one thing before anything else: you must have a firm grip on your product data. This is because only when such product data is correct, consistent, appealing, and available on several sales channels will convincing customer experience come to life. And this is precisely where modern software solutions such as PIM systems (Product Information Management) and CMS (Content Management Systems) come into play. Both come with their own respective strengths, but only in their interplay do they unfold their full potential – as the foundation for a continuous and harmonious market experience across all touchpoints.

 

PIM: The Product Data Powerhouse which Cannot be Replaced by a CMS

A Product Information Management system (PIM) is the central platform for all product-related data in companies as well as the alpha and omega when it comes to managing product data efficiently. While a CMS first and foremost controls and publishes content, a PIM software primarily covers the efficient collection, enrichment, and channel-overarching distribution of product information.

 

What a PIM does Actually Accomplish:

• Central Data Warehousing: All product information – from technical details, through marketing texts, to images and videos – are gathered and managed in a central spot.
• Optimal Data Quality & Consistency: With automating workflows and data quality management (DQM), PIM guarantees for consistent, error-free, and up-to-date data – everywhere and anytime.
• Multichannel Distribution: Be it web shop, marketplace, print, app, or POS – a PIM brings product information directly to where it belongs, and it does so in an automated manner.
• Efficiency Increase & Quick Time-to-Market: Automation and collaboration functions reduce manual effort, lower costs, and bring your product faster to the market.

 

Who in particular Benefits from a PIM?

In short: A PIM is profitable for every company that wishes to efficiently manage its product data and maintain both high data quality and error-free product communication. In particular, companies with complex product portfolios, many variants, an international outlook, and many sales channels profit from a PIM. Be it manufacturer, retailer, platform operator, travel and tours operator, or service provider – a high-performance PIM like ATAMYA creates structure and efficiency while also decisively securing your competitive edge.

 

CMS: Content Management Beyond Product Data – where PIM Meets its Limits

A Content Management System (CSM) is the central platform for efficient management, organization, and publishing of digital content – from websites and blog articles to letters and landing pages.

Core Functions of a CMS:

• Intuitive Content Organization: Content can be created, updated, and published even without programming skills – ideal for marketing and content teams.
• Media-Neutral Data Storage: Be it texts, images, or videos – all media assets are saved and used independently of output channels.
• Permissions Management and Workflows: Different user roles and approval processes guarantee data security and efficiency.
• SEO and Uniform Design: Integrated tools support both search engine optimization and corporate design.

CMS systems such as WordPress, Typo3, or Joomla are some of the conventional systems that are commonly used. As soon as it comes to consistent product data, however, even these systems come to their limits.

 

Where does CMS Meet its Limits?

Complex product data, variant management, translations, or the connection of various sales channels are classic weak points of a CMS. It is here where the specialized data structure and flexibility of a PIM is missing.

PIM and CMS: The Decisive Differences for Your Product Data Management

 

Let’s summarize: A CMS is ideal for the management and publishing of marketing content and websites. As soon as complex, multi-dimensional product data enters the equation, to the contrary, a PIM is the superior choice – in particular when you are active in multiple channels and markets.

 

PIM & CMS: This is How They Come Together to Enable Smooth Customer Experience

The true strength unfolds in the collaboration of PIM and CMS: the PIM delivers enriched and consistent product data that is always up to date, while the CMS embeds this data in appealing, context-sensitive content and web pages.

Synergy Potential:

• Automated Data Transfer: Product data from the PIM is smoothly transferred over to the CMS – no redundant, manual data management.
• Consistency Across All Channels: Changes to product data is updated automatically on all websites, shops, and catalogs.
• Emotional Storytelling: Marketing content and product information fuse into a holistic experience convincing the customer.
• Efficient Processes: Reduced system infrastructure, less error sources, faster time-to-market.

 

Conclusion: The Right Solution for Your Product Data and Content Management

The choice between PIM and CMS depends on your individual requirements. For the efficient management and distribution of even complex product data, there is no alternative to PIM. CMS, however, remains indispensable for creative and flexible content creation. Together, both systems create the basis for consistent, convincing customer experience – securing your sustainable success in the digital competition.

If you are currently contemplating how to efficiently manage your product data, the next logical step is to research state-of-the-art, future-proof PIM systems. ATAMYA Product Cloud offers you precisely this: a cloud-native, API-first, and composable platform that grows together with you. Discover how simple and flexible PIM can be today.

Typical Challenges for SMEs: When Growth Meets its Limits

Digitization poses a challenge to companies regardless of size – but it also opens up great opportunities. For medium-sized enterprises, in particular, spare resources are hard to come by, be it time, budget, or personnel. At the same time, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face ever-growing pressure: they must react to changes in the markets in a flexible manner, efficiently launch new products, develop innovative services, and communicate all this and more consistently across an increasing number of channels. When it comes to both marketing and product management, this often times means: managing product data under the highest pressure, Excel chaos, and matching data sources in a time-consuming manner.

• Growing Product Portfolios: New product lines, variants, and internationalization (into various languages) render data management more difficult.
• Unclear Data Sources: Product data is scattered over Excel lists, ERP systems, or e-mail histories.
• Lacking Data Quality: Excel, island solutions, and manual processes lead to inconsistencies, delays, and multiplying effort.
• Increasing Sales Channels: Online shops, marketplaces, print catalogs, retailer portals – everybody wants up-to-date and complete product data.
• Sparse Resources: Contrary to global players, neither a many-headed IT team nor an unlimited budget is ready to hand.

A great many medium-sized enterprises grow successfully – until the processes revolving around product information starts retarding their growth.

And it is precisely here where state-of-the-art PIM systems (Product Information Management) come into play – ready to unfold your full potential as real efficiency drivers.

 

How a PIM System can Support the Growth of SMEs

A PIM such as ATAMYA offers a central platform for managing, administrating, and distributing all product information. For marketing and product management, this translates into a visible relief in everyday work life:

• Central Data Foundation: All product data in one and the same spot – always up to date, consistent, and well-structured.
• Faster Time-to-Market: The rollout of new products or assortments is faster.
• Channel-Overarching Exports: Be it web shop, catalog, app, or marketplace – content can be distributed in an individualized fashion.
• Minimal IT Costs and Maintenance Effort: With automatic updates, you always have the newest software features and can scale the system on demand.
• More Time for What Truly Matters: Marketing teams can gain more room for campaigns, storytelling, and strategic tasks.

Product data is the centerpiece of modern corporate communication. No matter if it’s the web shop, marketplaces, catalogs, or sales: customers expect complete, up-to-date and consistent information everywhere and at any given time.

A PIM creates the foundation for this. It guarantees that all product information is managed centrally and easily maintained, translated, as well as exported in a targeted manner.

A current real-life example demonstrates how ATAMYA can sustainably improve the success of a medium-sized enterprise: A manufacturer for household devices integrated ATAMYA into their processes and was able to reduce the time-to-market of the new product line by 30 %. At the same time, they managed to optimize the product data quality which, in turn, translated in a boost in sales.

Many medium-sized enterprises are hesitant when it comes to the implementation of a PIM system – because of worries concerning complex workflows, high costs, or long project runtimes. And here is where ATAMYA enters the equation: the PIM software is developed specifically to meet the needs of SMEs. It boasts intuitive use, a fast implementation, and can be scaled in a modular manner – excluding months-long IT projects or over-scaled systems and functions.

 

Growing Together instead of Over-Scaling: ATAMYA Scales with Your Company

The great benefit we offer: software that grows with your company. This means that you start with the functions you need today and, then, expand the system step by step once your requirements grow. Be it 1,000 or 100,000 products – ATAMYA maintains high performance and flexibility since it is a cloud-native SaaS solution. No extensive IT infrastructure is required on your end while maintenance updates are rolled out automatically without interruption of operation. Learn more about our cloud solution in our overview under ATAMYA Technology.

Besides the continuous development of the solution, additional functions can be integrated or connected on the basis of the MACH principle (microservices, API-first, cloud-native, headless), for example your shop system or a MAM/DAM system tailor-made to suit your requirements.

Thanks to the multi-domain data model as a unique selling point, not only product data but also the complete “data supply chain” including supplier, customer, and manufacturer data can be collected and managed.

Additionally, intelligent workflows can replace manual processes. Who has the permission to approve product information? How can data be automatically exported to the web shop? Even AI applications can be integrated in order to accelerate processes even further and free up resources. For example, marketing texts or datasheets can be automatically generated out of collected facts about a product which then only need to be double-checked once more before release.

And that’s still far from all, since ATAMYA can also be utilized to check product data based on its data quality (DQM) for completeness or correctly formatted input values and content, etc.

 

Why is ATAMYA the Ideal Solution for Medium-Sized Enterprises?

In contrast to complex and expensive enterprise solutions, this PIM software was developed specifically for the needs of mid-sized firm sector. What makes ATAMYA so special?

• Easy Implementation: Our software requires no months-long implementation phases. It can be integrated swiftly into existing IT infrastructures.
• User-friendliness: The intuitive interface makes sure that marketing and product managers can work efficiently without extensive software training.
• Scalability: No matter how many products a company is to manage – ATAMYA grows with the requirements.
• Benefits of Cloud: Thanks to the cloud-based architecture, companies profit from cost efficiency, better availability, and regular updates without additional IT efforts.

ATAMYA, therefore, is not only a tool for your short-to-mid-term requirements, but also a future-proof solution that will support your company on a long-term basis.

 

Conclusion: The Right Time is Now

A PIM system is no longer a luxury, but a necessity – this includes, in particular, medium-sized enterprises. With a solution like ATAMYA, getting started is easy, fast, and efficient. You profit from cleanly structured product data, optimized processes, and more time for the things that truly matter: your core business.

Which PIM Provider is the Right One for You?

Be it in retail or in the industries, those who want to provide their customers with a contradiction-free and convincing customer experience will find that a Product Information Management system – in short: PIM – is indispensable.

A PIM simplifies and automates all processes revolving around your product data: All product data and information is pooled centrally, refined, and, lastly, distributed to the various target channels such as online shops, online marketplaces, social media, websites, or print outlets.

This offers countless benefits to companies:

• Lightning-fast access to up-to-date product information
• Better time to market
• Collaborative work across all corporate divisions
• Correct and accurate product information
• Lower product return rates
• Enhanced data quality
• Automated and machine-assisted translations
• Resource-friendly and efficient processes

In our digital world, a PIM system is an absolute must-have for companies which want to stay streets ahead of the competition. In the field of e-commerce, the demand for PIM solutions is especially high – and where there is demand, there is also a rich supply of tools and providers. It’s a true jungle of requirements, functions, and pricing models out there. Indeed, it’s rather easy to lose the overview. But no worries! In today’s blog entry, we’ve put five selected providers for PIM systems under the magnifying glass.

 

Akeneo: Intuitive Design in Three Editions

The PIM made by Akeneo is an open-source PIM solution which is especially suited for retailers and manufacturers. With its “Akeneo Product Information Cloud,” the French company offers a compatible Software-as-a-Service solution – in short: SaaS – with an intuitive user interface. The simple interface appeals to users, in particular, who aren’t much of a technophile. Over the years, Akeneo has advanced to the position of an internationally well-positioned company offering its software in three different editions: the free “Community Edition” with considerable limitations when it comes to the scope of functions, the “Growth Edition” best suited for small businesses, as well as an extensive “Enterprise Edition” for which the fees involved are determined on an individual basis.

One highlight of Akeneo is its focus entirely on Product Information Management instead of splitting it into numerous half-finished e-commerce solutions. The open-source PIM, however, also comes with a decisive drawback. The range of functions of the free “Community Edition” is reasonable – yet, all the exciting PIM features are only included in the costly “Enterprise Edition.” Additionally, users of the open-source PIM variant are, to a large extent, left to their own devices – without expert PIM consultation or support service.

 

Contentserv: All-in-one Cloud Solution with Focus on Product Experience

With the so-called “Product Experience Cloud,” the provider Contentserv offers its users a scalable, flexible, and user-friendly PIM solution, including Master Data Management and Digital Asset Management functions. Contentserv is a global player with a wide partner network and counts more than 300 companies across 89 countries as its customers. The “Product Experience Cloud” features besides its central data management a variety of adjustment options, a data quality function which guarantees high-quality data throughout the entire product life cycle, as well as collaboration services for data onboarding and services for exporting data. In short: Contentserv has a great set of useful functions and options to offer for strategically improving your customer’s product experience on an emotional level.

It’s precisely this great selection of features, however, which invites critique by some users: since it affects the user’s ability to always keep an overview of the many modules, resulting in a higher degree of complexity. This makes it a bit more difficult for Contentserv users to immediately find the right functions for the given use case. Furthermore, the software does not always fully match requirements of state-of-the-art technologies.

 

Pimcore: Open-Source PIM Solution for E-Commerce

The provider Pimcore offers open-source software ideal for e-commerce. It’s up to the users whether to work with the Pimcore PIM system on its own or in combination with Master Data Management (MDM), Digital Asset Management (DAM), Web Content Management (WCM), and/or Customer Experience Management (CXM). As a multi-channel-publishing suite, Pimcore enables you to manage and export product data and information in the form of documents, videos, text content, or images – in a simple manner with drag-and-drop.

The positive side is, once more, that the open-source version is completely free. And once again, however, the same argument as before also applies to this provider: for those who want to use the full scope of functions of the enterprise version including support based on the respective company’s individual requirements, they have to dig deeper into their pockets. This is why the open-source version of Pimcore is most suitable for companies which can allocate sufficient resources to a tech-savvy team with a lot of know-how for facilitating both implementation and operation of the software.

 

Plytix: The Easily Affordable PIM

The PIM provider Plytix introduces its PIM system as a simple solution from content people to content people, so that no IT expertise is required. Given its fair pricing model, Plytix is a good choice for SME companies in particular. The Plytix PIM is available in three different versions: the free version is suitable for small businesses which want to kiss chaotic Excel datasheets goodbye, whereas the standard version provides companies with the basis for their own Product Information Management. The pro version, in turn, is geared towards multi-channel publishing, equipping growing companies with all necessary PIM functions.

With the system made by Plytix, you receive a simple yet still comprehensive range of functions for creating and managing product catalogs, multi-channel sales, and central data management. Since Plytix is still a young player on the PIM market, however, some functions still need some finishing touches. For this reason, it may not be the optimal choice for large enterprises with complex product assortments.

 

ATAMYA Product Cloud: High-performance PIM Solution According to Your Wishes

“If there is a problem, then there is a solution!” – this is our credo when it comes to our customers’ requirements for our PIM system. Thanks to our flexible, AI-assisted data models, our system can map any kind of product portfolio. Accordingly, ATAMYA Product Cloud is ideal for both retailers as well as manufacturers from all sorts of sectors – be it e-commerce, travel and tourism, or the industries. In short: Our system adjusts to your requirements, not the other way around. All in all, you profit from a highly performative, cloud-native PIM solution with maximum flexibility.

ATAMYA Product Cloud unifies PIM, DAM, and AI-based processes in one solution, offering you among other features:

• API-First Architecture for smooth system integrations
• Multi-domain capacity so that you can manage various data worlds on a single platform
• Automated workflows for optimizing your business processes and teamwork
• Intelligent Data Quality Management for better data quality with minimal effort
• AI technologies to minimize your manual labor and boosting productivity
• Planned and developed as a native Cloud solution for maximum flexibility and scalability.

ATAMYA Product Cloud is distributed and provided based on the SaaS model – including all benefits that come with a modern, highly scalable Cloud platform. Our prices are individualized to match your requirements. Learn more in our overview of editions.

 

The Agony of PIM Choice

You know how the saying goes: with great choice comes great responsibility – the agony of choice. The selection process for the right PIM system is far from easy – too many options to choose from, too many promising alternatives. In this article, we have presented to you a small selection of PIM systems from various providers made to master different challenges. The market, however, is much bigger. If you want to gain a comprehensive insight, how about visiting well-established, English-language PIM comparison portals such as OMR Reviews, Capterra, or GetApp.

This is How Your PIM Implementation will Turn Out as a Success Story

The implementation of Product Information Management software (in short PIM) is a crucial step towards preparing yourself for the competition of today’s digital world. Thanks to the digitization of your product data and information, your company can run the interfaces linked to shops and channels in real time and in a fully automated way. Only through this transformation will companies be able to fully exhaust the potential of digitization on a global scale and provide customers with product content in an efficient and target-group-oriented manner.

The PIM functions as your central datahub for all product data processes. Throughout, all data and information will be imported and unified from input channels such as an ERP system, will then be managed and edited within the PIM system itself, and, finally, distributed to relevant target channels ranging from online shops and apps to B2B marketplaces.

The challenge of a PIM implementation: simply installing a PIM system won’t be sufficient. Switching to an intelligent software solution requires more: it takes a PIM project with the goal to design new processes, develop new concepts, and implementing it all. The objective is that upon project completion, all systems in the company’s IT system landscape can efficiently and effectively collaborate with one another when it comes to product data. To this end, support can be requested from a wide range of service partners. They offer you to carry out the complete implementation as part of a so-called “full-service” project. However, do you really require this? Can’t your team accomplish this on its own?

Yes, your team can! Which implementation model fits best depends entirely on your individual requirements and your team’s skills. Equipped with the right concept and a good project plan, you’ll be able to quickly realize your project in a cost-efficient manner. We tell you what you absolutely need to look out for when choosing between full-service, do-it-yourself project, or a hybrid between the two.

 

PIM Implementation: Full-Service Project or Do-It-Yourself – The Defining Differences

As part of a full-service project, a third party is tasked to take care of the implementation for the company. In this case, your partner carries out the complete integration as well as the switch to the new system in your place. Such partners can be the software developer of the PIM system itself or a service partner who specializes in carrying out software implementation projects.

The advantages are clear as day: You save internal resources – which are, as is generally known, always hard to come by – and you directly collaborate with the experts for the system. With years’ worth of experience to back them up, partners know all the wrinkles of a successful PIM implementation and will make sure to make good use of this great foresight in the planning of the software environment. Naturally, the provider will demand an adequate fee for such service, which is why full-service counts as the most expensive model.

The most decisive difference, however: You let go of the steering wheel! In case of doubt, the third party which takes over may only have a surface-level understanding of your product portfolio and related processes. This is why the missing project control options of a full-service project pose various challenges and involves corresponding risks. If new processes and workflows are dictated by an outsider, it may be the case that they’ll find less acceptance and willingness to adjust accordingly by employees. If the new processes are conceptualized directly by your team, they’ll be quick to realize the added value and will look forward to the new software environment which can, thus, guarantee an improved work life. Lastly, the know-how for adjustments and modifications will fall outside of your own field of competence, hereby suffering from a one-sided dependency on your implementation partner – even after the completion of the project.

Full-Service Projects: Advantages and Disadvantages

+ Saving internal resources
+ Service partners are experts for the technological potential of systems
+ Service partners have project experience and know all best practices
– Full-service is costly
– Service partners don’t know your organizational structures
– Less project control tools
– Dependency on service partners for adjustments
– Loss of know-how after project completion

 

Do-It-Yourself Implementation Projects

When it comes to the independent PIM implementation, it’s you who is taking control. Your unique advantage: The various corporate departments can each contribute to the implementation of the PIM system with their expert knowledge. First and foremost, this concerns the Product Management with its expertise in the requirements of technical data – ranging from the company’s print catalog to e-commerce platforms and partners. The marketing, in turn, knows exactly how products are presented in the best possible light in your online shop with the help of just the right texts and digital media assets. Another central spot in the project team is occupied by your IT. With their knowledge of the current software environment, they can set the foundation for all future interfaces connected to the PIM system. Last but not least, the position for the person in response and your taskforce must also be filled to complete the team.

What may always pose as a problem in self-guided projects: When it comes to the integration of new software solutions, there’re far-reaching decisions to be made, especially in the beginning. And this is where the big disadvantage of do-it-yourself projects comes into play: Many uncertainties and mistakes can trick their way into the very foundations of the project. This eats away valuable time and resources, while also weakening team morale. What you’re lacking now is an expert for the strategy and implementation of your system with a tailor-made roadmap to boot. In short, the best solution for a successful PIM implementation borrows a bit from both methods: expert knowledge of service partners combined with the already well-established expertise of your company’s specialists.

Do-It-Yourself Projects: Advantages and Disadvantages

+ Draw from valuable in-house knowledge about the product portfolio
+ You’ll become the expert of your own system
+ Plan and live your own processes
+ Know-how stays within the company
+ High acceptance rate when switching to the new software
– No best-practice experience
– Uncertainties when it comes to decision making
– Unknown or untapped potentials of the new system

 

The Best of Both Worlds: The Hybrid Model

As part of the hybrid solution, your project team collaborates closely with the implementation team. Thanks to the active participation of your teams, you create lived processes and satisfied team members. Experience shows: The hybrid solution proves to be particularly crisis-proof since it guarantees both a high acceptance rate and continuous progress.

Throughout, a hybrid project model offers you countless benefits based on close collaboration, tailor-made solutions, a methodological approach, and continuous success. Through the combination of expert know-how and experience, the project participants come to form tight-knit teamwork that enables you to tackle specific requirements and challenges in a targeted manner. This teamwork, in turn, contributes to optimally fine-tuning the solution to match your company’s individual needs.

A well-structured phase plan makes sure that all project participants have an overview of the progress and the next steps at all times. This facilitates the planning and enables your team to stay motivated through small but continuous successes. Additionally, you can optimize knowledge transfer with targeted software training. When trainings are directly connected with the respective relevant phase of the project so that your team always receives the required knowledge at just the right time, you can master the implementation in a masterful manner.

The support provided by both implementation partners and consulting teams makes sure that demanding questions or technical challenges always find their way to the right expert. This comprehensive support makes it possible to progress effectively with the project and gain corresponding momentum. All in all, the hybrid project model leads – thanks to its flexible and adaptive structure – to a high degree of efficiency as well as sustainable results that will be reflect itself in your company’s success story even in the long term.

And the best of all: The entire know-how and all important information stay within your company. This way, you and your team will quickly advance to experts who can adjust their PIM system even after the end of the project in a flexible manner. Decide for ATAMYA as your integration partner – and we will, of course, be at your service even after the successful project completion! We from ATAMYA understand ourselves as long-term partners and accompany you on your path to digital transformation as it suits your needs, so that you can draw from the full potential of your product data.

Competitiveness as the Key Motivator for Using PIM in Data Governance

The global market for data governance is estimated to increase to 7.42 billion US dollar by 2026 and will reach an annual growth rate of 22.7 percent (source: dataversity.net). In the digital e-commerce landscape, where more and more companies are competing for relevance and competitiveness, the effective implementation of data governance plays a decisive role. To this end, Product Information Management (PIM) is the key that enables customers to make more well-informed decisions and handle the ever-evolving challenges in compliance and data protection.

In this article, we shed light on the important role PIM plays in data governance and demonstrate how you can use it to optimize your processes. The following are the three central aspects we’ll being looking at:

• the role of PIM in data governance,
• applying PIM to data governance, and
• best practices.

Keep on reading to gain valuable insights and practice-oriented examples that will help you strengthen the data governance of your company and use PIM in an effective manner.

 

The Role of PIM in Data Governance

Product Information Management has advanced to be an indispensable tool in today’s data governance. In a world in which data has become one of the most valuable resources, PIM enables companies to centralize, edit, and distribute their product information centrally.

• Centralized Data Management: A PIM system offers a central platform where all product information can be stored and processed. This reduces risks, data inconsistencies, and redundancy while grounding a uniform data source to which all corporate departments have controlled access.
• Improved Data Quality: PIM systems come with built-in validation and data cleansing functions which you can mobilize to secure the accuracy and completeness of data. The result is high-quality data on the basis of which well-informed decisions can be made.
• Efficient Distribution: With PIM, you can distribute product information effortlessly into various target channels, be it your website, catalogs, or an e-commerce platform. This makes for a consistent brand presentation and improves customer satisfaction.

 

Roles and Responsibilities of the People Involved

When implementing and managing a PIM system, you have to clearly distinguish between the following roles and corresponding responsibilities:

• PIM Administrators: They’re in control of the implementation, configuration, and maintenance of the system. They make sure that the PIM system is compatible with other IT systems and runs smoothly.
• Data Controllers: They monitor the data quality, carry out data cleansings, and are responsible for the validation of new data.
• End Users: This includes all those people in your company which will use the PIM system for daily use cases, update product information, and search or distribute relevant data.
• Stakeholders: Lastly, this group consists of the management in marketing, sales, and other corporate departments who require data saved in the PIM.

Objectives and General Conditions

During the implementation of the PIM in data governance, well-defined objectives and framework conditions are crucial.

Goal: One major objective is to improve the data quality and integrity, increase the efficiency of business processes, and establish a consistent customer experience across all target channels.

1. Framework Conditions: This entails the definition of standards for editing data, the setup of processes for data imports and updates, as well as assigning responsibilities.
2. To successfully realize the data governance in your company, you’ll need to have a good picture of the significance PIM plays therein and actively strive towards making sure it’s firmly embedded in your business processes. With clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and framework conditions, you can make sure that your PIM system operate with the full efficiency it can provide to your company.

 

Applying PIM to Data Governance

A PIM software offers a central platform for the management and use of product data. It has significant impact of the data governance in the company. In the following, you learn what functions and benefits a PIM has to offer and how to integrate it so that you can use it to realize best practices in data governance.

Functions and Benefits

A PIM system takes over various functions in the context of data governance and has to offer numerous advantages. This includes among others:

• Master Data Management: A PIM enables the central management of product information and reduces data inconsistencies by establishing a so-called single source of truth.
• Integration of Data Sources: A PIM helps you in unifying scattered aggregates of data by bringing together the different corporate departments and their systems.
• Access Rights and Data Usage: This system makes it possible to define the access rights and control the management of user roles, compliance to governance guidelines, and data protection directives.
• Data Catalog: PIM offers a central data catalog that allows you to efficiently search product data, filter it, and then analyze it.
• Data-driven Decisions: By providing centralized management and use of data, PIM supports data-driven decisions and processes in companies.

 

Integration of PIM

The successful integration of a PIM system is crucial for profiting from the benefits that come with data governance. To this end, you should consider the following steps:

1. Analyze Existing Data Sources: Identify all available data sources and systems that are relevant and ought to be integrated into the PIM.
2. Define Guidelines and Processes: Establish clear guidelines and processes concerning data management and data storage; keep in mind that they must be suitable for the PIM system.
3. Technical Integration: Set up the connection of the data sources to the PIM system and test, on the one hand, the data transfer and, on the other hand, that the data from all sources can be unified in the PIM system.
4. Implementation of Roles and Activities: Define the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in the use of the PIM system and provide software trainings to users.

 

Best Practices

Here are some best practices when it comes to the application of PIM to data governance that can help you exhaust the full potential of this technology and improve the quality of your data usage:

• Central Management: Use the PIM system as the central management interface for product information to avoid data redundancy and duplicates.
• Synchronization: Make sure that the data exchanged between the PIM system and the integrated data sources are synchronized at regular intervals to keep all data records consistent across the board.
• Documentation: Write up a documentation of the underlying processes and guidelines for data governance; check and improve it at regular intervals.
• Training and Communication: Create transparency in your company with targeted software training for PIM system users and clearly communicate just how significant data governance regulations is.

 

PIM as the Centerpiece of Your Data Governance Strategy

The implementation and maintenance of an effective data governance strategy is essential in the e-commerce field. After all, this is what enables well-founded business decisions. A high-performance PIM solution supports your company in guaranteeing data quality and consistency while also enabling collaboration between the different corporate departments.

The comprehensive implementation of PIM requires careful planning, an efficient project coordination, and close collaboration between people from different fields. The challenges that come with this, however, shouldn’t keep you from establishing PIM as a central element of your data governance strategy since it can generate enormous benefits for your company.

What Benefits does the Combination of PIM and AI have to offer?

Welcome to Industry 4.0: The fast-paced development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has already shaped many sectors, and Product Information Management (PIM) is no exception. AI offers a myriad of applications which can drastically improve your data maintenance, inventory management, personalization, information about customers and target groups, as well as image recognition in PIM. Additionally, the combination of PIM and AI provides your company with groundbreaking functionality – from data organization and analysis to the translation of product data into expressive and personalized information which can be put into action across all channels. This opens entirely new perspectives for a data-driven product management. In this blogpost, we have a look at the various use case possibilities of AI and PIM, identifying the areas in which the use of Artificial Intelligence is most profitable. Have a good read!

Content Creation with AI: Individualized Content at the Click of a Button

One big advantage of AI is automated content creation. Today’s AI tools are able to generate unique content. For example, Midjourney can even create new, impressive images based on text requests alone. ChatGPT by OpenAI allows you to create diverse texts or well-structured articles in a matter of seconds. With solutions for content generation such as Retresco, users can transform data from their PIM system into high-quality texts. This saves both time and resources, while also accelerating the process of updating product information.

Accordingly, automated AI-based content generation is an effective tool for optimizing your Product Data Management, saving valuable resources, and, at the same time, establishing a smooth communication with customers that is in keeping with the times. This approach lets companies focus on more creative and strategic aspects of their business, while the high-quality content for efficiently addressing the relevant target group is already taken care of.

 

Efficient Translation Management: Conquer International Markets with AI and PIM

In Translation Management, too, AI can provide valuable support. AI-based translation tools such as DeepL, for example, can translate product texts into various languages in an automated manner. By putting these tools into good use in connection with PIM, companies can optimize their translation processes and manage translations more efficiently. AI enables the automated translation of product information into a wide range of languages. For your company, this means a significant saving in time and resources. Additionally, the PIM system can guarantee consistency and correctness when it comes to distributing this translated content to all sales channels and markets. With the combination of AI and PIM, companies can improve translation quality, shorten their time to market, and secure smooth communication with international customers. This allows you to be globally present and successfully market both your products and services in different countries.

 

Feedback Data and AI: Get to Know Your Customers More Intimately

AI can also help you in getting to know your customer better. The analysis of customer data enables companies to recognize patterns and trends which can then be integrated into the product and marketing strategy. This way, you can respond better to your customer’s needs. If you transfer the feedback data by customers into your PIM and structure it accordingly, an AI tool can process it and operate with it in real time. This is what you can use to draw well-informed inferences about the purchasing habits, preferences, and behavior of your customers. On the basis of this knowledge, you can design your product and marketing strategy in a more goal-oriented manner. What’s more is that companies can objectively evaluate the efficiency of their product offer and their marketing measures. This, in turn, allows you to swiftly make adjustments and optimizations to the strategy for higher customer satisfaction and customer retention. With personalized offers for related products, tailored advertisement campaigns and targeted recommendations, companies can strategically position their products – which translates into more sales and, ultimately, more profit.

 

Personalization: Inspire Customers with Artificial Intelligence and Product Information Management

Personalization is a key factor for success in today’s competitive markets. The combination of Artificial Intelligence and Product Information Management (PIM) is particularly useful when it comes to this topic. When customers are offered products and services which best correspond to their needs, they have the feeling of being understood and that they are met on their own grounds. This does not only increase customer satisfaction but also leads to higher conversion rates coupled with lower product returns.

A high-performance PIM system enables the target-group-oriented and channel-specific distribution of content in order to achieve a higher degree of efficiency and relevance. In short: The dream of personalized customer communication with the right content at the right time with the right person – and that in a fully automated manner – becomes reality. Tools such as Retresco even make it possible to reformulate general product texts for individual target groups – automated and in direct connection with PIM.

With the use of a Recommendation Engine, you can also handle targeted recommendations for products. A product recommendation which matches the customer’s individual needs improves the purchasing process drastically and optimizes the Customer Experience. The continuous analysis of customer behavior does also make it possible to better recognize the customer’s wants and to optimize the assortment accordingly. Companies which bank on personalized recommendations are successful in setting themselves apart from the competition and can expand their customer base progressively. At the end of the day, all this manifests itself in an improved conversion rate and maximized customer retention.

 

The Power of Images: Automated Image Recognition and Keyword Tagging

A very promising field of application for AI in Product Information Management is the automated image recognition and keyword tagging of products. An AI algorithm can analyze images and identify the products depicted on them by various attributes such as type, color, brand, size, characteristic features, and material.

AI can deliver precise results with targeted training (Deep Learning). On the basis of an extensive collection of product images from a PIM system with informative meta-data (Big Data), an AI can, for example, learn how to classify products on its own. Accordingly, the AI system may recognize a piece of clothing or a machine even if it is depicted in an odd angle on the image, remains partially concealed, or if it is taken under unfavorable lighting conditions. The integration of AI-based image recognition in the field of PIM opens up a new dimension for the automation and optimization of product management processes, so that companies can profit from an efficient data handling and a precise categorization of data.

 

Powered by AI: Next-Level Product Data Management

In the age of Industry 4.0, where technologies like Artificial Intelligence play an ever-increasing role, fascinating perspectives emerge for data-driven product management.

The intelligent use of AI in the PIM field unlocks a wide range of possibilities. This starts with automated content creation that does not only save time and resources but also delivers high-quality information. And it continues with precise translations of product texts into various languages in order to tap into international markets – here, AI has proven itself to be a top-performing partner. Furthermore, AI enables a deeper understanding of customer needs through the analysis of feedback data and holds the key to a great many possibilities concerning personalized customer communication, resulting in a higher satisfaction rate and brand loyalty.

All in all, Artificial Intelligence provides enormous options for optimizing – if not revolutionizing – Product Information Management. By supplying top-quality product data that is always up to date, companies can exhaust the full potential of the AI revolution in PIM with all its benefits, while also establishing their competitive prowess in a continuously more data-driven business world. With the right tools and a solid data basis, companies can increase their efficiency, provide personalized purchasing experiences, and make well-informed decisions. The future of data-driven product management will be shaped by AI, and those who seize the opportunity will stay streets ahead in the competition.

With Product Information Management Toward Maximum Efficiency and Smooth Processes

In today’s economic world, companies find themselves confronted with an unprecedented flow of information. Digital transformation results in a large variety of new channels and touchpoints, all requiring content in specific formats. Additionally, customers have grown to become much more demanding and are more well-informed than ever, which is why they are expecting personalized product information as well as consistent, up-to-date, and correct product data at all times. For this reason, it’s of utmost importance for companies to efficiently manage and optimize their product data. Naturally, where there is a problem there is also a solution: Product Information Management is the magic word.

In this blog entry, we will look at this concept more closely, shed light on its significance for companies, and demonstrate how Product Information Management will support you in staying streets ahead in a highly competitive environment.

 

The Role of PIM Systems in Product Information Management

To master all these tasks, so-called PIM systems are developed. They enable companies to efficiently manage information and distribute it to a myriad of sales channels such as online shops, marketplaces, catalogs, mobile apps, and other digital media. With the use of PIM software, you can make sure that your product information is consistent, up to date, and correct – which, in turn, results in improved customer satisfaction, higher sales numbers, and more profits.

Furthermore, PIM systems make the personalization of your product information for various target groups possible and allow you to adjust them to the different regional markets in order to optimize customer experience. Among other benefits, you can also facilitate the collaboration between different corporate departments such as Marketing, Sales, and Development to make sure that all parties involved are always on the same page when it comes to creating and managing product information.

What Kinds of Data belong to PIM?

A Product Information Management system can be used to manage all sorts of product information. What kind of data exactly flows through an individual company’s PIM may vary depending on their unique requirements and objectives. Below, we’ve listed some of the most prominent types of data managed in a PIM:

Product Data: This includes all the foundational information about a product, such as article number, product name, description, properties, dimensions, weight, material, color, and related attributes.

Technical Data: This type of data refers to the detailed technical information of a product, e.g. exact measurements, specifications, compatibility, performance, energy class, operation requirements, and other such technical details.

Images and Media: PIM systems usually store images and other media content relevant for products. High-quality images contribute to enhancing the visual presentation of products and can easily catch the customer’s attention. In some advanced use cases, the connection to a DAM system (Digital Asset Management) may be relevant.

Product Categories and Features: A PIM can store information about product categories and features. This makes it possible for companies to structure their products into various assortments and create relations between similar or compatible items.

Translations: For companies operating in multiple countries, translations are an absolute must-have. In a PIM system, all translated product information and digital assets can be pooled and provided for a multi-lingual customer experience. Here, too, the connection to a specialized software solution, in this case Translation Management (TMS), can be of great help

What about Prices and Stock Levels?
Such data can also be transferred over to the PIM software, yet the PIM solution should only be conceived of as the mediator between source and target in this case. This is because the data sovereignty belongs to other tools such as ERP systems for this kind of data.

The 6 Steps of Product Information Management

1. Data Collection:

In the first phase of the PIM process, product information is gathered from various sources, including existing databases. technical specifications, information delivered by data suppliers, as well as from ERP, TMS, or CRM systems. Consequently, all this data is processed and prepared for editing.

2. Data Cleaning and Standardization:

The next step is a thorough cleaning and standardizing of the collected a data. In the process, duplicates are removed, missing information is supplemented, and all data is brought into a uniform format. The product information comes to attain a high degree of consistency and precision in this manner.

3. Organization and Structurization of Data:

Imagine entering a well-organized store. You have the perfect overview at a glance, the products are ordered by categories such as product types, brands, or attributes. This is precisely what you get with Product Information Management. The product information is organized in a hierarchical structure − e.g., by product types, brands, or attributes. Creating a clear structure which results in a compact product data model facilitates the management process and product searches significantly.

4. Data Enrichment:

In order to make your product information as comprehensive and convincing as possible, further information is supplied in this crucial step. By adding further intel such as product descriptions, technical data, images, videos, manuals, certificates, and much more, you bring your product to life as if it were within the customer’s reach. With this refinement of data, then, you can not only present products professionally, but also create stories. Your customers can see the product live in action, understand how it works, and experience the quality at work with their own eyes.

5. Localization and Personalization:

If your product is to conquer new markets, localizing and personalizing is another crucial process step. You can do so, for example, by adjusting the product description to the respective regional language to make sure that your brand message is understood in this specific cultural context. This enables customers to explore your product in their preferred language. Besides going multi-lingual, further adjustments to different target groups can be made. This, then, allows for a more target-oriented and efficient communication.

6. Data Distribution:

As soon as your product information is perfectly prepared and enriched, it’s time to present it in your various sales and marketing channels. Just like on a living buzzing market place where every stand has its own attraction, your product information is distributed strategically to achieve maximum visibility and reach. Your products are presented in online shops, they appear on prominent marketplaces, while potential customers can go shopping for the best offers. At the same time, your information is also available in electronic catalogs and apps in order to provide your customers with a smooth purchasing experience.

 

Who Benefits from Product Information Management?

A large variety of companies with an extensive product portfolio profit from PIM. Here are some examples:

Specialized Retailers: Thanks to the central data management and automated distribution of product data, retailers profit from efficient processes which smoothly transition into each other without any gaps. Additionally, a PIM system guarantees for a consistent and uniform presentation of all product information.

Wholesalers and Distributors: The collaboration with many suppliers and products is made a lot easier. This is because a PIM collects, standardizes, and manages all product information while guaranteeing correctness and completeness across the entire customer journey.

Manufacturers: PIM allows you to organize your product databases. A single source of truth is established for pooling all kinds of product information. This improves internal teamwork and makes it possible to provide consistent, high-quality information to sales partners and customers.

E-Commerce Companies: PIM is decisive for the efficient management and presentation of product data in online shops. With a PIM system, this product data can be centralized, updated, and adjusted in order to secure a frictionless purchase experience with a high customer satisfaction rate.

Companies with Many Product Variants: PIM organizes and structures product information in order to effectively relate all product variants and allows you to offer them on various channels. This is especially helpful for companies with products in different sizes, colors, and styles, etc.

Companies with Configurable Products: Product Information Management also enables the simple structurization and management of data for supplying product configurators and CPQ systems in the correct format. This will always deliver the desired results.

 

7 Good Reasons Why Companies Should Invest into a PIM System

1. Manage Product Information Efficiently: With a PIM system, product information can be managed in a centralized and well-structured manner. This saves time and resources during data collection, cleaning, and distribution.

2. Consistent and Precise Product Communication: Through the implementation of a PIM system, your marketing team can publish consistent and uniform product information across all sales channels which, in turn, translates into a stronger brand image and optimized customer experience.

3. Improved Data Quality: With a PIM system, product managers can clean, standardize, and always keep all data up to date in and through a central source. The result: Precise product descriptions and attributes without any gaps or missing details.

4. Personalized Customer Experience: A PIM makes the time-and-resource-friendly personalization of product information for different target groups possible, allowing you to deliver relevant and appealing content that will strengthen customer retention. The dream of target-group-specific content becomes reality.

5. Effective Channel Management: With PIM software, marketing managers can efficiently work on and synchronize product information distributed to different channels for establishing an all-encompassing omnichannel experience.

6. Time and Cost Savings: Automated PIM tasks such as data collection and distribution reduce manual labor, accelerate the time-to-market, and minimize both effort and costs.

7. Scalability and Growth: A PIM enables the efficient scaling of product databases and information. With this, you will be quick to expand your product assortment.