Product Information Management (PIM) is generally referred to as the process of managing information related to a product in a central location through a software or technology solution. The focus of this activity is generally the data or information that is required to sell the product to either business wholesale relationships or direct to consumer.
Typically product information is scattered throughout organizations and is kept in silos or departments. The proliferation of SKU’s in many markets today has forced companies to implement Product Information Management solutions to ensure accurate product information is being used by their internal teams, as well as the correct information is being distributed outside of their organization to the general public or distribution channels.
With companies having their entire product information in one single location they can centrally manage information about their products and ensure it is accurate and up to date. This allows for a consistent set of data to be used by such output channels as e-commerce sites, general marketing information websites, print catalogs, supply chain systems, ERP systems, and other relevant database systems.
How can PIM solutions help companies
In the past companies have tried to manage all of this information in either their website content management solution (CMS) or their ERP systems. With the depth of information required around each individual product or product family it becomes challenging to manage information in either a CMS or ERP, because certain data types or fields are not supported. This leads to disparate spreadsheets and independently built Microsoft Access databases. Which leads to further confusion on where the data is located, who is the owner of the data, and the source. All of these factors then lead to questions regarding the accuracy of the data and challenges around validating the data.
The adoption of Product Information Management systems within enterprise companies started becoming more prevalent in 2004, as analysts started covering this type of solution. The coverage started as the breadth of digital media assets started growing and crossed over with the traditional print catalogs. Product Information Management systems also started to become necessary as industry organizations started to demand data consistency and standards.
Secure and robust data integration tools are also essential with any Product Information Mangement solution. Data sharing is an important aspect of a quality PIM solution. This ensures accurate and real-time data sharing between the PIM solution and the trusted source.
Learn More How Product Information Management Can Help You
To learn more about how a Product Information Management solution can help your organization contact Cellacore today. Cellacore is the developer of Product Desk, as leading PIM solution for the manufacturing, distribution, and retail industries.