What is a PIM system?
A PIM (Product Information Management) system is a software solution designed for the centralised management, enrichment and distribution of product data. Companies use a PIM to consolidate product information – such as text, images, technical specifications and prices – in one place and distribute it across various channels, such as online shops, marketplaces and catalogues.
What exactly does a PIM do?
A PIM system performs three key functions:
- Centralised data management
All product information is managed within a single system – rather than being scattered across Excel files or various tools. - Data enrichment
Products are supplemented with text, images, features and translations. - Data distribution
The data is automatically exported to online shops, marketplaces or as a BMEcat catalogue.
Why is a PIM important?
Without PIM, typical problems arise:
- Inconsistent product data
- Significant manual maintenance effort
- Errors in shops and catalogues
- Challenges associated with multilingualism
A PIM solves these problems through structured processes and automation.
Who would benefit from a PIM?
A PIM system is particularly beneficial for:
- Manufacturers with a wide range of products
- Retailers with multiple sales channels
- Unternehmen mit BMEcat oder Klassifikationen (ETIM, eclass)
- Teams currently using Excel
PIM vs Excel
Many companies start out using Excel – but soon reach their limits:
| Excel | PIM |
| Unstructured | Structured data |
| Prone to errors | Validated data |
| No automation | Automated exports |
| Difficult to scale | Suitable for large volumes of data |
How does a PIM system work?
A PIM typically consists of:
- Import (BMEcat, CSV, XLS)
- Data maintenance
- Structuring (e.g. ETIM)
- Export to target systems
Conclusion
A PIM system is the cornerstone of professional product data management. It reduces errors, saves time and enables companies to market their products efficiently across various channels.
