7 things you need to know about PIM. Why do you need it?

By using PIM systems, you can improve your business processes, ensure consistency of product information, and consequently increase communication effectiveness with customers, conversion, and profits. This article presents seven arguments that PIM is a more complex (and necessary!) tool than you expected.

1. PIM is the entire product information management process – not just a system

First of all, let us point out that PIM (Product Information Management, which in Polish can be translated as product information management) is not only a program but the entire process of managing product data, such as:

• descriptions,
• technical specifications,
• photos,
• prices,
• availability.

PIM systems help companies manage, and more specifically, they help in the effective collection, management, updating, and distribution of product data. They are necessary, especially when stores have a wide range of products and many sales channels.

It sounds great – and the good news is that it all looks similar in practice. Below are seven reasons why it is worth investing in a good PIM.

You can read more about PIM in our previous article.

2. Thanks to PIM, you know what is happening with product data – and you can manage it

PIM enables effective centralization and management of product data, giving you greater control over it. You can, among other things, integrate data from various sources, such as ERP systems, e-commerce or XLS/CSV files. Thanks to this, all product information is collected in one place. There is no room for inconsistencies or omissions.

We must also not forget about the possibilities of organizing and unifying product data: You can establish the same information for all sales channels, ensuring maximum brand consistency and avoiding potential inconsistencies or customer dissatisfaction.

Centralization, organization and unification of information means better data control.

3. You create a better workflow.

Moreover, a sound PIM system will help maintain your data management workflow. You can plan a schedule for completing data, appoint people responsible for specific tasks, and establish processes for initiating actions (for example, based on data from the ERP system).

To implement PIM in your company, you only need seven steps

4. PIM implementation can be done in just 7 steps:

1. Analysis of architecture and sources of product information. The first step is to analyze the architecture of existing systems and sources of product information. Identify where your product data comes from and how you currently manage it.
2. Prepare detailed project assumptions. Define the goals of PIM implementation, the scope of functionality, and the expected effects.
3. System configuration and historical data migration.
4. Completion of product data. This may include adding descriptions, photos, attributes, prices, etc.
5. Test the connection of systems that are downloading data from PIM. This will allow you to check whether integrations work correctly and data is transferred as expected.
6. We are conducting final tests. You test all functionalities at this stage and check data correctness and system performance.
7. The last step is to launch the MVP or target version. After launching the system, you can adapt it to any changes or user needs.

See how the PIM implementation for the e-obuwie website was carried out.

5. Implementing PIM means higher conversions and fewer returns

Thanks to PIM, the information presented to customers on various sales channels will be uniform and accurate. It is easier for customers to make purchasing decisions when they can access complete and reliable product information. Moreover, a PIM system enables enrichment of product descriptions and specifications, and more accurate and extensive descriptions can better appeal to customers, helping them understand the benefits of a given product and increasing the likelihood of purchase. In turn, thanks to the consistency of product data and better control over it, the risk of errors in customer orders is lower. This reduces the number of returns related to incorrect or not-as-expected products.

6. You need PIM to build user loyalty

Did you know that 87% of consumers admit that they will not make purchases again in a store where they have encountered errors in the product description, and 22% of users declare that more detailed product descriptions would encourage them to shop online more often (data source: E-Commerce in Poland 2019, Gemius)? You need extensive, logical, consistent, and convincing product descriptions.

7. Thanks to PIM, you work more conveniently and more effectively and automate activities

Did you know that a sound PIM system (such as Akeneo) enables mass activities and checks the completeness of product cards? Thanks to this, you avoid mistakes on the part of employees, and you can be sure that what you do, you do well. Moreover, all teams responsible for product data, including external suppliers, gain one standard tool for work.