What is PIM and why are more and more manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers using it to manage their product range? For companies offering thousands of products, updating descriptions, specifications and images across several sales channels can take many hours. A PIM system allows you to centralise product information in a single database, reduce data duplication and streamline the preparation of offers. The solutions available at Centoro support product catalogue management and its use in B2B sales and e-commerce. Find out how to organise your product data and make it easier to update across the entire organisation.
What is PIM and how does it work in the wholesale sector?
What is PIM? The acronym stands for Product Information Management. This solution is used to collect, organise and update product range data within a single environment. Instead of storing descriptions, images and specifications in numerous separate files, a company can manage them in a central catalogue and then distribute them to selected sales channels.
PIM – what does this mean in practice for a wholesaler? First and foremost, it means easier control over information relating to thousands of product codes. A PIM system allows you to maintain well-organised product records, whilst PIM e-commerce supports the preparation of data required for publishing online offers. Understood in this way, a PIM system reduces the need to manually update the same information in multiple places and makes it easier to manage an extensive catalogue. In Centoro, these functions are available in the PIM module, which forms part of the OMS environment.
How does a PIM system organise product data within a company?
Product information often comes from various sources. The manufacturer provides technical specifications, the marketing department prepares product descriptions, and sales staff use data from the ERP system. When everyone works on a separate file, it is easy for specifications to become out of date or for images to be missing. Product Information Management allows you to organise this information and maintain a single set of data used by different departments within the company.
Centoro’s PIM system enables you to create product records containing names, descriptions, SKU and EAN codes, attributes, variants and multimedia content. The PIM system also supports the import of data from files, which speeds up the expansion of the catalogue. If you’re wondering how a PIM system changes your day-to-day work, the most significant benefit is that it reduces the need to re-enter the same data repeatedly. In the case of e-commerce PIM, these organised records can then be used to prepare offers across various channels. This helps to maintain greater consistency in product information, particularly when the product range is regularly updated.
PIM – what does this mean for manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers?
Wholesale businesses have varying needs when it comes to catalogue management. The manufacturer is responsible for preparing basic information about its own products, whilst the distributor often receives data from multiple suppliers. The wholesaler must also tailor the presentation of its product range to the needs of its business customers. In each of these models, it is important to maintain consistent rules for naming, identifying and describing products, as discrepancies can hinder order fulfilment.
What is PIM from the perspective of such an organisation? It is a tool that supports the management of information from various sources. Product Information Management allows records to be organised according to specific rules, and a PIM system makes it easier to update them. A PIM system can also support the management of multiple language versions of product descriptions. This is particularly important in the case of e-commerce PIM, where a company’s product range is presented across different markets. Centralising information helps to minimise errors and prepare the catalogue for further sales growth, without the need to edit each version of the product range individually.
What product data should be organised before implementing a PIM system?
Before commencing implementation, it is worth analysing the current catalogue and determining which information should be included in the central database. Product Information Management works best when a company has a clearly defined data model. Mandatory fields, the method of product identification and the rules for creating variants and categories must be established so that individual records are prepared in accordance with common standards.
First and foremost, it is worth organising the following:
- product identifiers – SKU codes, EAN codes and catalogue numbers,
- names and descriptions – basic commercial information and detailed product content,
- technical specifications – parameters, dimensions, materials and properties,
- variants and relationships – links between sizes, colours and complementary products,
- multimedia materials – photographs, videos, instructions and technical documentation,
- product categories – a structured organisation of the product range,
- language versions – content tailored to specific markets,
- data for publication – information required by shops and marketplaces.
If you’re wondering what a PIM system changes in terms of catalogue organisation, the answer is, first and foremost, greater data transparency. A PIM system helps to maintain established standards, and makes it easier to work with extensive product records. In online sales, e-commerce PIM enables you to prepare the data required for publishing product listings. Organising the information properly before implementation reduces the need for subsequent corrections and makes the catalogue easier to use.
PIM e-commerce – how to manage information across multiple sales channels?
Multi-channel sales require product data to be prepared in accordance with the requirements of individual platforms. An online shop may use detailed descriptions, whilst a marketplace requires specific categories and technical specifications. PIM e-commerce helps to maintain a single database of information that can be used when preparing different versions of product listings. A single update to the source data can be applied across several channels, provided the integration is configured correctly.
Product Information Management supports the management of this process, whilst the PIM system enables the storage of information on product variants, images and attributes. In Centoro, the catalogue is linked to the offer management functions in OMS. The PIM system also allows you to maintain multilingual descriptions and use your own product tags. What is PIM within such a sales structure? It is an information backbone that reduces the need for manual data editing on each platform. If the question arises as to what benefits PIM offers with an extensive catalogue, the most important advantage is the ability to update the product range more efficiently across multiple channels, without duplicating work.
Product Information Management and ERP – how can data from different systems be integrated?
In retail businesses, ERP is usually the primary source of information on products, prices, stock and documents. However, it does not always provide comprehensive tools for preparing descriptions, photographs or marketing materials. Product Information Management fills this gap, enabling the management of data intended for the presentation of the product range. Separating operational information from product content allows for a clearer division of responsibilities between individual systems, whilst retaining the possibility of integrating them.
What is PIM in relation to ERP? It is a solution that does not need to replace existing software, but can utilise the data provided by it. The PIM system is responsible for organising product range information, whilst the PIM system can make the prepared content available to sales channels. In the case of e-commerce PIM, this integration facilitates the use of product data alongside information on availability and prices. What does PIM mean for a company with an ERP system? Above all, it offers the opportunity to expand the product catalogue without having to abandon existing operational processes, provided the integration is properly planned.
How does the PIM system integrate with the B2B and OMS platforms?
In wholesale, product information must be accessible not only to staff, but also to business partners placing orders online. Product Information Management is responsible for organising product range data, whilst the B2B platform enables customers to browse the range and make purchases. Combining both solutions helps to ensure consistent product names, descriptions and specifications, without the need to maintain a separate catalogue for each channel.
In Centoro, the B2B sales platform can integrate with the other modules in the environment. The OMS system handles order processing, whilst the PIM system supports the preparation of product data. What is PIM in this model? It is the element that links information about the product range with the presentation of the offering. The PIM system organises the catalogue, whilst PIM e-commerce enables its use in online sales. If you’re wondering what difference PIM makes for business partners, the key benefit is easier access to well-organised information needed to select a product.
How do you implement a PIM system and prepare the catalogue for further development?
It is worth starting the implementation by analysing the structure of the current product range and the data sources. You should identify what information is stored in the ERP system, which data comes from suppliers, and who is responsible for updating the product descriptions. The next step is to prepare a product model, define mandatory attributes and establish data import rules so that the entire catalogue can be managed according to common rules.
Product Information Management also requires establishing a method for transferring data to shops and marketplaces. At Centoro, the PIM system supports the bulk import of information from CSV, XML and XLS files, as well as the mapping of columns to the relevant fields. The PIM system can be developed alongside the product catalogue, whilst PIM e-commerce enables data to be prepared for subsequent sales channels. What is PIM without properly defined management principles? Even good software cannot eliminate inconsistencies arising from disorganised source data. What does this mean for PIM at the implementation stage? The most important thing is to combine technical capabilities with a well-designed data structure, tailored to the company’s operations.
How much does it cost to implement a PIM system in a retail business?
The cost of implementation depends primarily on the size of the catalogue, the level of detail in the product records, and the number of channels in which the information is to be used. Integrations with ERP systems, the method of data import, and requirements regarding language versions are also significant factors. The more complex the product range structure, the more important it is to plan the configuration carefully so that the system meets the company’s actual needs.
Product Information Management can form part of a broader sales infrastructure. At Centoro, the PIM system is available as an OMS module, and the solution can be integrated with other products in the ecosystem. The PIM system supports catalogue management, whilst PIM e-commerce enables the use of data across online channels. If you are wondering what PIM is from an investment perspective and what it means for your company’s budget, it is worth analysing the scope of the entire implementation. The final costs depend on the modules selected, integrations and configuration requirements.
How does Centoron support product information management?
Centoro provides solutions for manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers who wish to integrate product catalogue management with online sales. The PIM module available in OMS enables the creation of product records, data import, variant management and the preparation of multilingual descriptions. Centralising product information helps to reduce the need for manual updates and maintain consistent product data, particularly in businesses developing multi-channel sales.
Product Information Management is one of the components of the Centoro ecosystem. The PIM system supports the preparation of information, whilst PIM e-commerce enables this information to be utilised in online sales channels. The PIM system can integrate with order management solutions and an SFA application – a system designed to support sales representatives. If you are still wondering what PIM is and how it could transform your organisation, it is worth starting by analysing the data you currently use. Contact Centoro and discover how you can organise your product catalogue within an environment tailored to your company’s needs.
FAQ – frequently asked questions about the PIM system
A PIM system supports product catalogue management in B2B sales and e-commerce. Below, we explain what PIM is, what tasks Product Information Management carries out, and when it is worth implementing such software. We also answer the question of what PIM means for a company that uses ERP. A suitably chosen PIM system facilitates the preparation of product information, whilst PIM for e-commerce helps to utilise this information across various sales channels.
How does PIM differ from ERP?
ERP is primarily responsible for a company’s operational processes, such as warehouse management, document management, procurement and accounting. PIM focuses on product information, including descriptions, attributes, images and variants. Both systems can work together using shared product identifiers, but they fulfil different functions. PIM does not have to replace ERP – it can complement it in the area of catalogue management.
How many products should you have before it’s worth implementing a PIM?
There is no single threshold for the number of products at which implementing a PIM system becomes necessary. What matters most is the complexity of the catalogue, the number of variants, the frequency of updates and the number of sales channels. Even a relatively small product range may require structured data management if the products have extensive technical specifications or multiple language versions. For wholesalers with thousands of product references, the benefits of centralisation can be particularly evident.
What product data needs to be organised before listing on a marketplace?
Before you start selling, it is worth organising your product names and descriptions, SKUs and EANs, categories, technical attributes, variants and images. You should also check the requirements of specific marketplaces regarding mandatory parameters. A consistent data structure reduces the number of errors when publishing listings and makes it easier to update your product range later on. Centoro supports the import of product information and mapping it to the fields used in the catalogue.
Can a PIM feed a shop, a marketplace and a B2B platform simultaneously?
Yes. One of the uses of PIM is to prepare product information for use across multiple sales channels. A central database allows for the maintenance of a shared source of truth, whilst individual channels can utilise appropriately prepared descriptions, images and specifications. In Centoro, the PIM module is linked to the OMS and the product catalogue, which supports multi-channel sales. The exact scope of synchronisation depends on the available integrations and the implementation configuration.
Centoro – which wholesale system has a built-in PIM?
Centoro offers an OMS system with a PIM module designed, amongst others, for manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers. The solution enables the creation of product records, the management of variants, descriptions, photographs and parameters, as well as bulk data import. The integration of PIM with OMS facilitates the use of a shared product catalogue in multi-channel sales, whilst the ability to integrate with a B2B platform enables the development of services for wholesale customers. Contact Centoro to find out how to tailor the scope of the implementation to your company’s product range structure.