What is PIM integration? Meaning, examples and common tools to use

Operating across the dynamic and constantly-changing eCommerce landscape, there are a lot of plates to keep spinning at the same time. What you don’t need is any glitches which cause them to keep falling to the ground. Technology helps, of course, but a major challenge is getting all your disparate sys and staying on the same page.

When it comes to managing your product information efficiently across multiple channels, Product Information Management (PIM) systems play a pivotal role in ensuring that product data is accurate, consistent, and accessible. But what do you do if your existing tech stack is older than the new, shiny PIM you want to implement? This challenge is what our article explores: we take a deep dive into the definition of successful PIM integration, highlight the benefits of an integrated and unified approach to your business support systems, and highlight some of the common tools used in the integration process.

PIM integration defined

PIM integration is basically the process of connecting a PIM system with your other business applications and systems. Integration enables product data to seamlessly flow between a variety of systems, external and internal, including eCommerce platforms, ERP systems, CRM applications, and Inventory management software. At the end of the day, it’s about compatibility and interoperability, so that your PIM’s ‘single source of truth’ for data can benefit all areas of a business’s operations.

The main features of a modern PIM in 2024

In 2024, the large majority of modern PIM systems can boast of several advanced features which make them indispensable enablers for eCommerce and hybrid businesses:

Flexibility and modularity: PIM systems are now designed to flex and adapt to the changing needs of businesses by offering modular components which can easily be customised according to specific requirements.
Cloud-native: They leverage cloud technology to offer scalability, security, and accessibility from anywhere. No longer is it necessary to install software on a local service. Software as a Service (SaaS) is here to stay.
APIs: API-driven connectors are what enable seamless integration with various business systems, making smooth data exchange and synchronisation a simple and rapid process.

How a PIM works in tandem with other business software systems

By now, it’s clear that a PIM system cannot operate in isolation if it’s to be effective. It must integrate with all your other business resource and planning software systems, so the overall efficiency of operations and accuracy of data is optimised to the full:

ERP systems: While your ERP system manages transactional data, PIM systems focus on product information. Integrating the two ensures that enriched product data from the PIM is available in the ERP for processes like order management and inventory control.
eCommerce platforms: To be fast to market and competitive, you need your PIM to integrate with the eCommerce platforms you use. That will guarantee that the product information you are pushing out is consistent and up-to-date across online stores, improving searchability, quality of customer experience, and your brand’s credibility.
CRM systems: Integrating a PIM with a CRM system allows customer-facing teams to access accurate and reliable product information, once again enhancing the value of customer interactions and satisfaction in the support offered.

Use cases: Benefits gained from PIM integration

Streamlined data management

Integrating a PIM system into a legacy tech stack eliminates the need for manual data entry across multiple systems, minimising the risk of human error, and guaranteeing far greater consistency. For example, a retailer using outdated legacy ERP and eCommerce platforms can use PIM to centralise product information, automatically synchronise updates across both systems. The outcome is minimal discrepancies in product listings and inventory data, regarding product information such as availability – and all 100% accurate!

Faster Time-to-Market

A PIM system significantly accelerates the time typically taken to launch new products. A manufacturer integrating PIM with their legacy ERP, for instance, can streamline this product onboarding process. Once the product data is enriched in the PIM, it can then be instantly transferred to the ERP and eCommerce platforms, cutting down the time previously taken up with manual data entry and verification. The end result? Products’ time to market drops, giving the company a competitive edge.

Enhanced Customer Experience (CX)

Consistent and accurate product information across all channels leads to a better customer experience. Imagine a business scenario where you’re using an outdated CRM and multiple sales channels. It’s a time-consuming operation to process all that product data manually from piles of Excel sheets. By the time you’ve done it, the next batch of new products arrive…. Forget growing the business, because it’s unfeasible operating like this. Now, integrate a PIM system, and you’ll be sure that all product details, descriptions, and specifications, alongside digital assets like video, image files, are up-to-date and consistent across all your channels – website, mobile app, and physical stores. With this uniformity, you’re operating most effectively as a business and you’re building and sustaining customer trust – returns due to incorrect information are down, sales conversions are up, and opportunities abound for cross-selling and upselling.

Improved operational efficiency

Integration of PIM with legacy systems like ERP and supply chain management tools enhances operational efficiency. For example, a distributor can integrate PIM to ensure real-time updates of stock levels, pricing, and product details across all platforms. This reduces redundant tasks, minimises the chances of stockouts or overstock situations, and ensures that the sales and logistics teams always have accurate information, leading to smoother operations.
By leveraging these integration benefits, businesses can transform their legacy tech stacks into more agile and responsive systems, ultimately driving better business outcomes.

Common integration tools

So, how does this integration take place? Integrating a PIM system with other business applications is no longer a vain quest for seamless data flow and operational efficiency. Below are some of the most commonly used tools to facilitate PIM integration:

API-Based Solutions: APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are widely used to connect PIM systems with other software applications. They enable real-time data exchange so that product information is always up-to-date across diverse platforms. APIs are especially valuable for how they drive flexibility and scalability, and they’re suitable for any size of business, from SMEs to enormous enterprises operating globally.
ETL Tools: Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) tools automate the process of extracting data from different sources, transforming it into a format that the PIM system can use, and loading it into the system. Popular ETL tools include Apache Nifi, Talend, and Informatica. These tools help you to maintain data integrity and significantly streamline the integration process by automating repetitive, high-frequency tasks.
iPaaS Solutions: Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) solutions such as patchworks or ipass.com provide a cloud-based platform for integrating various applications and data sources. There are several iPaaS solutions on the market which enable businesses to connect their PIM systems with other applications quickly and efficiently during the integration process. They do this by offering pre-built connectors and templates to simplify the communication and data flow among systems.
Middleware: Middleware solutions act as a bridge between the PIM system and other business applications, so as to facilitate communication and data exchange. Middleware manages data flow and ensures that information is accurately and consistently transferred between systems.
Custom integration solutions: Your business may have unique requirements, where the best (or only feasible) solution is custom integration. These solutions involve developing bespoke connectors and scripts to link the new PIM system with other applications. Custom integrations can be more time-consuming and costly, but they do offer the advantage of being tailored specifically to a business’s precise needs.

There’s a lot of choice out there, and by leveraging these tools, you can make absolutely sure that your PIM system is smoothly integrated and communicable with your other critical applications. Ensuring enhancing data accuracy, operational efficiency, and overall high performance is no longer an aspiration – a lot of companies are striving for that. But if you leverage the tools available, you can find the right combination of features and benefits, based on your specific business aims and integration requirements.

Integration: A Unified Approach to eCommerce

The top-performing eCommerce enterprises have adopted the unified approach with integration at its core. PIM integration with existing systems creates a cohesive digital ecosystem, supporting:

Omnichannel Strategies: Guaranteeing consistent product information across all sales channels, including online stores, marketplaces, branded apps, and brick ‘n mortar stores.
Better decision-making: Providing comprehensive and accurate data to inform business decisions and strategies.
Operational efficiency: Streamlining workflows and reducing operational complexity when managing product information across multiple platforms.

Final Thoughts

PIM integration is a strategic imperative for any business aiming to:

Streamline product information management
Enhance customer experience
Stay ultra-competitive

By leveraging the capacity of modern PIM systems to smoothly integrate across business systems, companies will certainly achieve greater efficiency, accuracy, and agility.

Your Partner in PIM Integration. Start with Data ensures seamless compatibility and communication between your PIM system and integrated systems. This is achieved by utilising our expertise in a variety of technologies and protocols, as well as their knowledge of popular e-commerce platforms, CMS, and ERPs.

What is PIM integration? Meaning, examples and common tools to use

Table of Contents