Product Information Management (PIM) software is now a central tenet of any business’s strategy for managing, enriching, and distributing product data. Understanding what PIM is, and selecting the right system, are critical knowledge bases to enhance your business’s performance in omnichannel marketplaces.
Build in clear project goals and timelines for system evaluation and implementation. This should include developing KPIs for the new system. These could include
Identify required features and evaluation criteria: Always document your specific requirements, including integration needs with systems like ERP, CRM, or POS systems. Use strict criteria to evaluate choices, in order to determine how well they align with business needs and budget constraints.
Scalability and maintenance: For future growth plans, you want a PIM solution which offers scalability. You also need to evaluate what maintenance and support services (paid for or included) are provided by vendors – these would include customer support availability and the potential for upgrades.
Integration and flexibility: Using APIs, modern PIM system can easily integrate with existing tech stacks. This offers the flexibility to adapt to evolving business needs, which might involve managing rich media, customising product layouts, supporting multichannel distribution or supporting personalised information (a major emerging trend).
Future-proofing: eCommerce is evolving constantly, so new PIM solutions on the market are highly receptive to new technologies like 3D printing, augmented reality, and machine learning. They are here or on their way.
To summarise, selecting the right PIM solution means having a comprehensive understanding of
Being well-informed on these factors means you can select a PIM system which will not only enhance your current operations but also position your business to succeed in the longer term – in two words, “strategic investment”.