By Arnout Schutte, Co-founder / Managing Director
PIM is not a system but a process: smart investment moves you forward.
The biggest misconception we encounter regarding PIM is the belief that it is merely a product information system. Of course, a high-quality Product Information Management system is essential, but it is only the first step. The real work begins with defining and implementing the PIM process.
By this, we mean the continuous cycle of gathering, optimising, and distributing product information across all your channels. The decisions you make regarding data management and quality control are critical to your success. Let your product data flow.
Think big, start small.
Many e-commerce landscapes, including complex ones, still lean on Excel for PIM. However, managing product information in spreadsheets is... (it is difficult to find a polite word for this). You need a new process and a Product Information Management system to move forward. But that does not mean you have to commit huge sums immediately.
Start small with your PIM, but always keep the bigger picture in mind. Choose a scalable and flexible solution from the outset that can grow with your business, provided by a partner who actively innovates. This reduces the cognitive load on your team when implementing new technologies like AI. Good product data starts before your PIM.
What is the difference between a PIM system and a PIM process?
A PIM system is the software (such as ConnectingTheDots) used to manage and distribute product data. The PIM process encompasses all the steps and workflows for collecting, enriching, and distributing this data, regardless of the specific software used.
How does ConnectingTheDots contribute to a successful PIM process?
ConnectingTheDots provides a robust PIM platform including Import & Onboarding and Workflows & AI to automate data management, ensure data quality, and facilitate efficient distribution to various channels, including support for GS1 and Digital Product Passport compliance.
Setting up your own data department?
Are you debating whether to start your own data department or invest in the process to reduce your headcount? We know the answer: a dedicated data department makes you permanently dependent on a tight labour market. Furthermore, expensive data specialists generally want to avoid repetitive manual tasks.
On a SaaS platform, you can build your process and scale without needing an entire data department. Ideally, you should not have to return to your vendor for every new feature implementation: most SaaS providers (and we certainly do) strive for hands-off deployment of all new features. They embed their expertise into the platform so you benefit without needing to know the technical details. Plus, concerns about IT infrastructure, security, and data protection are handled for you in one go.
Even if you do not use every feature immediately, you gain a return on investment from the platform's foundation alone.
Invest where you make the most impact.
A platform can also be a trap. Once you start automating processes, it becomes addictive. Many teams have a tendency to keep going and make things more elaborate than necessary. You must remain focused.
When working with data, there are always exceptions and edge cases. In a beautifully automated data process, it can feel wrong to handle these manually every day. Curiously, it is often more efficient to leave that manual work in the process for a while.
Somewhere else in the process, there are likely large volumes of data where the standard scenario can be made even more efficient. Implementing that process takes just as much time as solving your edge cases but delivers hundreds of times more return. Always concentrate innovation and automation where they yield the best results.
You are focused and result-oriented: your data process and your automation projects should be too.
Want to know more about smart PIM investment?
Contact us to discuss your product data challenges.
More about PIM as a process
In practice, treating PIM as a process ensures that product data becomes available faster and more consistently. By centralising the PIM process, you reduce the risk of errors and accelerate your time-to-market.
Want to get more out of PIM as a process? Start small and build your approach step by step. Practical experience shows that a structured way of working pays off and ensures that your PIM process remains scalable.
Why is data quality so important in Product Information Management?
High data quality in PIM reduces errors, lowers return rates, increases customer satisfaction, and boosts sales. Consistent and complete product data is essential for a professional brand image and an optimal customer experience in e-commerce.