What Does a PIM Manager Do?

Manufacturers need to keep track of a number of different products and all the unique data for each SKU. When a customer or lead asks a member of your team a question, they immediately need access to the latest information about your products so they can provide an outstanding experience.

One of the best tools you can put to work for your organization is a product information management system, or PIM system. The professionals that help to manage these PIM systems, the product information managers, have become a critical part of a business’s operations.

If you are not familiar with the product information manager position, let’s explore what you need to know about this role and the value it offers organizations like yours.

What Is PIM Used For?

As your business interacts with customers, you naturally collect a large amount of data about your customers and your products. Your team also creates digital assets to help market products and engage your target audience. A PIM brings all of these different sources of information together so you can keep everything organized.

With an effective product information management system, you have a platform in place that makes it easy for you to keep track of all this different information. With this system, you can keep your data readily accessible for your team and easy to update whenever your business makes changes to your products. For example, if you need to update the specs on your products, you can use this single source to disseminate the information to everyone in the organization. With product information management software, you keep your business operations running efficiently.

What Is an Example of PIM?

As you start investigating the potential benefits of PIM, you will quickly discover that there are a number of different PIM tools in market that you can choose from. All of these different PIM solution options can make it challenging to find the system that will benefit your business best. However, evaluating the functionalities of the PIM software companies can help you differentiate between all the options you see in the space.

Some of the common PIM solutions you may encounter include:

• Acquia PIM

• Salsify PIM

• Akeneo PIM

• InRiver PIM

• Plytix PIM

• Pimcore PIM

• Catsy PIM

• Lumavate PIM

While there are some overlapping traits between these software options, you will quickly understand why Lumavate is the preferred solution. It offers complete functionality, bringing together a variety of related toolsets to create an effective PIM that lets your business achieve its goals.

With Lumavate, you can bring together your PIM system, a Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution to track your digital assets, and a Digital Experience Platform (DXP) to assist you in building engaging and effective digital experiences for customers. Together, the Lumavate software helps you enhance communication and collaboration throughout your organization. Customers appreciate all the tools and features that Lumavate offers, making it easier to manage all their digital data without having to bring together multiple tools from different sources.

Who Uses PIM Software?

Occasionally, we encounter customers who want to know what types of businesses should employ a PIM system. They wonder if the PIM setup will be effective for their organization. These software solutions work effectively for businesses across a wide variety of product-heavy industries. Anyone who deals with a number of different products and all the data and information needed to properly manage these items will find PIM software to be an extremely effective part of their business setup. Some of the most common users include:

• Manufacturers

• Retailers

• Distributors

Typically, within a company, the PIM solution is owned by the marketing team or the product management team, although some organizations may have a standalone product information management department. The team that owns the software ensures that the system remains up to date with all the information regarding the company's products. By keeping the system current, they make sure that everyone in the business who needs rapid access to product information can get what they want instantly, helping them produce a better customer experience.

What Does a PIM Manager Do?

Your product information manager plays a critical role in keeping all your company's product information organized and accessible for everyone at the company. They will obtain all the relevant product information and keep the PIM system updated with the latest data so that when someone accesses the system, they get the information they need in a clear and straightforward format. They do not have to sort through different sources, trying to determine what is current and what is outdated.

The information included in the PIM system will include items such as:

• Product descriptions

• Benefits

• Features

• Pricing

• Dimensions

Depending upon how your system is set up, you might also elect to include product-related digital assets such as:

• Product images

• Owner’s manuals

• Troubleshooting videos

• Installation videos

• Product spec sheets

With a complete system, like Lumavate, that combines the PIM and DAM systems, all of these different sources are combined in a single location for easier management.

This information is critical for the entire sales cycle of a given product. When company representatives reach out to a lead or a customer, they want to make sure the information they have in front of them reflects the latest updates. If the PIM doesn't contain accurate information, the sales or customer service personnel might have to go looking for the right information or might accidentally access out-of-date information, resulting in a poor customer service experience.

Some companies will have a full-time role dedicated to product information management, while others might dedicate select personnel from particular departments. Regardless of the setup your business uses, the product information manager will be the subject-matter expert for the product data that they manage for the company.

The product information management job description will typically provide insight into how a given company structures this area of its business. The description details where the role falls within an organization and the responsibilities assigned to the position. This can help businesses determine how they want their manager to operate.

Build Your Business with Lumavate

If your business needs to keep track of a variety of different products, it is time to see what a PIM can do for your business. An improved capacity to track all your information and product data will allow your teams to operate effectively and quickly, better engaging your customers and your leads. If you are ready to take the next steps, reach out to us today to see what you can do with Lumavate.