What Is a PIM Specialist?

Product Information Management, or PIM, is the process of managing product data along with related digital assets for your brand. It helps you create and manage all product information in a centralized location, optimizing your business’s efficiency and allowing your employees to work seamlessly as a team. PIM ensures that your data pertaining to product information is always up-to-date and offers many other applicable advantages. Read on to learn more about PIM and why it is important:

What Is a PIM and Why Is It Important?

As outlined above, PIM is an acronym that stands for Product Information Management. It effectively stores and categorizes a vast array of data pertaining to products. It takes the place of hundreds of spreadsheets used throughout the office with various data on each sheet. The problem with this antiquated method is trying to find needed information in the sea of spreadsheets. Thankfully, PIM effectively manages all types of product information necessary to market, sell, and service products.

The main goal of product information management is to create a single location where all product information is stored, managed, and then accessed. Product information could include various information, including product SKUs, pricing, dimensions, product images, benefits, troubleshooting guides, how-to videos, operator manuals, etc. In addition, a good PIM will also have a Digital Asset Management function built in to help you manage documents, videos, images, and more. Of course, once your brand has incorporated a PIM, it will be immensely easier for all your employees to access accurate product information, and will very likely result in more accurate product information that will then be used in sales resources, marketing materials and more.

What Is PIM Software Used For?

PIM software is used to manage and store all types of product data in one central location. This product data can include all sorts of facts about your products, including functionality, dimensions, benefits, features, pricing, SKUs, product descriptions, and more. However, beyond this, product information can also include related digital assets like product photos, owner’s manuals, how-to videos, spec sheets, etc., providing your chosen PIM also has a built-in Digital Asset Management or DAM. In addition, product information management software usually allows multiple, authorized users to log into said software and update the product in real time. Therefore, it serves as a single source of truth for all your product information.

What Is an Example of a PIM?

There are several PIM solutions or PIM tools in market today. They include but are not limited to Plytix, Pimcore, Salsify PIM, Inriver, Catsy, Lumavate, Akeneo PIM, and more. Each of these solutions or PIM software examples helps centralize the management of product data and offers solutions with additional functionality. Although the various top 10 PIM software options all offer many features and services, Lumavate is the preferred solution thanks to the fact that it offers robust functionality as a PIM, including a Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution and Digital Experience Platform (DXP) and at an affordable price. Consider the following information about the various types of PIM software systems available:

• Plytix: This software goes beyond being a PIM and actually offers omnichannel marketing, via digital asset management (DAM), product sheets, product data syndications, brand portals and more. This allows you to edit many products individually or at once.

• Pimcore: This PIM also offers Master Data Management (MDM) and Digital Asset Management (DAM).

• Salsify: Considered a product experience management system that exists at the intersection of commerce and data, this solution allows you to manage, syndicate, and optimize product data.

• Inriver: This PIM solution utilizes different channels, including mobile phones. It also features a calendar that helps you outline and plan future product launches.

• Catsy: As another Digital Asset Management or DAM solution, Catsy is known to be the place where innovation meets simplicity.

• Lumavate: Considered the best overall PIM solution due to its many features and inclusions. Lumavate is also cost-friendly. With Lumavate, you can distinguish products from parts and accessories and even categorize product lines based on brands and units. This software also allows you to create product records and manage images, videos, and documents related to your products. In addition to being a complete digital experience platform, or DXP, Lumavate is the one solution that provides everything you need and more to manage every aspect of your product data.

• Akeneo: This PIM can effectively handle a great deal of product data. It can store data in one place and distribute it well throughout the team.

Why Are PIMs Important?

PIM solutions are important for your business for a variety of reasons. Of course, the main one is the fact that all your information or data is kept in a single place that can be easily found. This means you can find the information you need quickly. However, a good PIM will also allow you to easily edit and update all your product information from one location instead of having to go into each item individually. This serves an immensely important purpose for your marketing, sales, and customer support team. It can also significantly decrease costs associated with the time and manpower needed to update product information by coordinating across multiple digital experiences. A PIM solution also effectively reduces your need for a printed manual. Examples of some of the types of data that is stored and categorized by PIM solutions include the following:

• Price

• Description

• Name

• Size options

• SKU

• Brand

• Color options

• Product photos

• Category

What Is a PIM Specialist?

A product information specialist is a position or employee whose responsibility includes obtaining and updating all applicable product information for your brand. This can include a vast array of product data, as outlined above, including product dimensions, pricing, benefits, and descriptions. It can also include digital assets as well, like owner’s manuals, installation videos, product images, product spec sheets, and more. Some companies appoint a full-time dedicated employee to this role, serving as a product information manager job. A PIM specialist salary often takes into account the fact that these professionals are subject-matter experts for the product data they oversee.

The Lumavate Difference

Thankfully, by incorporating Lumavate as your PIM solution, you can effectively have your own PIM specialist on site. This means you no longer have to worry about organizing or accessing needed information to create sales materials or finalize deals. Lumavate also allows you to easily integrate with your existing tech stack and even offers a messaging function. Suffice it to say that with Lumavate, you can successfully manage your product data and related assets and quickly incorporate all digital experiences. Contact us at Lumavate to learn more about our PIM solution software and how it can serve as your very own PIM specialist.