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PIM solutions are most relevant to [[retail|business-to-consumer]] (B2C) and [[business-to-business]] (B2B) firms that sell products through a variety of sales channels in a range of industries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Building a roadmap for growth in B2B digital commerce |url=https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2020/01/20/building-a-roadmap-for-growth-in-b2b-digital-commerce/ |last=Demery |first=Paul |last2=2020 |date=2020-01-20 |website=Digital Commerce 360 |language=en-US |access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref> The use of PIM is generally influenced by a company's:
PIM solutions are most relevant to [[retail|business-to-consumer]] (B2C) and [[business-to-business]] (B2B) firms that sell products through a variety of sales channels in a range of industries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Building a roadmap for growth in B2B digital commerce |url=https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2020/01/20/building-a-roadmap-for-growth-in-b2b-digital-commerce/ |last=Demery |first=Paul |last2=2020 |date=2020-01-20 |website=Digital Commerce 360 |language=en-US |access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref> The use of PIM is generally influenced by a company's:


* wide array of products
* wide array of products and/or complex product data set
* frequently changing product characteristics
* frequently changing product characteristics
* increasing number of sales channels
* non-uniform IT infrastructure (perhaps resulting from a merger)
* non-uniform IT infrastructure (plethora of data sources and formats)
* online business
* electronic ordering
* online business and electronic ordering
* various locales and localization requirements


PIM systems generally need to support multiple geographic locations, multi-lingual data, and maintenance and modification of product information within a centralized catalog. Information kept by a business can be scattered throughout departments and held by employees or systems, instead of being available centrally; data may be saved in various formats, or only be available in hard copy form. Information may be needed for detailed product descriptions with prices, or calculating freight costs. PIM represents a solution for centralized, media-independent data maintenance, as well as efficient data collection, [[data management|management]], refinement and output.
PIM systems manage customer-facing product data needed to support multiple geographic locations, multi-lingual data, and maintenance and modification of product information within a centralized catalog. Product information kept by a business can be scattered throughout departments and held by employees or systems, instead of being available centrally; data may be saved in various formats, or only be available in hard copy form. Information may be needed for detailed product descriptions with prices, or calculating freight costs. PIM represents a solution for centralized, media-independent product data maintenance, as well as efficient data collection, enrichment, [[data governance]] and output.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Importance of the Product Information Management (PIM) |url=https://techbullion.com/the-importance-of-the-product-information-management-pim/ |date=2019-09-03 |website=TechBullion |language=en-US |access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref>


==Synonyms and related terms==
==Synonyms and related terms==
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* [[Cross media publishing]] (CMP) comes from the print and advertising industries, referring to the coordinated use of multiple media in complementary fashion. It also denotes the repeat usage of individual structural elements such as text, images or graphics within different media.
* [[Cross media publishing]] (CMP) comes from the print and advertising industries, referring to the coordinated use of multiple media in complementary fashion. It also denotes the repeat usage of individual structural elements such as text, images or graphics within different media.
* Product Information Management & Syndication (PIMS), which stresses the need for capabilities to seamlessly disseminate product content through (online) sales channels<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iceclog.com/pim-for-rich-media-assets-and-other-data/ |title=What is Product Information Management (PIM) in a Syndicated, Multimedia world? |publisher=Icecat |date= |accessdate=}}</ref>
* Product Information Management & Syndication (PIMS), which stresses the need for capabilities to seamlessly disseminate product content through (online) sales channels<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iceclog.com/pim-for-rich-media-assets-and-other-data/ |title=What is Product Information Management (PIM) in a Syndicated, Multimedia world? |publisher=Icecat |date= |accessdate=}}</ref>

⚫
==Link with enterprise content management==

⚫
Enterprise content management is a term encompassing technologies, methods and tools used for gathering, imaging, storing, archiving and providing electronic content. Distinction can be made between four separate sub-areas. [[Document management system]]s (DMS) are deployed for archiving, and PDM involves the management of structured, technical data for such applications as parts diagrams and lists. [[Content management systems]] (CMS) are more commercially oriented and provide a framework for knowledge management or informational service offerings through the management of unstructured, document-type content. PIM systems are used to manage structured data in a business context for feeding into any kind of distribution channel, from electronic catalogs to online shops to print catalogs.


==Electronic catalogs==
==Electronic catalogs==
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Ventana Research, another technology research company, identified and ranked leading Product Information Management vendors [[Stibo|Stibo Systems]], [[Informatica]], [[Akeneo]], Agility Multichannel, [https://catsy.com Catsy], Riversand, [http://saleslayer.com/ Sales Layer],[https://www.quable.com/la-solution-pim/ Quable],[https://www.e-team.it/pim-product-information-management/it eTEAM PIM], Enterworks, [[SAP SE|SAP]], [https://bluestonepim.com/ Bluestone PIM], [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]], ADAM software and [[IBM]] in their 2015 Value Index.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Product Information Management Value Index|url = http://www.ventanaresearch.com/pimvalueindex/|website = www.ventanaresearch.com|access-date = 2016-02-18}}</ref> The evaluation was based on usability, capability, validation, and ROI.
Ventana Research, another technology research company, identified and ranked leading Product Information Management vendors [[Stibo|Stibo Systems]], [[Informatica]], [[Akeneo]], Agility Multichannel, [https://catsy.com Catsy], Riversand, [http://saleslayer.com/ Sales Layer],[https://www.quable.com/la-solution-pim/ Quable],[https://www.e-team.it/pim-product-information-management/it eTEAM PIM], Enterworks, [[SAP SE|SAP]], [https://bluestonepim.com/ Bluestone PIM], [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]], ADAM software and [[IBM]] in their 2015 Value Index.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Product Information Management Value Index|url = http://www.ventanaresearch.com/pimvalueindex/|website = www.ventanaresearch.com|access-date = 2016-02-18}}</ref> The evaluation was based on usability, capability, validation, and ROI.

⚫
==Link with enterprise content management==

⚫
Enterprise content management is a term encompassing technologies, methods and tools used for gathering, imaging, storing, archiving and providing electronic content. Distinction can be made between four separate sub-areas. [[Document management system]]s (DMS) are deployed for archiving, and PDM involves the management of structured, technical data for such applications as parts diagrams and lists. [[Content management systems]] (CMS) are more commercially oriented and provide a framework for knowledge management or informational service offerings through the management of unstructured, document-type content. PIM systems are used to manage structured data in a business context for feeding into any kind of distribution channel, from electronic catalogs to online shops to print catalogs.


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 22:26, 10 May 2020

Product information management (PIM) means managing the information required to market and sell products through distribution channels. A central set of product data can be used to share/receive information with media such as web sites, print catalogs, ERP systems, PLM systems and electronic data feeds to trading partners.

PIM solutions are most relevant to business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) firms that sell products through a variety of sales channels in a range of industries.[1] The use of PIM is generally influenced by a company's:

  • wide array of products and/or complex product data set
  • frequently changing product characteristics
  • increasing number of sales channels
  • non-uniform IT infrastructure (plethora of data sources and formats)
  • online business and electronic ordering
  • various locales and localization requirements

PIM systems manage customer-facing product data needed to support multiple geographic locations, multi-lingual data, and maintenance and modification of product information within a centralized catalog. Product information kept by a business can be scattered throughout departments and held by employees or systems, instead of being available centrally; data may be saved in various formats, or only be available in hard copy form. Information may be needed for detailed product descriptions with prices, or calculating freight costs. PIM represents a solution for centralized, media-independent product data maintenance, as well as efficient data collection, enrichment, data governance and output.[2]

One finds a number of other terms that are similar or synonymous in meaning, usually deriving from other fields. These include:

  • PDM – Product data management derives from the concept of engineering data management (EDM), denoting systems for the effective management of product development data and the coordination of manufacturing-related processes. The term is used primarily in the field of computer-aided design (CAD).
  • PRM – Product resource management is used by some software providers as a synonym for PIM (Product Information Management), as well as Product Content Management (PCM), mainly popular as a term in England and France.
  • Product life-cycle management (PLM) refers more to a management strategy than to a specific IT technology, the goal of which is to optimize product life cycles through the gathering and analysis of product data generated over time.
  • Media asset management (MAM) refers to the management of unstructured multimedia objects such as images, graphics and presentations as well as ‘meta-information’ (data about data). The term is used primarily in the media business.
  • Cross media publishing (CMP) comes from the print and advertising industries, referring to the coordinated use of multiple media in complementary fashion. It also denotes the repeat usage of individual structural elements such as text, images or graphics within different media.
  • Product Information Management & Syndication (PIMS), which stresses the need for capabilities to seamlessly disseminate product content through (online) sales channels[3]

Electronic catalogs

Procurement systems and online shopping platforms such as online marketplaces are based upon electronic catalogs. PIM systems can load descriptive product information as content into a catalog management solution, where products are grouped and managed for specific target markets. Data exchange interface standards such as Open ICEcat allow seamless interchange of electronic catalogs between vendors on the one hand and purchasing firms and marketplace operators on the other. Procurement solutions are closely related, which automate the procurement process for purchasing goods and services. These create transparency for the product data of multiple vendors to support the centralized management of multi-supplier catalogs and facilitate price and quality research.

Leading PIM vendors

According to the latest report published by independent technology research company Gartner, the Magic Quadrant for Master Data Management Solutions (a merger of MDM Customer and PIM solutions covering now Multidomain MDM) published January 19, 2017, contains two companies in the visionaries leader quadrant, Informatica and Orchestra Networks. Both provide a solid Multidomain MDM solution, where Product is one of the domains. Compared to the Magic Quadrant report for Master Data Management of Product Data Solutions in 2016[4] we see them, then leading vendors in the market Oracle, IBM, Stibo Systems, Riversand and Tibco Software are reshuffled due to the fact other criteria are used to make up the qualification. Informatica was already present with both their MDM solutions for products in the 2016 report and the combination made them leader in 2017.

Forrester Research, another technology research company, identified in their Q2 2018 Forrester Wave[5] the leading Product Information Management vendors as Contentserv, Stibo Systems, and EnterWorks. Salsify, inRiver, flexiPIM and Riversand were named as Strong Performers in the same report.

A general criticism regarding Gartner and Forrester is that their research is not independent, but that it's pay to play.[6]

Capgemini, the independent system integrator, mentions the leading PIM sources GDSN, Icecat, Syndy, Brandbank (Nielsen Holdings), Salsify, and Shotfarm in their 2017 report.[7]

PS Market Research, another technology research company, identified and ranked leading Product Information Management players CNET, Icecat, IBM, Oracle, Red Hat, Inc., Software AG, Pegasystems Inc., Open Text Corp., and BP Logix.[8].

RnR Market, another technology research company, identified in their 2016 "Product Information Management Market" report[9] the key vendors being Adam Systems, Agility Multichannel, IBM, Informatica, inRiver, Oracle, Pimcore, Riversand, SAP AG, Stibo Systems.

Ventana Research, another technology research company, identified and ranked leading Product Information Management vendors Stibo Systems, Informatica, Akeneo, Agility Multichannel, Catsy, Riversand, Sales Layer,Quable,eTEAM PIM, Enterworks, SAP, Bluestone PIM, Oracle, ADAM software and IBM in their 2015 Value Index.[10] The evaluation was based on usability, capability, validation, and ROI.

Link with enterprise content management

Enterprise content management is a term encompassing technologies, methods and tools used for gathering, imaging, storing, archiving and providing electronic content. Distinction can be made between four separate sub-areas. Document management systems (DMS) are deployed for archiving, and PDM involves the management of structured, technical data for such applications as parts diagrams and lists. Content management systems (CMS) are more commercially oriented and provide a framework for knowledge management or informational service offerings through the management of unstructured, document-type content. PIM systems are used to manage structured data in a business context for feeding into any kind of distribution channel, from electronic catalogs to online shops to print catalogs.

See also

References

  1. ^ Demery, Paul; 2020 (2020-01-20). "Building a roadmap for growth in B2B digital commerce". Digital Commerce 360. Retrieved 2020-05-10. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)
  2. ^ "The Importance of the Product Information Management (PIM)". TechBullion. 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  3. ^ "What is Product Information Management (PIM) in a Syndicated, Multimedia world?". Icecat.
  4. ^ "Market Guide for Master Data Management of Product Data Solutions". www.gartner.com. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  5. ^ "The Forrester Wave™: Product Information Management Solutions, Q2 2018". www.forrester.com.
  6. ^ "Is the influence of Gartner, IDC and Forrester waning?". www.cio.com. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
  7. ^ "The Devil is in the (Product Data) Details. How to Overcome Poor Product Information to Boost Omnichannel Strategies" (PDF). www.capgemini.com.
  8. ^ "Global Product Information Management Market Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast to 2024". Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  9. ^ Research, RnR Market. "Product Information Management Market - 25.3% CAGR Forecast to 2021". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  10. ^ "Product Information Management Value Index". www.ventanaresearch.com. Retrieved 2016-02-18.

Sources

  • Thomas Lucas-Nülle: Product Information Management in Deutschland. Marktstudie 2005
  • The Forrester Wave™: Product Information Management Solutions, Q4 2016 report
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