By using the PIM as the product staging area, the ERP stays uncluttered of non-sellable products. And, the core transactional product attributes (units of sale, measurements, etc.) can be easily exported to the ERP. Data from multiple suppliers can be normalized into standard formats for consistency in product comparisons and browse/search parameters. Product specifications and hierarchies are easy to add or modify. Suppliers can connect to upload detailed product information. In addition, ERPs typically lack a portal to allow suppliers or content providers to place information into it.īy beginning the product life cycle in PIM, the path to the market is shorter and faster.
Many companies create all products inside the ERP. A PIM is a drawing board where you craft your customer-facing product presentations.Ī PIM helps your company in four significant ways:įaster, more efficient Data Onboarding. PIMs are specifically designed to collect, create and manage product information - descriptions, images, video assets, specifications and more - and publish that information to customer channels such as e-commerce web sites, marketplaces, mobile devices and print catalogs. An ERP is the “Grand Central Station” (or London Waterloo) where a company’s internal data sources intersect. It is not intended to create or manage customer-facing product information. An ERP manages transactional data such as customer records, parts lists, prices, inventory, sales and order processing.
Did you know that a Product Information Management (PIM) system can help to simplify your business processes and achieve more efficient use of your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system?