PIM SOFTWARE TOOLS -A MARKET OVERVIEW
In 2013, we published a detailed article on product information management (PIM) for the first time with the title “Data makes the deal”. At that time, the topic was still relatively new and tended to be a niche issue. Over the years, however, the field has undergone massive development and today our former title is more valid than ever.
(Product) data has become one of the key criteria for success in e-commerce and while there was a manageable number of PIM solutions at that time, the market has now almost exploded and systems are available for almost every application and budget.
“Structured data management is a basic foundation for digitization!”
In order to give you a first introduction to the topic, we would like to outline some terms that are often — sometimes incorrectly — used in the PIM environment:
Due to the growing complexity as well as a constant increase of products and product variants in combination with the meanwhile well-known term of multi- or omni-channel trade, the topic of product information management — PIM for short — has been “haunting” the market for several years, especially in connection with e-commerce.
“Product Information Management (PIM)” means the provision of product information for use in different output media or distribution channels as well as for multiple locations. The prerequisite for this is the media-neutral administration, maintenance and modification of the product information in a central system, in order to be able to supply each channel with consistent, accurate information without a large expenditure of resources.” (Wikipedia)
Ventana Research, which is quite active in this area, has an even crisper definition of PIM: “Product Information Management is technology that provides the ability to consistently manage product and related information being used by business processes and consumers.”
In the meantime, there are various related and equivalent terms to the term PIM, which will be briefly explained again in the following, based on the Wikipedia version, in order to create a better understanding here:
PRODUCT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (PRM) / PRODUCT CONTENT MANAGEMENT (PCM)
These terms are synonymous with the PIM term that is commonly used in our company.
MEDIA ASSET MANAGEMENT (MAM)
While PIM systems primarily take care of the administration and data management of master data, attributes, descriptions and supplementary information in text form in each case, the task of a media asset management system is to administer multimedia information such as videos, animations, pictures, graphics and presentations and to store them centrally.
CROSS MEDIA PUBLISHING (CMP)
Cross media publishing refers to the multiple use of individual components such as texts, images or graphics across different media. In other words, this means the use of media assets in a wide variety of output channels such as print and online.
PRODUCT DATA MANAGEMENT (PDM)
This refers to systems that are used to manage and coordinate data for the development and manufacturing of products in particular, whereby the term is primarily used in the CAD environment.
CENTRAL MASTER DATA MANAGEMENT / MASTER DATA MANAGEMENT (MDM)
Master Data Management is the basis or entry point for product information management, as it covers the central harmonization, synchronization, administration and storage of master data, although this does not have to be product master data only. In the past, the term PIM was closely associated with Master Data Management (MDM) software. However, MDM applications, as they were originally intended, have some shortcomings in relation to today’s digital commerce requirements. These include gaps in the following areas:
- Lack of support for images, video, and other additional information necessary to effectively promote products.
- Syndication capabilities for publishing product data and content on multiple channels
- Portals that facilitate the distribution of product data and content to the company’s distribution network
- Tight integration with major commerce-systems and -services, including inventory management, order management and marketing automation
PRODUCT EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT (PXM)
Today, the world of trade is developing rapidly. With the growing number of channels and touchpoints that are now part of the customer journey, an outstanding shopping experience across all relevant channels is a must. This is closely linked to a compelling product experience. Consistent and contextual product information is essential for this. Customers today expect the right information at the right time through the right channel. This is subsumed under the new term Product Experience Management. It can also be expressed in the following formula:
There are a large number of lists of success factors for digital commerce, which according to current forecasts will continue to develop dynamically in the coming years.
We believe that comprehensive and structured product data management is the basis for success in current and future sales channels.
To sum up in one sentence, the entire concept can be described as follows:
“The better the product data, the greater the shopping experience, the higher the quality of the product the conversion and therefore the sales, the lower the return rate and in the end the happier customers and in the end they too as shop operators.”
More and more shop operators are recognizing this fact, which is clearly reflected in the forecast development of the PIM market.
Zion Market Research published a report in mid-2019 entitled “Product Information Management Market By Deployment Type (On-Premises and Cloud-Based), By Operating System (iOS, Windows, Android and Others), and Vertical (Retail, Manufacturing, Logistics, Energy, Healthcare and Others): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2018–2027”. According to the report, the global market for product information management was approximately $8.125 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow to approximately $61.263 billion by 2027. Zion Market Research assumes an average annual growth rate of around 25% between 2019 and 2027.
There are many factors for the rapid development of the PIM market. A driver of this development is of course e-commerce. As it grows, the control of product data across all relevant channels and touchpoints will become one of the biggest challenges, especially in the future.
In the meantime, there are various sources of information that deal with PIM systems. In this article we would like to briefly discuss a few solutions. Nevertheless, this article should only serve as an impulse. If you are interested, you can also use the following portals to obtain customer feedback on the respective systems, whereby it should be mentioned here that not all information should be weighed in the balance:
• https://www.gartner.com/reviews/home
AKENEO
Akeneo is an open source PIM system designed for retailers and brands looking for efficient solutions for their multichannel needs. It is based on the Symfony2 framework and is highly extensible and customizable. Akeneo is supported by a quite active, worldwide community. Through a marketplace various modules and program extensions are available to customize the software to the individual requirements. With Akeneo you can import your data from different data sources — among others Excel and CSV files -, customize, update and harmonize them in the system and then make them accessible centrally to various channels for output. Due to the open source approach you can intervene and adapt the software at any time if required. The software is so flexible that a lot of configuration can be done.
The Akeneo Onboarder was developed especially for retailers and provides a stand-alone cloud environment that collects product information from your suppliers in a kind of mini-PIM. From there, the product information is added to your Akeneo PIM Enterprise Edition instance directly without accessing it. Your suppliers can enjoy the familiar Akeneo usability and can even suggest new products for your assortment. With the Onboarder the collection of product information takes place directly at your suppliers and ensures an accelerated and optimized time-to-market
Akeneo PIM comes with an expandable import engine that enables import from virtually any source. Therefore you can organize and classify your products as you like. The editing of the data is done through a clearly structured administration interface.
You can define any attributes, assign them to corresponding product families for easier and faster processing, complete product sheets, translate your information into virtually any languages and track all changes directly in the product history.
The new release Akeneo PIM 4.0 Enterprise, released at the beginning of February, provides enhanced functionality for the management of digital assets (images, documents etc.), including a set of capabilities for managing, enriching, converting and linking digital assets to products within the PIM and through enhanced APIs with existing DAM systems. Customers can also easily add and preview external media files directly in the user interface.
The software is available in two basic versions — a free open source version and a paid enterprise version, which has advanced functionality and support from the manufacturer. Further information can be found at https://www.akeneo.com/compare-editions/. The Enterprise version is available in both cloud and on-premise versions. In addition, the Onboarder, Syndication and Franklin add-on modules are available to extend the standard functions of Akeneo.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Highest possible flexibility and security through open source approach
- Integrated DAM to manage a wide range of assets
- Visualize and validate your product content for each channel before you publish it
- Validation workflows to ensure uniform standards and specifications
- Machine Learning to collect product data from trusted sources and make it available in a reference database for technical product data
- Data Quality Insight for a quick overview of the existing data quality including recommendations
TARGET GROUP
Akeneo addresses a broad target group from start-ups and smaller companies up to worldwide operating large enterprises in various industries.
CUSTOMERS
The following companies use Akeneo PIM to manage their product data:
- Fossil
- Sticks
- Singapore Airlines
- myTheresa
- Sanicare
More information about Akeneo and the download of the open source version can be found online at www.akeneo.com.
EGGHEADS
eggheads is a German provider of PIM system software founded in 1990. Therefore, eggheads is probably one of the PIM pioneers at least in the German-speaking area. The mission of eggheads is to provide a professional multi-channel product communication platform based on standard software.
With the eggheads suite all information of a product can be managed which is necessary for its marketing. The product information is stored in the eggheads Suite independently of a sales channel and can be channel-specific enriched — once collected, it can be used unlimitedly in different channels: e-commerce, website, online newsletter etc. The tangible benefit for companies is that the lead times for product information are considerably accelerated, the data quality increases significantly and therefore products are available faster in e-commerce applications.
The innovative data hub of the eggheads suite, the Content Hub, is based on a new technology stack and is capable of exchanging product data and content between different IT systems and webshops or electronic marketplaces with high performance. Even under high load of inquiries from the shop systems, the Content Hub is able to provide segmented and personalized information to answer product inquiries for webshop systems and to deliver them to the electronic marketplaces.
External classification systems like eCl@ass and ETIM are supported. In addition, eggheads offers an integrated DAM, which enables functions like photo tagging and the display of photo resolution and size in the right channel formats. Using an export configurator it is possible to configure any rejections/channels for all relevant touchpoints without any programming knowledge. Freely definable “Quality Gates” can be used to determine the minimum data quality that a data set must meet in order to be exported. If required, this setting can be configured individually for each sales channel.
eggheads offers another special feature: The print module. Among others it is used by TUI and DER Touristik to create the well-known travel catalogues. It has a WYSIWYG editor for editing print templates which can then be used to automatically generate print artifacts. Optionally, pages can be exported to a standard Desktop Publishing Program (Adobe InDesign or QuarkXPress) for further processing.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Fully integrated and highly dynamic print engine that supports all conceivable print processes, from highly automated to manual
- The eggheads Suite also offers the possibility to map completely generic data models
- Sophisticated and very detailed access and processing management based on rights and roles
- Freely definable quality gates to ensure optimum data quality
- Integrated media management (DAM) with access for external service providers
TARGET GROUP
With the eggheads Suite, eggheads addresses all sizes of companies from start-ups to large international corporations in all industries.
CUSTOMERS
The following companies, among others, use the eggheads Suite to manage their product data:
- FTI Tourism GmbH
- TUI Germany GmbH
- Christ jewellers and watchmakers since 1863 GmbH
- Wilo SE
- Koziol “ideasforfriends GmbH
Further information about eggheads can be found online at https://en.eggheads.net/.
RIVERSAND
Riversand offers a powerful PIM solution that allows you to go beyond the basics of product information management. The software enables you to create highly collaborative and efficient digital supply chains, reduce manual processes, get products to market faster and deliver exceptional customer experiences. The future-proof PIM maximizes the performance of product data and enables you to fast market introduction of products through intelligent automation.
The software helps you streamline communication with vendors and internal teams, ensuring that you deliver the right information to the right customer at the right time with customized recommendations. You can optimize assortment planning by combining brand, competitor, customer and seasonality data in one place. Through the use of multiple digital content management tools and out-of-the-box connectors for rapid content syndication to third-party platforms such as Amazon and Google Shopping, you can ensure rich and accurate product content, text, images, and video across all channels.
The Riversand platform is available in three versions with different functionality. This allows companies of any size and budget to start with an out-of-the-box PIM or MDM solution and move to a customizable option as their business grows.
Riversand takes a cloud-based approach with PIM, PXM and MDM with elastic scaling on one platform.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Quick integration of new products and their combination with the right digital assets
- Customised, high-quality product content and tailor-made recommendations
- Build a visible and collaborative digital supply chain by integrating and synchronizing information across multiple systems
- Data syndication for simple onboard data from multiple sources and syndication of that data to industry standard data pools and exchanges.
- Content production scaling to streamline the process of creating and managing digital assets
- Synchronize and merge product catalog
TARGET GROUP
Riversand addresses a very wide target group, from start-ups and smaller companies to large global corporations and is used in a wide range of industries.
CUSTOMERS
The following companies use Riversand PIM to manage their product data:
- Carrefour
- BAYER
- Saint Gobain
- tesa
- SONY
Further information about Riversand can be found online at www.riversand.com.
CENSHARE
censhare is a platform that enables the central management and global distribution of content, regardless of channel, touchpoint, language or customer expectations. In this respect, it is not a “classic” PIM, but rather an enterprise content management system with PIM and DAM functionalities that organizes content in a media-neutral manner and automates the related processes. The system can be used for the cross-media publication of content. Content, templates, layouts, structure and user accounts are stored and managed in a central database.
With censhare DAM you combine product master data with all relevant information and media for production and output through all channels. It enables you to combine master data, structures, logos, media and texts and update them across multiple systems. This enables you to maintain product information for presentation and publication in product flyers, online shops or digital and printed catalogues. The censhare approach provides flexible handling of products in any desired structure, complete with all content and resources.
With censhare DAM, all content processes can be integrated and automated output can be managed and controlled across all media. The software can work with external systems via interfaces, as well as transfer and consolidate product data from ERP systems and from Excel and CSV files. In this way, the various stakeholders can be connected to censhare to ensure transparent product management and error-free communication — regardless of channels, regions and languages. The tool enables you to manage all relevant product information and, if required, create hierarchies with product groups, families and variants. In addition to the three components Content Management, PIM and DAM, there are various add-on modules available that can be used, for example, to automate the production and pagination of print publications or connect external translation services.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Semantic database structure for optimum performance
- Integrated search engine for all content and metadata
- Comprehensive APIs for transferring and consolidating data from any third-party system
- Content-oriented collaboration with check-in/check-out function
- Management of files and metafiles within censhare on distributed file systems
- Domain administration with the possibility of assigning files and information to individual users and user groups
TARGET GROUP
With censhare’s approach to the use of digital assets, known as Universal Content Management, and the combination of Content Management, PIM and DAM, the software is particularly suitable for medium-sized and large companies that also want to use the website content as master data for a wide range of channels and usage scenarios.
CUSTOMERS
The following companies use censhare:
- vitra
- MIGROS
- REWE
- engine press stuttgart
- BMW
Further information on censhare can be found online at https://www.censhare.com/.
CONTENTSERV
Similar to censhare, CONTENTSERV also offers not only a PIM solution, but in the case of CONTENTSERV a so-called Product Experience Platform, which in principle can also be seen as a combination of CMS, PIM and DAM. The provider states that the Product Experience Platform can be used to tailor products, assortments and presentation to the needs of a specific audience and to suit the customer journey
The CONTENTSERV PIM brings together product information from different sources and helps to create the basis for multichannel product communication. The software is designed to meet growing customer demands, reduce time-to-market and achieve better business results in the face of increasing data quality management and marketing integration challenges. CONTENTSERV PIM is characterized by its ease of use, flexibility and scalability. The software can save time by consolidating data from different data pools, ERP systems, vendors and suppliers and integrating them through automated data onboarding.
The software helps to clean up product data through various features of the master data management and finally to create an optimal so-called Golden-Record for all relevant channels as master data master. In doing so, individual workflows for the editing or processing of product data can be defined very flexibly using an editor, the editing of product data can be controlled using an integrated task management and an intuitive user interface can be created to facilitate collaboration including release processes.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Centralized capturing and management of product data, digital assets, location data, supplier data etc. all in one central location.
- Creation and management of campaigns, promotions and events to address customer needs according to the persona, situation and corresponding channels.
- Integration of internal and external suppliers into business processes including separation of supplier data and core data
- Modeling of complex data structures
- Integrated workflow management including release processes through a BPM Workflow Manager
- Best possible content quality through rule-based classification, standardization, matching and linking
TARGET GROUP
With its approach of using digital assets and the combination of content management, PIM and DAM, which CONTENTSERV calls a Product Experience Platform, the software is particularly suitable for companies from the upper mid-sized sector, which also want to use the contents of the website as master data for various channels and usage scenarios.
CUSTOMERS
The following companies use CONTENTSERV:
- HIPP
- VARTA
- Edding
- ZF
- Lacoste
Further information about CONTENTSERV can be found online at https://www.contentserv.com/.
LOBSTER
Lobster offers three distinct software products: With Lobster_data you transfer your data directly into a specified target system. The principle of “configure instead of program” applies here. The tool supports all common industry and data formats. Lobster_scm creates transparency in heterogeneous supply chains and facilitates the connection of almost any data source.
Last but not least, Lobster_pim merges all required sub-information from the ERP system, the supplier catalogues, any peripheral systems (such as PDM/CAD, logistics) and legacy data. The configurable standard software includes an integrated data management, which saves costs and reduces sources of error. The software suite is available either as an in-house solution or as a cloud-based version.
Enterprises that operate on an international scale require their product data in multiple languages. Lobster PIM therefore has a high-performance translator. Also information regarding various specifications, security regulations and similar can be stored in Lobster PIM.
The module “graphical page pre-planning” in Lobster PIM lets product managers pre-select their products and arrange them on a virtual catalogue page. Finally, the raw layout receives the visual finishing touches from the graphic designer. Different data structures can be mapped and linked using the module, so that information can be structured and retrieved as required. This facilitates efficient use of the stored product data in various languages when producing catalogues.
The bi-directional SOAP interface priint:comet enables you to connect Lobster PIM with the InDesign plug-in “Comet”. As a result, you have classic database publishing functions for the automated creation of InDesign documents, which can be adapted and modified later on.
Finely aligned permission management, which extends down to the attribute level, ensures that each employee only works on those tasks which are relevant to them.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Any classification and characteristics of products, copies, variants, inheritance via Publication trees
- Simple output to the media: print, web, shop, mobile
- Easy handling of languages (cultures), currencies and markets
- Graphical product preplanning on work pages according to key figures
- Support of various DAM systems: e.g. Pixelboxx, Celum, SIXOmcetc.
- LIVE support of InDesign with priint.comet or high-end PDF renderer DocScape.
TARGET GROUP
Lobster PIM is primarily intended for medium-sized companies in the retail industry. The product information management system combines local and online trading to ensure cross-channel management.
CUSTOMERS
The following companies use Lobster:
- SONAX
- Loacker
- PUMA
- Torch Man
- thyssenkrupp
Further information about Lobster can be found online at https://www.lobster-world.com/.
STIBO
Stibo Systems STEP is a multi-domain master data management platform developed specifically to support strategic business strategies for your company. Stibo Systems’ multi-domain master data solution integrates, manages and shares data from numerous internal and external sources, acting as a central hub for high-quality data. The data enriched and validated by the solutions can then be distributed to the various business systems whose performance and reliability benefit from this accurate, real-time data.
The Stibo platform consolidates master data from different domains into an ultra-reliable database, enabling you to optimize your business processes and customer-oriented channels. In this way, data from all systems, applications and business areas can be seamlessly integrated, guaranteeing continuously correct, high-quality data and comprehensive data transparency regarding customers, products, locations and much more.
This clearly exceeds the benefits that traditional master data or PIM solutions can offer. In addition, it enables the creation of a centralized digital business hub that captures data only once and shares it across the enterprise to improve decision-making and achieve the desired results.
Stibo Systems’ cross-domain solution enables companies to create a single source for their master data instead of keeping their (product) information scattered and isolated throughout the company. Consequently, the result is trustworthy and valid data that can be automatically shared with all relevant systems and individuals.
The characteristics and capabilities of STEP encompass data modelling, governance, stewardship, business process management, data maintenance, integration, adaptability and security. In addition, the solution is architectured to be future-proof and flexible to meet potential data requirements.
With highly configurable data models that can be easily adapted to your data requirements and systems, the solution is future proof. With STEP, even complex domain data models can be quickly configured, data can be normalized over multiple data models, and changes and updates can be made configuratively without programming or downtime.
With its STEP platform, Stibo Systems provides an excellent integration especially for large data volumes with sophisticated format options. Integrated back-end applications allow information data to be used automatically throughout the supply chain through configurable workflows.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Manage every aspect of every master record, including hierarchy, structure, validations, approvals, versioning and enrichment of master data.
- Consolidating data from different origins and formats while deriving appropriate metadata
- User role-based configuration for workflows, business rules and data modeling
- Configure business processes for creation, maintenance, approval and Publication of content.
- Assignment of best practice workflows to roles and permissions.
TARGET GROUP
Stibo Systems’ master data management platform addresses medium-sized and in particular larger enterprises and groups from a wide range of industries with both complex product structures and corresponding IT infrastructures.
CUSTOMERS
The following companies use Stibo Systems:
- SONY
- Kellog’s
- adidas
- Toyota
- Siemens
Further information about Stibo Systems can be found online at https://www.stibosystems.com/.
INRIVER
The inRiver platform consists of four core applications: The supply application allows easy access to product data from external sources such as ERP, PLM or other third party systems. You can add, manage and control your incoming information and interfaces.
With the enrich application, you can create best-in-class product descriptions, manage your media files, and define how your product content is presented. It allows you to work as a team and create extensive and consistent product stories with high conversion rates.
The Plan & Release application allows you to use your product information at every touchpoint with the customer. With this application you can manage, optimize and plan content for specific channel requirements.
With the Publish application, you publish your high-quality, enriched product information to any distribution channel (e-commerce, print catalog, e-catalog, in-store signage, etc.). Once published, the information can easily be changed centrally and the information can easily be updated across all channels.
inRiver utilizes a scalable SaaS architecture, allowing you to begin small and still have the freedom to grow as you wish. inRiver therefore adjusts to peak usage demands in order to meet your business needs.
Open programming interfaces allow you to connect all external systems such as CMS, e-commerce solution, PLM system or your ERP application. A flexible data model ensures the greatest possible future and investment security.
Various add-ons allow inRiver to be adapted to the respective needs and requirements and expanded accordingly. The Supplier Onboarding is used to set up, validate and manage the import data flow and resources of suppliers. With the Content Store, product ranges can be made viewable and downloadable by all external and internal users. With the Contribute Add-On, you enable your suppliers and vendors to upload, manage and enrich their own product content.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Holistic view on all product marketing activities to achieve better coordination and better results.
- Providing high quality supplier data through an corresponding supplier portal
- Insights into the performance of the different sales channels and what content leads to a better customer experience
- Increase conversion rates and average order value through automated cross-sell and up-sell activities and rule-based intelligence.
- Syndication of product content based on specifications from retailers and Online marketplaces.
TARGET GROUP
inRiver is used by various enterprises — both medium-sized and large companies — and in different constellations both in trade and production.
CUSTOMERS
The following companies use inRiver:
- BROWN
- Office Depot
- LÓreal
- Carrier
- Fujifilm
Further information about inRiver can be found online at https://www.inriver.com/.
THE PERFECT PIM SYSTEM…
… from our point of view hardly exists, because it considers a multitude of different parameters with possible costs being only one criterion. Due to the wide variety of requirements and circumstances, a System X can be a perfect match in one case, while the same system does not fit at all with another customer. In general one should do not make the decision for a system right at the beginning of a PIM project.
If one cannot or does not want to take enough time for an evaluation oneself, one should fall back on the experience of specialized service providers and be accompanied during the selection process and also during the implementation.
By the way, TechDivision has many years of experience in PIM, a team of experts and can support you in choosing the right technologies, the right service provider but also in the implementation, if Akeneo proves to be a suitable solution.
