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Let’s start with a PIM software definition. PIM (product information management) software refers to product information management. This essential technology is tailored to centralize, manage, maintain, and distribute information about products. While it plays a pivotal role in modern ecommerce, any data management process needs specific software.
Any PIM tool must be able to store all product-related information, import and export data, and analyze data efficiently. The solution capabilities may vary depending on the vendor, but all of them are aimed at product data management.
The PIM market grows continuously: last year, it was valued at USD 12.8 billion. Analysts expect it to reach USD 45 billion by the next five years ¹.
While being an essential part of a system, PIM may turn out to be the software hard to choose. In this article, we will analyze the best PIM software solutions and find out how to choose them correctly.
PIM software helps businesses to process all product data. It includes collection, management, enrichment, and distribution. Standardly, PIM software features the following capabilities:
The PIM software itself has a transformative impact on businesses, providing many benefits of handling product data. Here, we list some of such benefits:
Among all the modern popular PIM products, we can highlight some that provide the most efficiency and work well with modern ecommerce systems. All of the provided examples can be integrated into API-based ecommerce platforms and enhance each other. Please see the ecommerce PIM software examples and comparison below.
Pimcore is an open-source PIM solution that embraces all the necessary features, including content management and ecommerce capabilities alongside product information management.
Being open-source, the core platform is free, but enterprise-level features and support come at a cost. It is suitable for businesses of all sizes and easily integrates with any ecommerce platform and CRM.
Pimcore pros:
Pimcore cons:
This cloud-based PIM solution provides enriched product content and digital assets. It also features some ecommerce capabilities; however, the solution is tailored to integrate with ecommerce but not to substitute it.
The pricing model is based on subscriptions. The cost depends on the particular project, so you had better request this info from the vendor. Fits well in the retail, food, and FMCG industries.
Syndigo pros:
Syndigo cons:
This is a robust provider of data management services. The software offers detailed product content solutions and might be more niche compared to other ones.
The starting price is $450.00 per month. The solution is most suitable for distributors in specific industries looking to centralize and enhance their product data. Great fit for small and medium businesses.
Plytix pros:
Plytix cons:
This cloud-based SaaS solution manages distributed product data from a single space. The key idea of the software is to centralize and categorize product information.
The solution costs 890 euros per month; it is subscription-based, so you can prolong or stop it at any moment. Good fit for businesses of all sizes.
Quable pros:
Quable cons:
A SaaS system ready to manage all product info. Features free setup, easy training, and quick support. It is tailored to integrate with Magento, WooCommerce, and Shopify.
As for the pricing, the minimum solution fee is 900 pounds monthly. It’s an excellent fit for all kinds of businesses but offers many enterprise features.
OneTimePIM pros:
OneTimePIM cons:
This is a comprehensive PIM+ERP solution. A strong modern software for enterprises and middle-sized businesses. Ready to organize many bulk operations and support features inheritance.
The pricing model is per feature. It starts at 390 euros but can be easily enhanced modularly.
Pimics pros:
Pimics cons:
Censhare is an omnichannel solution that is mostly tailored to create digital content, collecting and managing data at the same time. The strong side is the capability to integrate several systems with different interfaces into one.
The pricing is a bit higher — USD 1,000 per month. Mostly oriented to small enterprises, the solution fits everyone who needs good marketing
censhare pros:
censhare cons:
Min. pricing
|
Type of business
|
Integrations
|
UI/UX
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Pimcore | USD 700 per month | Enterprises | Yes | Offers mobile optimization, supports a black and white theme |
Syndigo | Custom | All kinds | Yes | Mobile-friendly, potentially supports a monochromatic theme |
Plytix | USD 450 per month | Middle-size | Yes | Optimized for mobile devices, may have a black and white theme option, and is tailored for ease of use |
Quable PIM | USD 950 per month | All kinds | Yes | Ensures mobile accessibility, might feature a black and white theme |
OneTimePIM | USD 1,120 per month | All kinds | Yes | A mobile-optimized interface, monochromatic is poor |
Pimics | USD 420 per feature | Enterprises/Middle-size | Yes | Mobile support, but poor monochromatic functionality |
censhare | USD 1,000 per month | Mostly small | Yes | Is built for mobile responsiveness, could feature a black and white theme |
If you do not have a PIM (product information management) software yet or are planning to replatform, it’s your chance to make the right choice. Here, we collected some tips on assessing your business needs and choosing a solution efficiently.
Just the same as choosing a B2B ecommerce platform, the first step to take is assessing your business needs.
PIM software plays a crucial role in building a comprehensive ecommerce. It provides a centralized hub for storing, managing, and updating data, ensuring that all sales channels use a consistent source of information. Another point PIMs contribute to is sales. Many ecommerce businesses do more than just simple website sales: they may be present on marketplaces, social media channels, or offline. PIM aims to ensure consistent product data presentation across all these channels. Finally, it streamlines product launches, making onboarding easier and allowing e-commerce businesses to react quickly to market changes or trends.
Specific features and functionalities that PIM products should provide for ecommerce:
When PIM tool offers all these capabilities and the company uses them, it is easy not only to enhance data processing but also to build transparent operations. It is also about enhanced consistency, reduced operational costs, and improved outer visibility of products.
As we said, the most important part is customer experience and loyalty. Well-chosen PIM solution also contributes to this: quick updates on product listings or introducing new products in response to market trends are always good practice. Accurate product information means customers are less likely to return products due to misunderstandings or incorrect expectations.
Ecommerce businesses have unique challenges due to the sheer volume of product data they manage and the need for real-time accuracy and consistency across platforms. PIM software addresses these challenges, offering a comprehensive solution that enhances both operational efficiency and the customer experience.
Besides customer loyalty, another exceptionally important thing to consider is innovations. And innovations are closely bonded with the risk of disruption. We have already discussed this important topic in another article.
How to avoid the risk of disruption and enhance your innovation readiness? The answer is purchasing all the customizable and flexible software.
Customizable doesn’t always mean open-source, but while some companies using SaaS “black box” solutions try to encourage their vendor to adopt new features, the ones preferring open-source software to develop new features and introduce innovations faster and more efficiently.
Advantages of open-source PIM products:
While open-source PIM solutions provide various benefits, it's essential for businesses to evaluate their specific needs, technical capabilities, and the total cost of ownership (including potential customization and maintenance costs) when deciding on a solution.
Many businesses, especially those that start their ecommerce journey right now, are not ready to pay a lot for PIM software. And most of the business owners would like to start with something cheap or even free. Free PIMs are not perfect and mostly fit beginners, but they also can offer their own benefits:
And, of course, businesses worry if something free is really good. And for a reason: free solutions can offer limited feature sets, be not good enough for quick scaling and innovations, and much more. Here are the most popular considerations why businesses do not choose free PIM tool:
The good news is that when you integrate your free PIM into a well-architected ecommerce software like Virto Commerce, there is nothing to worry about. In this case, the scalability part is on the side of ecommerce. At the same time, other points of consideration can be quickly resolved with the PIM vendor or covered by ecommerce platform capabilities if something goes wrong.
Here are three popular PIM software that can be used for free. But be careful: always ask if there are any hidden costs and if you can easily integrate it with ecommerce systems.
1. Akeneo. This is a free PIM with a relatively intuitive UI. It offers open-source architecture and can even be extended. The solution has a strong community and is a great fit for starting using PIMs.
Considerations: as it is free, it might sometimes lack performance, especially with a large number of SKUs. While being free itself, it requires some budget to engage with a developer or someone with technical know-how. Best for medium-sized businesses looking to scale, those with development resources and some budget.
2. Pimcore. Beyond PIM, Pimcore offers CMS, DAM, and e-commerce functionalities. It is highly flexible and customizable and is easy to use.
Considerations: because of its vast functionalities, it might be overwhelming for newcomers and requires a good hosting environment to process the large number of products. This one, however, is good for enterprises or businesses looking for more than just a PIM.
3. OpenPIM. This solution is simpler than many other PIM solutions. It offers easy import from spreadsheets and more, providing all the needed PIM capabilities.
Considerations: The solution lacks the features of more mature PIM solutions. It’s the best fit for small businesses or startups just stepping into the PIM world.
All in all, free PIM software can be a boon for small businesses or startups with limited budgets. However, as businesses scale or their needs become more complex, they might need to look towards premium solutions or invest in customizing the free software. It's crucial to consider the immediate costs, long-term implications, and innovations when selecting a PIM solution.
When choosing your perfect PIM solution, do not forget to analyze what your company needs, if the innovation curve is important for you, and how you are going to use it.
The important consideration is the ability of the PIM software to integrate with your existing ecommerce. For example, although Virto B2B Ecommerce Platform does not have its own CMS, CRM, or PIM product lines, it can easily integrate it. So, if your PIM solution supports APIs, Virto Commerce can help you with processing all the product data.
However, starting with PIM instead of choosing a B2B ecommerce platform might be a bad idea. Anyway, the PIM solution must be connected to other systems in your organization. And the best way to do it is to connect all your software to one ecommerce platform. If you are still unsure what to choose, contact our team for consultation.
Useful links:
The PIM market grows continuously: last year, it was valued at USD 12.8 billion. Analysts expect it to reach USD 45 billion by the next five years.
No, PIM (Product Information Management) and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) are totally different systems with distinct purposes: