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Do Manufacturers and Retailers have Different Product Information Management Needs?
The short answer is yes. While both manufacturers and retailers use PIM systems to manage product information, their specific needs and focuses differ significantly. Manufacturers prioritize technical accuracy, compliance, and product lifecycle management, while retailers focus on consumer-facing content, multichannel distribution, and catalog consistency.
Manufacturers deal with highly technical and detailed product information, including specifications, bill of materials, component lists, certifications, and compliance documentation.
On the other hand, Product Information Management for retail might focus more on consumer-facing attributes like pricing, marketing descriptions, and images, the manufacturing PIM needs to handle more technical and granular data.
Can Manufacturers Do Without PIM?
Generally, they cannot. Without a central repository for all their product information and the central source of truth, manufacturers will get stuck with multiple spreadsheets, documents, or software applications to handle their product data. The results are obvious: data duplication, inconsistency, and more errors.
Even we take small manufacturers with limited product lines, they most like aim for feature scaling which will be much more achievable with the help of PIM. Moreover, despite the limited production, these manufacturers can sell their products on multiple marketplaces and e-commerce platforms. So with a PIM software, they can update data only once and be sure that this data is consistent everywhere.
After all, like the quality of the manufactured good itself, quality product data is what makes the manufacturer stand and win the competition.
Therefore unless you are planning to stay a local niche producer forever or create made-to-order products, you will have to integrate the PM software at some point.
How to Choose Your Best PIM as a Manufacturer
What PIM Features Should Manufacturers Look For?
When in search of the most suitable Product Information Management (PIM) system for their business, manufacturers should take a personalized approach. With that being said, most manufacturers do need to manage complex product data, ensure regulatory compliance, and integrate with other systems in their workflow. Here are key features manufacturers should consider:
| Features to Look For | Why This Is Important |
|---|---|
| Support for Complex Product Structures | PIM systems for manufacturers should handle detailed and hierarchical data structures, including Bills of Materials (BOM), product variants, and configurations. |
| Customizable Attributes | Manufacturers can define and manage product attributes specific to their industry and products. |
| Version Tracking | The PIM system can track changes and manage different versions of product data, including historical data, maintaining an accurate record over time. |
| Seamless Data Integration | The PIM system integrates with existing PLM, ERP, and CAD systems to ensure consistent and accurate data across all platforms, streamlining operations and reducing errors. |
| APIs and Connectors | APIs or pre-built connectors facilitate easy integration with other enterprise systems, crucial for connecting the PIM with various tools and platforms used in manufacturing. |
| Regulatory Compliance | Tools within the PIM manage and distribute regulatory documents, safety data sheets (SDS), and certifications, ensuring products meet industry standards and legal requirements. |
| Documentation Storage | A centralized repository stores and provides access to technical documentation, manuals, and compliance certificates, simplifying document management and retrieval. |
| Audit Trails | The PIM provides detailed logs of data changes and user actions, which results in accountability and traceability in managing product information. |
The Integration Needs of Manufacturers
Manufacturers typically require their PIM system to integrate with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) systems to ensure data consistency across platforms. Without these integrations, manufacturers risk data silos, inefficiencies, and errors that could impact product quality and time-to-market.
While most modern PIM systems typically offer such integrations with third-party systems, the extent and quality of these integrations can vary significantly between PIM solutions.
Standard vs. Custom Integrations
Some PIM systems come with out-of-the-box integrations for PLM, ERP, and CAD systems, while others require custom development. To make sure, certain PIM is your perfect fit eview the PIM vendor’s documentation and request a demo to see if the system’s integrations align with your specific requirements.
Data Update Frequency
Not all PIM systems offer real-time synchronization. Oftentimes update delays can affect decision-making. To be on the safe side, ask the vendor for real-time synchronization capabilities and test them during a trial period or demo.
System Compatibility
This it also critical to ensure the PIM system works with your specific PLM, ERP, and CAD systems. To do so, request a compatibility matrix from the PIM vendor or consult with your IT team to verify compatibility with your existing software. The crucial thing to check it is to look for appropriate integrations or connectors offered by a specific PIM provider. For example, AtroPIM offers customized integrations with multiple ERP systems, marketplaces and e-commerce platforms.
AtroPIM is an excellent solution for manufacturers, offering highly customizable and scalable PIM options that can be deployed both on-cloud and on-premise. It is capable of storing, enriching, and syndicating even the most intricate product data.
