The management of product information has been around for a very long time and has existed in several different forms. And now, we have it as Product information management PIM.
So although PIM is a relatively recent trend, a number of its core features are not. And due to the brevity of its existence around here, there have been more than a couple of misconceptions about the idea of PIM.
Below, I’ll be making a list of five myths that top the list of popular myths about the Product Information Management system.
PIM Myths
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Myth 1: PIM is not a business-user tool; it is more for IT personnel.
Often, people say that PIM systems have a techie outlook and seem too complicated for business managers. Whereas, it is in the real sense, an initiative driven by business needs. It got modeled for trained marketing, sales, and merchandising personnel.
Users who do not fall into this category might find it challenging to run. It is more of a marketing tool than an IT tool. So only little technical knowledge is required to run the tool.
So discard the myth that PIM is a tool for tech people. It is fundamentally a business-user tool created to aid sales and marketing processes by providing relevant and high-quality content.
Hence, you do not need any form of knowledge in coding or any IT-related training to run a PIM system successfully.
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Myth 2: PIM is an expensive software
This statement would have been correct if we backtracked time by a decade, but now, it is only a myth.
In the present time, PIM is no longer the expensive software it used to be. With numerous PIM options in the market, the chances are that you’ll find several systems that will match your budget.
There are even open-source, free options that are customizable. Although most of them do not have features that match every kind of product information management need, they will suffice for some essential.
So desist from joining the bandwagon of people that believe that securing a PIM system involves lots of cash.
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Myth 3: PIM is for large enterprises only
Yes! I hear this a lot too, and I just wonder how people come up with such conclusions.
PIM is not just for large companies; in fact, it is advisable to start using a PIM solution when there are still few data to be sorted and managed.
The need for data management software is no longer dependent on the SKU count. Product portfolios are now more complicated than they used to be. So regardless of the SKU count, a PIM solution is required to maintain single truth and aid scalability for small and medium companies.
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Myth 4: Although it takes so much time to fix, PIM is a one-time project.
First and foremost, the implementation of a PIM system is not a one-time thing. Being a program that continually monitors and manages changing data, it requires management itself. The efficiency of the system is dependent on technology, as much as it is on excellent human skills and excellence-driven maintenance processes. Once in the PIM, the data requires inputs like sound governance and process management.
Regarding the time taken to set up the system, this is no big deal as the newer PIM options are now modeled to incorporate more easy-to-use, and user-friendly features that aid quick implementation without requiring prior training.
Now, you can get your PIM system fully installed in a few days. You just need to check out the implementation guide, and you are good to go.
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Myth 5: PIM is just like every other Data management software like PLM, PCM, or MDM.
There is no disputing the fact that there are quite a number of different, but same data management options in the market, but this does not reduce the fact that they are not all the same. It is safer to view them as being complementary rather than being the same.
The need to simplify data management processes and make provisions for each method is what has birthed the existence of severity in options. For instance, PLM as a management system deals in product innovation, MDM facilitates the management of corporate data put out across multiple domains, and PIM which sources data from both management systems focuses on the sourcing, management, distribution, and update of product data. And it does even much more.
PCM, another data management system, uses data gotten from PIM for the enrichment of existing data. So it is easy to tell that these management systems are different considering the dependability in their operation.
PIM is a very important variant of data management and cannot be replaced by either of the above-listed management options. It sources, aggregates, enriches, and manages product data for multiple distribution channels.
Related Product Information Management (PIM), DAM and MDM Links
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