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Product Information Management or PIM refers to the providing of product
information for use in one or more output media and/or distribution channels,
potentially involving multiple geographic locations. PIM relies on
media-independent, multi-lingual administration, maintenance and modification of
product information within a centralized catalog to provide consistently
accurate information via any channel without prohibitive cost in terms of
resources.
The now common practice of maintaining and utilizing data creates the need for
product information management, as information kept by businesses is frequently
scattered throughout disparate departments and held by certain employees instead
of being bundled centrally – such as within R&D or Sales departments and
inventory management systems. Data are saved in various different formats or are
only available in hardcopy form. Information is utilized in varying environments
and contexts such as for detailed product descriptions with pricing info in
product catalogs or for size and weight data for calculating freight costs in a
logistics department. PIM in this example represents a solution for centralized,
media-independent data maintenance for providing purchasing, production and
communications data for repeated use on/in multiple IT systems, languages,
output media and publications. It also provides a solution for efficient data
collection, management, refinement and output. A new development in this area is
the development of open catalog, which can be defined here as a PIM under the
open content license agreement.
Synonyms and related terms
The term PIM has only just recently come into currency, thus one finds a number
of other terms that are similar or synonymous in meaning, usually deriving from
other fields. These include:
PDM – Product Data Management derives from the concept of Engineering Data
Management (EDM), denoting systems for the effective management of product
development data and the coordination of manufacturing-related processes. The
term is used primarily in the field of Computer-Aided Design (CAD).
PRM – Product Resource Management is used by some software providers as a
synonym for PIM (Product Information Management), as well as Product Content
Management (PCM), mainly popular as a term in England and France.
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) refers more to a management strategy than to
a specific IT technology, the goal of which is to optimize product life cycles
through the gathering and analysis of product data generated over time.
Media Asset Management (MAM) refers to the management of unstructured multimedia
objects such as images, graphics and presentations as well as ‘meta-information’
(data about data). The term is used primarily in the media business.
Cross Media Publishing (CMP) comes from the print and advertising industries,
referring to the coordinated use of multiple media in complementary fashion. It
also denotes the repeat usage of individual structural elements such as text,
images or graphics within different media.
product catalog management
Link with Enterprise Content Management
Enterprise Content Management is a term encompassing technologies, methods and
tools used for gathering, imaging, storing, archiving and providing electronic
content. Distinction can be made between four separate sub-areas. Document
Management Systems (DMS) are deployed for archiving, and PDM involves the
management of structured, technical data for such applications as parts diagrams
and lists. Content Management Systems (CMS) are more commercially-oriented and
provide a framework for knowledge management or informational service offerings
through the management of unstructured, document-type content. PIM systems are
used to manage structured data in a business context for feeding into any kind
of distribution channel, from electronic catalogs to online shops to print
catalogs.
Technological basis of Product Information Management (PIM)
PIM systems consolidate all product information onto a single platform. In terms
of company IT infrastructure, this means having a PIM platform running over
alongside a classic Oracle or open-source database such as MySQL with a J2EE
application server, and/or xml based exchange of product information (e.g, using
the Open ICEcat format). This forms a foundation upon which to build sales and
procurement business processes. With PIM solutions, access and user
authorizations for all database information, ordering processes linked with such
inventory management systems as SAP and the mechanisms for modular expansions
are managed via a web-based administration interface.
Current PIM applications
Electronic catalogs
Procurement systems and platforms such as online marketplaces are based upon
electronic catalogs. PIM systems can load descriptive product information as
content into a catalog management solution, where products are grouped and
managed for specific target markets. Data exchange interface standards such as
Open ICEcat, BMEcat and OCI allow seamless interchange of electronic catalogs
between vendors on the one hand and purchasing firms and marketplace operators
on the other. Procurement solutions are closely related, which automate the
procurement process for purchasing goods and services. These create transparency
for the product data of multiple vendors to support the centralized management
of multi-supplier catalogs and facilitate price and quality research.
Website / webshop content
Centralized data management is particularly well-suited for company websites, as
documents, content and media objects such as product images can be linked with
other business objects such as customers or products. An e-commerce component
manages the ordering process and the online presentation of dynamic content. The
solution has to integrate seamlessly into inventory management and logistics
systems in order to provide real cost savings.
Product catalog
Centrally maintained data can also be accessed for print or CD catalogs and
websites. The publishing component of an e-business solution creates pooled
data, making it possible to save and manage catalog content in a
media-independent manner. The better the layout and output capabilities of the
associated desktop publishing program, the more catalog production can be
automated.
The market for PIM solutions
PIM is still a young market segment. It only started gaining broader attention
among customers in the second half of 2004, as market analysts and the media
began taking a closer look at this type of solution.
PIM solutions are most relevant for use by medium to large-sized firms in
retailing, consumer goods and manufacturing. The following are the primary
considerations in opting for a PIM solution:
wide array of products
frequently changing product characteristics
non-uniform IT infrastructure (potentially resulting from merger activity)
successful online business
customer pressure to offer electronic ordering
PIM becomes strategically necessary when major customers start demanding that
new data sharing standards (such as global data synchronization) be supported,
in conjunction with an international expansion strategy. The effective
consolidation of product information and reconfiguration of processes built
thereupon is however critical for a successful strategic business outcome. A
distributor of catalogs, for example, looking to expand into five new countries
without having to realign its catalog production processes will probably be
unable to execute on such a strategy.
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