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In this article, we are going to discuss why businesses need PIM software.

Product Information Management

Companies have now realized the importance of managing their product information, but are unsure of how to do it effectively. Marketing managers and digital content personnel are aware that important information is spread across multiple departments in silos. Spreadsheets with hundreds of columns may be used to store attribute data, and hundreds of Word documents or InDesign files are often used to create product datasheets.

The InDesign/PDF version of a company's catalogue is usually the main instrument for the marketing department. The marketing and technical teams may have spent months or years preparing it and verifying every page. When they reach the final version that everyone has contributed to, and contains the corrections for all the specifications, they find that the best data in the company is locked inside the InDesign document and PDF, and not available to anyone else!

Furthermore, the website likely gets its data from another file stored on the server. This is yet another file with hundreds of columns that must be updated with the same data. Companies often synchronize data from many sources, such as Word documents for datasheets and features, InDesign files for brochures and catalogues, CSV files for the website, and Excel spreadsheets for the technical team.

Product Image Storage

Product images are typically spread across the company with different sizes, formats, and locations. Requests for images come in from wholesalers or retail partners, and staff may have to solve the same problem again every time. Meeting one customer's requirements only for a similar request to come in a few weeks later and having to repeat the process.

Keeping on top of Information and Image Management

There is a limit to what staff can do to keep all these different data sources synchronized. This synchronization is almost impossible without a Product Information Management (PIM) system built for this purpose. A system is needed that allows everyone in the company to work together on a common platform so that product information and images are only entered once. OneTimePIM's flexible permissions settings will enable easy collaboration across teams and manage workflows.

If the right system is implemented at the source, a range of benefits will flow through the company. Staff will have more time, wholesale and retail customers will be happier, and fewer mistakes in product data will help increase sales. By removing the friction of managing data from disparate sources, staff can focus more clearly on their respective roles in marketing or product development. Wholesalers and retail partners will appreciate that great images and product information will help them promote products and increase sales. Web design partners will be happier because they will have APIs with direct access to the primary data source that is always kept up to date.

Becoming More Competitive

The PIM system will be at the heart of the company. If it works well, it should become almost invisible. It should just work – reliably, securely, and easily. Staff can get their work done without worrying about it. Anxiety, frustration, and tensions associated with managing product information will disappear. A data change can be made knowing that the website, catalogue, brochures, datasheets, and partner data feeds are all being updated automatically.