Product Information Management Software |
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About Product Information Management Software
Product information management (PIM) provides a common, central repository to manage all types of information about finished products. It integrates with back office systems and provides additional workflow management.
In the supply chain, product information management plays a central role. It ensures that both buyers and sellers receive good product content. Without PIM software customers may not find what they need (because the data doesn’t exist), and suppliers and manufacturers may lose their sale due to bad product content.
PIM software system benefits
- data validation at 'point of data entry'
- centrally controlled business processes for data maintenance
- systemized approval workflows for data governance
PLM software & PIM software
Lately, diverse groups have been discussing PIM from the perspective of data synchronization and syndication, product lifecycle management (PLM), and enterprise publishing. Each of these product categories includes the management of product information, but each uses product information for a different operational role.
PIM and PLM have different origins and were designed for different purposes. PIM originated from the need to optimize distribution channels by supplying them with the most current information on products and promotions. PLM, on the other hand, grew from the need to make better products through better management of engineering and design information around the manufacturing process.
Below we listed some of the most important differences between PIM and PLM software.
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PIM
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PLM
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Goal
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Optimize sales channels. PIM automates the
processes needed to deliver product information to
distribution channel partners.
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Deliver more profitable products. PLM
automates the processes that bring a product to market,
reduce product costs, increase collaboration, and improve
product quality.
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Original Business Need
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Grew from a sales need to supply
distribution partners with better product information.
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Grew from an engineering need to better
manage product designs and specifications.
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Technical Origin
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Catalog focused, but includes EAI
components; XML publishing.
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EEngineering-focused, includes CAD and PDM;
marketing-focused, includes project management and portfolio
management.
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Leading Vendors
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Best-of-breed PIM vendors.
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BBest-of-breed PLM vendors, some ERP suite
providers.
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Evolutionary Path
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Data synch > catalog
> integration > workflow >
syndication and synchronization to a
variety of targets.
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Product data management > collaborative
product data management with separate project and portfolio
management, integrated PLM.
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