New PIM Guide: Smart, Modular and Scalable

Managing product information is no longer just a need, It's a competitive advantage. Companies from all sectors seek to optimize how they create, update and distribute their data across multiple channels.

An intelligent, modular and scalable PIM makes it possible to structure this information efficiently. Its flexibility makes it easy to integrate with new technologies, adapt to regulations and automate processes.

In this guide, we analyze the keys to the new PIM. We examined its impact on the operational efficiency, sustainability and decision-making. In addition, we review trends and best practices for effective implementation.

What is the new PIM

Product Information Management (PIM) has ceased to be just a tool for organizing data. Today, its role is key in digital strategy, guaranteeing accurate, enriched information adapted to new market requirements.

Three key factors are redefining PIM:

• Cloud scalability: It facilitates integration with multiple channels and supports growth without affecting performance.
• Modularity: It allows you to customize and adjust the system according to business needs.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): It automates data management and optimizes the customer experience.

These changes are not just trends, they are changing the way companies manage their product data, which diversifies their applications in sectors such as retail, manufacturing and healthcare.

Later, we'll see how each one plays an indispensable role in business adaptation, growth, and efficiency.

What does it mean for a PIM to be scalable

A scalable PIM grows with the company without the need for constant changes.

It allows you to manage more products, categories and channels without affecting performance. It also easily integrates with other systems, optimizing processes and speeding up the response to new demands.

Benefits of a scalable PIM

• Grow with the business without interruption.
• It reduces dependence on the IT team.
• It makes it easy to integrate with other platforms.
• It improves efficiency and response to the market.

In short, a scalable PIM not only optimizes product management today, but it ensures that the company can continue to evolve without obstacles.

What does it mean for a PIM to be modular

Un PIM with modular architecture refers to a system that grows and adapts without friction.

Modular systems allow each company to choose the components it needs. It is not a rigid system, but rather a set of modules that can be added or modified without affecting overall operation.

This approach makes it possible to easily integrate the PIM with other systems, ensuring efficient management of product information across multiple channels.

To ensure this integration, modern PIMs adopt two key principles:

• The API-first approach, which prioritizes connectivity with other systems through APIs, allowing smooth integration and real-time data synchronization.
• The composable commerce model, which offers a flexible architecture where each company chooses and integrates only the modules it needs, optimizing costs and adaptability.

This approach allows the PIM to better fit the needs of the business and to grow unhindered.

Key benefits

• Easy integration: It connects seamlessly with ERP, CRM, eCommerce and marketplaces.
• Limitless scalability: It allows you to add new functions without modifying the entire system.
• Total adaptability: It adjusts to market changes without affecting performance.
• Operational Efficiency: It reduces costs by using only the necessary modules.

With this model, the PIM evolves together with the company, ensuring agile and effective product management.

AI in the PIM: more efficiency and better data

La artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into more and more tools, and the PIM is no exception.

Its integration optimizes lengthy and manual processes, turning them into an even more valuable asset for product information management.

Previously, managing product data required repetitive and error-prone tasks, such as removing duplicates, correcting inconsistencies, and standardizing formats. Now, the AI automates these actions, ensuring accurate, consistent and adaptable information to different channels.

Data automation

AI makes it easy to manage the volume of product data by:

• Clear data automatically: removes duplicates, corrects errors and normalizes formats.
• Validate information: Verifies that the data complies with standards and regulations.
• Standardize supplier data: Automatically adapts formats, attributes, and SKUs.
• Enrich information: Generate product attributes based on trends and previous descriptions.

Generating content with AI

Generative AI helps create and adapt content for different markets and channels:

• Automatic descriptions: write texts optimized for each sales channel.
• Real-time translations: facilitates multilingual adaptation without manual intervention.
• Personalized messages: Adjust the content according to the audience and platform.

Prediction and Optimization

AI also improves decision-making with:

• Dynamic pricing: Adjust prices according to demand, competition and stock.
• Predictive inventory management: Anticipate replenishments with real-time analysis.
• Optimizing experiences: adapt the content to user trends and preferences.

The use of AI in a PIM improves efficiency, automates processes and allows for more intelligent management of product information. This translates into a better customer experience.

Comparison between traditional PIM and modern PIM

A traditional PIM may be sufficient for basic needs, but as the business grows and integrations with other platforms become essential, the limitations of these systems can affect efficiency.

The following comparison shows the key differences between the two models:

Examples of vendors with a modular approach

In digital commerce, managing product information efficiently is key. Some solutions stand out for their flexibility and capacity for growth.

• Bluestone PIM is a cloud system that organizes and shares product data. Its API-based design allows it to be integrated with online stores and management software. This way, the information is always kept up to date.
• Sales Layer it's also a PIM in the cloud. It's easy to use, so marketing and sales teams can manage information without technical knowledge. Its modular design allows it to be adapted to each company.
• Akeneo is an open source PIM platform. It focuses on the user experience and allows you to manage product data intuitively. Its enterprise version includes advanced tools for integrations and automation.

If you want to know more options and find out which is the best PIM tool for your business, we leave you an article with a detailed analysis: Best PIM Tools: Which One to Choose

What features to look for in a PIM provider today

In a nutshell, a PIM vendor must allow that the system grows without affecting performance.

It must be able to automate repetitive tasks, ensure that product information adapts to different sales channels and allow make decisions with data that is always up to date.

A provider with these characteristics ensures that the PIM platform not only manages volume of data, but also drives strategies customer-focused.

PIM in B2B businesses

B2B businesses manage large volumes of product information, from technical specifications to regulations and multichannel catalogs.

Each sector faces specific challenges, here are examples of how a PIM can help in each case.

PIM in retail

The retail sector handles thousands of product content references across multiple sales channels, making updating and managing information a challenge.

A PIM allows you to centralize all product data, ensuring that prices, descriptions, specifications and stock are kept up to date in real time.

In addition, it facilitates integration with B2B marketplaces, commerce platforms and management systems, ensuring coherence in information and improving the shopping experience.

PIM in manufacturing

Manufacturing companies need to manage technical specifications, regulations and product documentation for distributors and customers.

Without a centralized system, information can become inconsistent and gGenerate errors in the supply chain.

A PIM allows you to automatically organize and update technical data sheets, user manuals and certifications, ensuring that each market receives the correct information without time-consuming manual processes.

PIM in distribution

Distributors handle products from multiple manufacturers, each with their own data volume format, labels and specifications. Managing this information manually generates inconsistencies, delays and errors in the supply chain.

A PIM makes it possible to normalize data from all suppliers, ensuring that catalogs are accurate and updated in real time. In addition, it facilitates integration with inventory management systems and B2B platforms, optimizing buying and selling processes.

The adoption of PIM not only responds to increasingly demanding regulations, but it also improves operational efficiency and potential customer experience through adequate and transparent management of the product information.

PIM and the new market requirements

Companies must increasingly comply with regulations on transparency, traceability and sustainability. A PIM facilitates this management by centralizing information and automating key processes.

Greater transparency for consumers and regulators

The new standards require accurate data on materials, origin and carbon footprint. A PIM helps meet these demands by:

• Certifications and ecolabels: It allows you to manage and update ecological certifications to ensure clear information to customers.
• Dynamic QR Codes: Facilitates the generation of QR codes with up-to-date information on sustainability in product descriptions.

Efficient regulatory management

Adapting to different regulations in global markets is complex, but a PIM simplifies it with:

• Report automation: Generate reports in a format compatible with audits and legal requirements.
• Label compliance: In sectors such as food and cosmetics, it ensures that products comply with local regulations without manual effort.

With a PIM, companies not only comply with regulations, but they also improve their operational efficiency and brand image.

The PIM grows with you

Well-managed data drives the efficiency and growth of any company. Without a proper structure, information is dispersed, becomes inconsistent and loses value.

PIM is not a simple repository, but a solution that turns data into a strategic asset.

It's no longer just about organizing product data, but about driving it as a growth engine.

Its evolution is not a fad, but rather a strategic need for those who seek to lead their industry with accurate and intelligent data management.

We are here to advise you

Every business is unique, and choosing the right PIM tool requires strategic evaluation.

In Novicell, we help you find the best solution to optimize data management, improve efficiency and adapt to the needs of your industry. Talk to us.