How the integration of a PIM system with an ERP, CRM and other tools simplifies your business processes

If you sell online, you may have experienced the complexity of managing all of your company's product information. This can be a real headache, especially if you have to use different tools to manage it. However, there is a solution: the integration of your business systems.

By integrating a PIM system with tools such as an ERP, CRM or eCommerce, you can simplify and accelerate all your business processes. In this article, we'll explain how a PIM system works when integrated with other business management tools and how it improves the efficiency of your business.

Integration of a PIM system with an ERP, CRM and other business systems

As we told you before, a Product Information Management (PIM) system can be integrated with a wide variety of business systems, the most common of which are:

• ERP: Enterprise resource planning systems.
• CRM: Customer Relationship Management Systems.
• ECOM: E-Commerce Management Systems.
• CMS: Content Management Systems.
• WMS: Inventory and Warehouse Management Systems.
• MDM: Master Data Management Systems.
• SCM: Supply Chain Management Systems.

And the list doesn't end! Thanks to the integration of a PIM with other systems, you can centralize and optimize product information management across the organization, thus improving the operational efficiency of your teams and the experience of your customers.

It is worth noting that there is a set of solutions that, when integrated with a PIM, enhance your strategy increasing the efficiency of your business operations and improving your sales results. We explain what these tools are and how they benefit your business strategy.

Integration of an ERP system into a PIM system

It improves inventory management and product invoicing more efficiently and accurately.

Before delving into the integration process of an ERP and a PIM, it is important to understand the difference between these two solutions, as we know that this is an aspect that can confuse you.

A PIM (Product Information Management) focuses on the product information management:

• The description
• The price
• The image
• The categorization of products

An ERP is an enterprise resource planning system that focuses on the management of business processes, related to your products or services, such as:

• Financials
• Accounting
• Shopping
• Sales
• Inventory Management

In a nutshell, PIM focuses on products, while ERP focuses on business processes, probably linked.

Now how and why do you integrate a PIM with your ERP? The information flows that are generated thanks to the integration of an ERP with a PIM allow you improve the management of your supply chain and optimize your production processes.

By integrating these systems, PIM and ERP can effectively share information and optimize overall business management.

Information from a PIM will help you: improve inventory management and forecast product demand, since data is automatically transferred from the PIM to the ERP. In other words, all the product information stored in a PIM, such as the description, prices and specifications, are automatically transferred to the ERP, eliminating the need to re-enter the information in the ERP, also avoiding errors and redundancies.

If a customer places an order through your company's eCommerce system, the PIM-ERP integration can help ensure that the inventory information is up to date and that the requested product is available in the warehouse. This will also ensure that the customer receives the right product and on time.

The integration of an ERP with a PIM is more than necessary, thanks to this you can improve the accuracy and efficiency of your business management, which leads to greater customer satisfaction and, consequently, promotes the growth of your business.

If you are considering the implementing a PIM, be sure to explore integration options to maximize your benefits. At Novicell, we are DynamicWeb Premium Partners, an effective eCommerce suite that includes a powerful PIM system with standard integration to the Microsoft Dynamics ERP, are you interested in testing the solution? Request a demo and discover all the features of the PIM of DynamicWeb. 

Integration between a PIM and a CRM

Improve the experience of your customers and the efficiency of your sales team.

A CRM focuses on managing and maintaining detailed information about your customers and prospects, such as their preferences, purchase history, and buying behavior. The integration of a CRM with a PIM allows the company to have a full view of customer and product information, which improves decision-making and overall efficiency.

On the one hand, the PIM-CRM integration allows you to use the product information stored in the PIM to improve interaction with customers. Your sales team can have access to product information stored in a PIM system to provide personalized recommendations to customers based on their needs and preferences. This will improve the customer experience and increase the likelihood of conversion.

In addition, product information is kept up to date and is correctly transferred to representatives of your sales team, allowing them to have a better understanding of the items they sell and, therefore, provide better customer service.

On the other hand, customer information can be transferred from the CRM to the PIM, which help your marketing and sales team to better understand your customers or prospects. This allows them to create a better marketing strategy and personalize the customer experience. For example, if a customer has purchased specific products in the past, the marketing team can use this information to introduce them to related products that may interest them.

The integration of a PIM with a CRM helps improve your customer experience as well as the effectiveness of your marketing strategy by providing a complete view of product information and its relationship with your customers.

Integration of a PIM with an eCommerce (ECOM)

Increase the performance of your website and your online revenues.

The integration of a PIM with an eCommerce platform is essential to improve the management of your online store: the quality of the product information on your website and the user experience. This integration can also simplify inventory management as well as improve efficiency in managing orders and shipments.

Un eCommerce system focuses on selling products online and managing customer purchase transactions.

The integration of a PIM system with an eCommerce system allows you to synchronize product information in real time, that is, any update you make about a product, will be immediately reflected in your online store. Thanks to this process, you will gain quality and accuracy in information, speed of commercialization and an excellent customer experience.

Integration of a PIM and a CMS

Boost your multichannel digital strategy.

A CMS focuses on creating and managing online content, when integrated with a PIM, product information is automatically transferred and allows you to publish it more quickly and easily on different digital channels, improving the customer experience and increasing sales.

Before continuing, a recommendation: If you want to increase the efficiency of your omnichannel strategy, bet on a Headless CMS.

The PIM-CMS integration helps you improve efficiency in content management. For example, if you add a new product to the PIM, its information is automatically transferred to the CMS, so it will be immediately reflected on the website or digital channel of your choice.

In addition, it allows you personalise the customer experience. If you have information about user behavior on your website, you can adapt the information according to the user's interest and show them similar or complementary products.

You've already seen it; integrating a PIM system with other management systems is a necessary process for the success of your strategy and the growth of your business. This is undoubtedly an aspect that you should consider before investing in this solution.

Although the integration of a PIM system with an ERP, CRM, eCommerce and other tools for business management may seem like a complex process, the benefits obtained are significant and the complexity of integration will depend on the provider and its implementation service.

If you are considering implementing a PIM system in your business, we invite you to learn about the DynamicWeb solution ecosystem, we are sure that they will take your e-commerce strategy to another level.

Do you need a PIM system?

Contact us, we advise you and help you decide on the best solution. We also accompany you during the implementation and strategy process.