How do PIM, PDM, and PLM differ from each other? And why do the sales advantages of a PIM system designed for managing rich product information stand out?

Product information is valuable yet labor-intensive capital. It needs to be created, edited, shared, enriched, stored, and managed. The entire repertoire cannot be handled with a single system, and without a well-designed product information management system, the Excel shuffle is endless.

PLM, PDM, and PIM are all systems intended for product information management, each playing a crucial role in a company's processes. What do these abbreviations mean, and why does PIM, in particular, enhance the customer experience and boost sales figures?

Product Lifecycle Management:
PLM, Product Lifecycle Management

PLM is responsible for managing data related to the entire lifecycle of a product, such as definition, design, production, maintenance, and disposal, all internal processes as its name suggests. It is typically designed for the needs of manufacturing industries, intended as a tool for product development use. PLM systems typically do not contain any sales-related product information. 

Product Data Management:
PDM, Product Data Management

PDM is a system where product information and documents are collected in various stages of product development as part of lifecycle management. It manages materials related to the production and development of a product, such as CAD drawings, component lists, and subcontractor information.

A Product Data Management system is an essential part of product design, but even its comprehensive information does not meet sales and marketing needs.

The PDM system is often used in product development stages, and it does not contain information about, for example, inventory or procurement.

Rich Product Information Management:
PIM, Product Information Management

PIM is a system that consolidates all product information to be communicated externally from the company, while also serving as an internal source of product information, ensuring the entire organization has access to product data, thus reducing silos between different departments and markets. 

PIM often manages product images, instructions, various certificates and other environmental data, product descriptions and other marketing information, information needed by retailers, various PDF publications like in-store prints, as well as product localization and language versions. PIM is thus typically a tool for marketing and sales. 

Often, information from development systems is also brought into PIM to be disseminated, and PIM does not serve as a replacement but rather an addition when a company wants to improve the quality of product information, enhance marketing, increase sales, and improve product search engine visibility.

With a PIM solution, all commercial product information is up-to-date and consistent, regardless of the user, language, or channel. 

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This article was published on 4 March 2020 and updated on 17 January 2023.