Why An ERP Software Isn’t Enough For Your Business (Here's A Solution You Might Be Missing!)

You might be familiar with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software providers such as SAP, Oracle, Epicor, NetSuite, etc – these solutions offer functionalities that will allow you to integrate and manage information and processes into one centralized hub, from production and supply chain to inventory and financial management.
Despite the many benefits of an ERP, there are still gaps that it is unable to solve. In this article, we will introduce how using a Product Information Management tool (PIM) can help unlock opportunities to raise efficiency and potentially boost revenue.
If you are already using an ERP software, or are considering to invest in one, you might have realized a lacking capability – in-depth product information management. For manufacturers and distributors, this is a critical piece of the business which impacts not only operational efficiency, but also top-line growth.
This is where Product Information Management systems (PIM) comes in. PIM is a specialized solution which provides a unified repository for all product information, including descriptions, attributes, images, and other related data.
Here are three areas where a PIM can be utilized to complement an ERP:
ERP systems are primarily designed to manage transactional data such as orders, invoices and payments, but not rich media content.
A study by HingeGlobal found that as much as 25% of consumers are more likely to buy an item when the product has enhanced product content. This includes images, videos, animations, and other multimedia files that make a product visually appealing.
PIM acts as the one source of truth, allowing users to extract accurate and up-to-date product information. Without a PIM, these product details and files are likely going to be scattered across various teams and folders, making it cumbersome and time-consuming to gather and use them for sales and marketing activities.
ERPs are also not well-suited for managing the complex and constantly changing product data formats that are required for e-commerce and marketplaces.
A PIM can facilitate the management of complex product hierarchies, such as bundles and variants. It can also manage translations, ensuring that product information is consistent across multiple languages.
Another feature of a PIM tool is the automation of mundane processes such as catalog generation, quotation & order creation etc. When you create or update your product info and assets, they are synced in real-time, which means your sales reps will always be able to generate the latest product catalogs with just a few clicks of a button.
Some PIM solutions will also allow you to customize and share online catalogs by selecting only the products your buyers requested for. You may even receive RFQs or orders directly from the e-catalog. This reduces your time to market when launching new products or updating buyers with pricing or promotional changes.
Essentially, PIM acts as an extension of ERP, providing additional functionality and capabilities that are specifically designed to support the management of product information. PIM systems typically integrate with ERP systems, allowing for seamless data exchange between the two. This means that businesses can manage both transactional and product data from a single system, resulting in greater efficiency, accuracy, and consistency.
If you don’t currently use an ERP, but are looking for solutions to digitize your business, you might want to consider starting with a PIM system. Setting up a good foundation with clean, high quality product data will make it easier should you decide to invest in heavier tech stacks in the future.
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A PIM system focuses on managing and enriching product data for multiple sales channels, while an ERP system handles back-office functions like inventory management, order processing, and financials. Integrating both systems ensures accurate, up-to-date product information is easily available for business operations and customer-facing touchpoints.
While ERP systems store critical product data, they often lack the tools to enhance or structure this data for online sales. A PIM system takes this raw data from the ERP, enriches it with detailed product descriptions, specifications, images, and other attributes, making it ready for e-commerce platforms and marketplaces.
Yes, a PIM system automates much of the process of organizing and enriching product data, significantly reducing manual data entry and the risk of human error. It allows businesses to efficiently manage product information across multiple platforms without duplicating effort in the ERP system.
A PIM ensures that product data is consistent, accurate, and comprehensive across all sales channels. This leads to improved customer experience, higher conversion rates, better search visibility, and ultimately, more sales. Rich product content also supports better search engine optimization (SEO) and higher product discoverability.
By centralizing and streamlining product data management, a PIM system provides a single source of truth. This ensures that decision-makers have access to reliable, real-time product information, leading to more informed business decisions and efficient operations.
E-commerce, digital marketing, inventory management, and order fulfillment processes benefit greatly from integrating a PIM with an ERP system. The PIM streamlines product data for faster go-to-market times, while the ERP ensures smooth back-office operations like inventory management and order tracking.
A PIM allows businesses to manage large volumes of product information more efficiently, making it easier to scale operations. As businesses expand into new markets, add product lines, or diversify sales channels, a PIM ensures product data remains consistent and easy to manage.
Yes, a PIM ensures that product information is structured and adaptable to different e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, and physical stores. By syncing product data across all touchpoints, it allows businesses to maintain brand consistency and optimize product content for each channel.
By automating product data management and enrichment, a PIM speeds up the process of getting products ready for sale across multiple channels. When combined with the efficiency of an ERP system, this leads to faster product launches and quicker responses to market demand.
A PIM reduces inefficiencies, manual work, and errors associated with managing product data. This leads to cost savings, faster time-to-market, and improved customer satisfaction, ultimately increasing revenue. The ability to scale and enhance product content also supports higher average order values and better customer retention.