Are you struggling with growing product data in Excel, unclear translation workflows, or incorrect product information in your online store? Then it’s probably time to consider a PIM system.
PIM stands for Product Information Management – a system that helps companies collect, structure, and centrally publish product data. But how do you know when it’s time to make the move? Here's a checklist of the most common signals.
Common signs you’ve outgrown your current process
• You manage product data in Excel
Multiple departments work in separate, unsynchronized files. The risk of errors and version conflicts increases with every new product added.
• Product information is scattered across different systems
Data lives in your ERP, spreadsheets, websites, or individual team members’ inboxes. There’s no single source of truth.
• You have a growing product portfolio
The more products, variants, languages, and markets you have, the harder it becomes to manage without a system built for the task.
• Errors in your online store affect sales
Incorrect or incomplete product descriptions, missing images, or outdated prices are all signs you’ve lost control of your data.
• Manual work around translation and launches
Launching a product on a new market requires manual work. Translations are handled via email or copy-pasted between systems.
• You’re losing time in internal processes
Product managers, marketers, and sales teams spend hours searching for the right information instead of creating value.
• You publish to multiple channels
E-commerce, print, catalogs, resellers, and partner portals – each requires tailored product content, but you lack a system to manage it smoothly.
Checklist: Are you ready for a PIM?
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Are you using Excel to manage product data? | ☐ | ☐ |
| Do you have more than 500 products? | ☐ | ☐ |
| Do you sell in multiple languages or markets? | ☐ | ☐ |
| Do you update product information frequently? | ☐ | ☐ |
| Are there errors or delays in your e-commerce channel? | ☐ | ☐ |
| Do you need to speed up product launches? | ☐ | ☐ |
| Do you need the same data in multiple channels? | ☐ | ☐ |
If you checked three or more “Yes” boxes? Then you’re likely ready to start evaluating a PIM system.
Why ERP isn’t enough to manage product information
Many companies still manage their product data directly in their ERP system – and that may work for a while. But as your product portfolio grows, customer expectations rise, and your channels multiply, limitations become clear.
An ERP is designed to manage business data such as:
- Inventory
- Pricing
- Order flows
- Product codes and structures
But it often lacks support for:
- Enriched product descriptions
- Images and documents
- Language versions
- Product relationships (e.g., accessories, spare parts)
- Publishing to multiple channels (e.g., web, print, catalogs)
The result?
Manual workarounds, spreadsheet chaos, and inconsistent product information across channels – leading to delays, errors, and lost revenue.
Note: PIM and ERP are not competitors, they complement each other.
ERP handles business operations. PIM handles the product content that drives sales.
Benefits of investing in a PIM
With a PIM in place, you gain:
- A single source of truth for all product data
- Faster time-to-market for new products and markets
- Better quality in your e-commerce and partner channels
- More efficient collaboration between departments
- Reduced risk of errors and manual work
- The ability to create product feeds for external channels
Export enriched, channel-ready product data to resellers, industry databases, marketplaces, price comparison sites, or affiliate networks – automatically, without duplication.
Litium PIM – built for product-driven B2B companies
Litium PIM is part of our e-commerce platform and is purpose-built for B2B companies with growing product portfolios, complex structures, and multichannel sales strategies.
We also offer connectors to leading ERP systems like Monitor, Jeeves, and Dynamics, enabling fast setup without starting from scratch.
→ Read how our customer portal integrates with Monitor ERP
→ What is an ERP integration?