How a PIM solution streamlines your product data work – across all sales channels

FEED
Written by Petter Engebretsen

Are you tired of manually updating product information in online stores, at wholesalers, on marketplaces and in printed catalogs – one channel at a time?

Then it's time to take a closer look at PIM!

What is PIM?

PIM stands for Product Information Management.

A PIM solution is a central system where all product data is collected, structured, quality assured and distributed to all channels in which the company operates.

Think of it as a control room for everything related to your products: texts, images, specifications, prices, categories, translations and much more – all in one place, always up to date, always consistent.

The challenge: Product data across multiple channels

Modern businesses rarely sell through a single channel.

A typical day might look like this:

  • Online store (Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce etc.)

  • Industry databases (NOBB, Tradesolution, Validoo, EFO, SEG, LVI, RSK etc.)

  • Wholesalers and B2B portals with their own data requirements

  • Printed and digital catalogs and price lists

  • ERP and logistics systems

Without a central system, this means that a single product change – such as a new price or an updated description – must be manually updated in each individual system.

It is time-consuming, error-prone and scales poorly.

How a PIM solution solves this

1. A single source of truth

All product information lives in the PIM system. All channels pull data from here – not from spreadsheets, emails or local folders. When you update a field in PIM, the change is automatically reflected everywhere.

2. Channel-specific customization without duplication of effort

Different channels have different requirements for format, length, and content. A PIM solution allows you to define channel-specific rules once. Then, data is automatically adapted and exported in the correct format – whether it’s JSON for the online store, XLSX for the wholesaler, or PDF for the catalog.

3. Automatic generation of documents

This is where a good PIM solution really stands out. With built-in or integrated document generation, the system can automatically produce:

  • Product catalogs in PDF, customized branding and layout

  • Price lists updated in real time

  • Data sheets and technical specifications

  • Package leaflets and user guides

  • Sales presentations and product sheets

This happens without anyone having to open InDesign or Word. Templates are set up once – then documents are generated in seconds, with correct and up-to-date data, every time.

Concrete benefits for the company

Area Without PIM With PIM Product update Manually in each channel One update, automatically distributed Document production Hours in InDesign/Word Seconds with automatic generation Data quality Inconsistent, error-prone Validated and consistent Time-to-market Days to weeks Hours Scalability Linear – more employees = more work Exponential – grows without additional resources

Typical use cases – who needs PIM?

PIM is particularly valuable for:

  • Manufacturers and importers who distribute to many retailers

  • Wholesalers with large and complex product catalogs

  • E-commerce businesses that sell on multiple marketplaces

  • Companies in regulated industries (medical devices, electronics, chemicals) where data quality is required by law

  • International companies that need product data translation and localization

Integration with existing systems

A modern PIM solution integrates seamlessly with:

  • ERP systems (SAP, Business Central, Visma etc.)

  • E-commerce platforms (Shopify, Magento, Centra, WooCommerce etc)

  • DAM (Digital Asset Management) systems for images and videos

  • Industry databases

  • CRM

    Data flows automatically between systems – without manual exports or CSV files sent by email.

feed PIM: A solution built for all businesses

feed PIM is a modern, cloud-based PIM solution developed with Nordic businesses in mind, but there are no geographical limitations.

There are customers and users of feed PIM throughout Europe, Canada and the USA.

The solution combines user-friendly product data management with powerful automation – including document generation directly from the system.

With feed PIM you can:

  • Centralize all product information on one platform

  • Distribute to all your sales channels automatically

  • Generate catalogs, price lists and product sheets in seconds

  • Collaborate across teams with role-based access

  • Scale without increasing administration costs accordingly

Get started

A PIM investment pays for itself quickly. Companies that adopt solutions like feed PIM often report:

  • 50-80% reduction in time spent on product data management

  • Significantly fewer errors in product information across channels

  • Faster launch of new products and campaigns

  • Increased customer satisfaction as a result of better and more consistent product information


Petter Engebretsen
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