Your first step into the omnichannel world

Booking a software package from the car cockpit, ordering the right spare part directly from a support mobile app or upselling at the POS via a touch panel. All of this requires a substructure that can access your product data regardless of location and technology. At the heart of this is your future PIM system.

But even without a claim to the next big innovation award, a PIM system brings substantial benefits for any manufacturing or trading company. Even if many software solutions can hold product data, they are not made for this. A PIM as a single source of truth ensures that there is only one authoritative database.

This means that there is no duplication of maintenance work and data quality can be ensured at a central location. In addition, PIM systems offer flexibility in their data models that you may not even suspect you need.

[Translate to Englisch:] PIM Übersicht

Our references

When selecting and implementing your PIM system, it’s worth relying on experienced PIM partners and service providers who can highlight both common and project-specific challenges,
and support your initiative from planning through to implementation.

[Translate to Englisch:] Merck Logo

Merck

In the case of Merck, the focus was on designing and optimizing data processes for a globally deployed Intershop e-commerce platform. The key challenge lay in the complex system landscape, which included numerous heterogeneous source systems—among them multiple PIM and ERP systems—as well as systems for safety data sheets and certificates. The goal was to ensure consistent and automated data delivery to the shop system. In addition, processes for regular, customized data delivery to various stakeholders were developed and implemented.

SEEFELDER

In the case of SEEFELDER, the task was to introduce a powerful PIM system as a central product data platform. Following a structured requirements analysis and several stakeholder discussions, various providers were evaluated. The decision was made in favor of Informatica PIM 360, which stood out due to its high flexibility and integration capabilities. In close collaboration with SEEFELDER, the necessary system customizations were defined, external service providers were commissioned for the implementation, and their work was coordinated. In parallel, import and export interfaces were set up, and the system was initially populated with product data. Finally, all relevant maintenance processes within the PIM system were thoroughly documented.

[Translate to Englisch:] Ensinger Logo

Ensinger

In the case of Ensinger, the task was to replace the legacy system (a custom-developed solution) with a proven PIM system that would integrate well with the Commercetools-based eCommerce platform implemented by Smart Commerce. To achieve this, Smart Commerce's PIM experts analyzed the functionality of the existing system and supplemented it with additional requirements gathered and prioritized through stakeholder interviews. A total of nine PIM system vendors were evaluated and compared. In the end, PimCore emerged as the preferred solution. Together with Ensinger, we assessed how to implement PimCore—either as a PaaS solution or within the company's own Azure environment—and determined the most suitable licensing model.

What you need to know before your PIM project

PIM doesn't equal PIM

PIM, DAM, MAM, sometimes PLM. What sounds like a song from Sesame Street are all systems that can hold and manage product data, or at least a subset of product data. The boundaries between these terms, as well as the scope of features of the associated solutions, are often anything but clear-cut. It is therefore important that we work together to determine your individual requirements and find the best solution. Other differences between these systems, apart from their feature sets, are their connectivity to interfaces, their user guidance, the expertise in your industry and, of course, the license and implementation costs. We weigh up all these factors in order to make a customized system recommendation for you.

PIM Experte am Whiteboard

Omnidirectional functional

It is particularly important to find out which functions are relevant or even essential for you. Is it reliable data validation to increase quality? Is it particularly flexible integrations and interfaces? Does it include asset management? Or is it mass data processing and automation that you want to save time with? As you can see, these questions cannot always be answered with a clear “yes” or “no”. That's why it's important that we work together to differentiate and prioritize your requirements. Our experience will help us to find the right system for you.

Our apporach for your PIM system selection

1. PIM Discovery & Scoping

  • Recording the relevant IT environment

  • Exploration of the legacy system if necessary

  • Definition of the project vision

  • Stake out the rough project framework

2. Requirements Engineering

  • Stakeholder interviews

  • Systematic requirements gathering

  • Formulation of preliminary user stories

  • Prioritization of functional and non-functional features of the target system

3. Scoring & Systemauswahl

  • Softwareanbieter-Interviews
  • Einholen von Softwareanbieter-Angeboten
  • Feature-Matching funktionaler und nicht-funktionaler Anforderungen zu Softwareanbieter-Leistungsumfang
  • Bewertung der Anforderungen auf Ordnialer Skala (1-5)
  • Ausgeben eines System-Scorings
  • Einschränken der möglichen Softwareanbieter anhand des Scorings
  • Detailevaluierung der Softwareanbieter
  • Konkrete Lizenzpreisabfrage
  • Softwareanbieter-Interviews mit dem Kunden
  • Finale Systemauswahl

Our services at a glance

Digital Consulting

Discover our unique consulting approach for your online success.
 

Digital Experience Platform

Maximise your eCommerce potential with our Digital Experience Platform - personalised experiences, seamless integrations, more conversions!

eCommerce

We develop & implement customised e-commerce systems for you with leading technology partners.

PIM

Optimise your product management with our PIM services - centralised, efficient, error-free. More consistency, less effort!
 

Cloud Operations

Modern public cloud solutions with maximum automation for operating efficient e-commerce systems. 

Artificial Intelligence

Use artificial intelligence for your online success - smarter processes, personalised experiences, more sales. Future-proof and efficient!

We are happy to assist you!

Asking questions costs nothing! Can we assist you with a problem? Or are you interested in collaboration? Or do you have any remaining questions? Please don't hesitate to reach out to us! We are here to help!

Phone Number:
+49 341 99 15 36 00

E-Mail:
hello@smartcommerce.de

Contact our experts directly:

Mario Wentzel, Senior Consultant

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