Synergies of PIM and DAM – how companies benefit from both systems

PIM and DAM systems are indispensable for companies to successfully meet the challenges of the digital age. In case you are not yet familiar with the abbreviations:

PIM stands for Product Information Management.

DAM for Digital Asset Management.

While PIM systems are about providing product information, DAM systems are primarily used for managing media files such as photos and videos.

In this article, we will not only highlight the similarities and differences between PIM and DAM systems, but also illustrate how the two systems can interact with each other.

What is a PIM system?

A product information management system is a central platform that enables companies to collect, manage, maintain and distribute all product information in one place. This may involve, for example:

• • Part numbers
  • Product descriptions
  • Product images
  • Technical specifications
  • Price information
  • Stock data
  • Logistics data

PIM systems sometimes require complex relational data structures, since products are often related to other products. Think, for example, of accessory or spare parts.
Other typical features of a PIM system are:

• • Attribute and variant management (for different colors, sizes, materials, etc.)
  • Hierarchical product classification (according to industry standard and / or own criteria)
  • Workflow integration (participation of different departments in product data maintenance)
  • Multi-language and multi-channel support
  • Historical data and versioning

In short, a PIM system helps to provide consistent, up-to-date and high-quality information across different sales channels. For this reason, PIM systems are also often connected to other databases and business systems via an application programming interface (API), e.g., to the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, customer relationship management (CRM), or to a DAM system, which we will discuss in detail later.

Which companies need a PIM system?

Any company that manufactures and / or markets physical products and distributes them through various channels and platforms will benefit from a PIM system. In addition to location-based face-to-face trading, direct and indirect online sales channels are also being considered in particular. Good product information management provides customers with consistent product information, regardless of whether they are shopping in the company’s own online store, at a mail-order company such as Amazon, or in a local store.

What is a DAM system?

A digital asset management system is a solution for storing, organizing, enriching, managing, and distributing digital media such as photos, videos, audio files, presentations, and other documents. Media files are deliberately understood here as precious assets. So, DAM systems are used to increase the value of existing media, e.g. by increasing the degree of dissemination and visibility.

With a professional DAM solution you can:

• • Find files faster and share them securely with just a few clicks
  • Create consistent brand experiences
  • Ensure that digital resources do not go unused
  • track the use of media
  • prevent unlawful use (copy protection, watermarks)
  • Accelerate workflows and simplify collaborative work
  • Ensure complete documentation and avoid legal uncertainties

A good DAM system usually supports all common media file formats: raster graphics, for example, in JPEG, TIFF or RAW formats; vector graphics in AI, CDR or SVG; and videos in MP4, AVI or MOV; although this is of course only a very small selection.

Which companies need a DAM system?

A DAM system is beneficial for any company with an extensive portfolio of digital assets (media files). In this respect, digital asset management is not tied to specific types of companies, but is used by a wide variety of companies and institutions; from small and medium-sized enterprises to large corporations, advertising agencies and media companies, educational and research institutions, or even professional sports clubs, to name just a few examples.

Similarities between PIM and DAM systems

• • Centralized data storage: Both PIM and DAM systems aim to store and organize data in a central location.
  • Integration with other systems: PIM and DAM systems are usually connected to other business systems such as ERP, CRM or e-commerce platforms.
  • Workflow management: Both systems allow you to define and manage prescribed workflows to ensure that data and assets are subject to the proper review and approval processes.
  • Multilingual: Both PIM and DAM systems typically support multilingual content to serve global markets.

Differences between PIM and DAM systems

• • Focus: While PIM systems are primarily designed to manage structured product information, DAM systems focus on storing and managing digital media such as photos and videos.
  • Complexity: While metadata structures in DAM systems can also be multidimensional, data structures in PIM systems are usually somewhat more complex, as they must take into account hierarchical relationships between different products, their variants, and related information.
  • User profile: PIM systems are mainly used by product managers and by marketing and sales staff. DAM solutions are also used in the marketing sector, but also in picture agencies and the media industry in general. Then there is the use by design, PR and advertising professionals. So typical DAM users quite often have a creative background.

How can PIM and DAM systems interact with each other?

The integration of PIM and DAM systems leads to powerful synergies. Product images stored in a DAM system, for example, can be automatically imported into the PIM system so that they appear in product lists, catalogs, or on e-commerce pages. Conversely, a PIM system can send product data back to the DAM system to help categorize media files, increase findability, and speed up searches.

Conclusion: PIM and DAM systems are two different but complementary solutions. For companies that need to market a variety of products and also have an extensive media inventory, integrating the two systems can lead to more efficient processes, more consistent data, and a better customer experience.

Test the DAM solution from teamnext

The teamnext | Media Hub is a cloud-based DAM solution that can be seamlessly connected to existing PIM systems. For example, item master data can be retrieved to enrich product images with up-to-date meta information.
In addition, the Media Hub features innovative AI functions while meeting the highest data security standards. It is preferred by medium-sized companies in the DACH region as well as by large organizations within the EU. You can find more info about the product here: teamnext.com/product

If, after reading this, you simply want to try out our solution, then you can get started almost immediately with a free 14-day trial period for the teamnext | Media Hub.