PIM and ERP: two systems, two jobs
The difference between PIM and ERP lies in their purpose: the ERP is the management system that governs administration, orders, warehouse and invoicing, while the PIM looks after the information that describes and tells the story of the product. They do not replace each other, they complement each other.
The management system knows that an item exists, what its code is and how much of it you have in stock. The PIM knows how to present it: texts, features, images, sheets and languages.
If you have a company in Como or Brianza, our team in Cantù can help you make them work together on your website.
Who handles what
When both systems are connected to the website, each supplies the data it is responsible for.
A PIM is needed when product data is scattered across spreadsheets, emails and the management system, the catalogue has many variants or the company handles several languages and channels. For small, stable catalogues it may not be necessary: we assess it together with companies in Como, Brianza and Milan before proposing a solution.
To connect a PIM to your website you use APIs: the site requests data from the PIM, or receives it when it changes, and shows it on product pages. The data to publish is defined first; our team in Cantù then develops the connector for companies in Como, Milan and Lugano.
With a PIM, technical sheets, certifications and attachments are linked to each product only once, in the right version and language. The website publishes them automatically, with no files to upload page by page: we build it from Cantù, in the province of Como, reducing the risk of outdated documents.
The quality of synchronised data is ensured by establishing a source system for each piece of information and applying automatic checks before, during and after the exchange. Mandatory formats and essential fields stop errors at the source: we define them in Cantù, in the province of Como, together with the client company.
For the automatic update of products, the website is connected to the PIM or management system: when you edit a sheet, descriptions, features, attachments and availability update online on their own. A service we offer from Cantù to companies in Como, Milan and Lugano with large catalogues.