# What is PIM – Product Information Management?

What is PIM – Product Information Management? A system for storing, editing, and distributing product data — descriptions, images, specs, categories — from…

## How it works in practice

A PIM solves the problem: 'I updated a product description on the website but forgot to update Amazon, Google Shopping, and the printed catalog.' With a PIM: update once → publish everywhere. Essential when selling across 3+ channels with a large catalog.

## Related metrics

- Product Feed — a PIM generates product feeds
- Omnichannel — a PIM is the foundation for omnichannel product data
- SKU — a PIM manages data by SKU
- ERP — a PIM is sometimes integrated into an ERP

## Common misconception

'Shopify is enough as a PIM.' Shopify is a product database for sales. A PIM manages content, distribution, translation, and rich media. For a store with 50+ SKUs selling across 3+ channels, a PIM saves days of work.

## How to fix it

Product data inconsistent across channels? (1) Run a product content audit: every channel × every product — what's different?, (2) Build a 'master product sheet' (Excel) as a source of truth, (3) Define a process: product change → update master → publish to channels.

## Real-world example

Seller on Shopify + Amazon + eBay: 800 SKUs. Manual price updates in 3 places = 8 hours/week. PIM (Akeneo) + integration: update once → all channels. Savings: 7 hours/week = $6,200/year.

## Where to start

A PIM is relevant from 3+ sales channels and 100+ SKUs. Before that, Google Sheets and a manual process suffice. At scale, a PIM pays for itself within two months.

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Category: Operations · From the [Jimmy OS KPI Glossary](https://jimmy-os.com/glossary/kpi.md) · Source page: https://jimmy-os.com/glossary/kpi/pim-product-information-management