Is Shopify a PIM?

If your business handles large amounts of product information regularly, you know first-hand just how difficult it can be to keep everything updated and organized. This is why so many businesses that handle heavy amounts of product information turn to Product Information Management (PIM) platforms to streamline their operations.

One common question that people tend to have about PIMs, however, is whether or not Shopify is considered a PIM. To answer the question simply, Shopify is not a PIM. By having a better understanding of what differentiates a true PIM from an eCommerce platform like Shopify, you can make better-informed decisions for your own business and product information management needs.

What Is a PIM?

Specifically, product information management (PIM) refers to the process of managing all types of information and data required to market, sell, and service products. This can include not just product SKUs and specifications, but how-to guides, warranty information, and any other digital assets related to a product.

A PIM solution, then, is aimed to streamline and improve upon this process by centralizing product information in a single location. This, in turn, makes it easier for data to be effectively managed and accessed by multiple people within an organization.

Is Shopify a PIM?

While Shopify is sometimes confused as a PIM, the reality is that this platform is an eCommerce solution and not a PIM system. Specifically, Shopify is a solution designed to sell products online. It can be extremely useful to list products on an eCommerce website, but it does nothing for the management of product data.

Why is Shopify so often confused as a PIM? Well, eCommerce solutions like Shopify often do integrate with PIM platforms. From there, product data can be pulled into the eCommerce solution directly from the PIM.

There are numerous PIM solutions available that can integrate with an eCommerce platform like Shopify. Some common examples include:

• Plytix

• Salsify

• InRiver

• Catsy

• Lumavate

Each of these solutions offers the ability to centralize the management of product data—and some solutions offer additional features and functionality. Lumavate, for example, offers robust functionality not just as a PIM, but also as a Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution and Digital Experience Platform (DXP).

What Is the Difference Between eCommerce and a PIM?

While there are some inherent similarities between an eCommerce platform and PIM software, there are some key differences that should not be overlooked.

Compared to an eCommerce platform, a true PIM is much more robust and offers a wide variety of digital assets/product information that can be applied to other use cases, such as resources and events that aren't relevant to store in an eCommerce solution. Likewise, a PIM solution is focused on the effective management of product data that is used in both online and offline product experiences.

As you can see from the list of product information system examples, there are many platforms to choose from when it comes to PIM systems that can integrate with Shopify and other eCommerce solutions. Ultimately, the key is to select the pairing that's best suited to your organization's needs.

What Makes a Good PIM?

Although there are plenty of SaaS PIM platforms available (with PIM software examples including Salsify PIM, Pimcore, InRiver PIM, Akeneo PIM, and Stibo PIM), it's important to find the top PIM for your company.

So, what should you take into consideration as you seek out the best PIM software 2023? Start by asking yourself some crucial questions, such as:

• What kind of functionality do you need?

• What other systems do you need to integrate with (Shopify or otherwise)?

• How will the product information be used?

• What type of budget is defined for this initiative?

• What is your timeline for implementing a solution?

Upon taking all of these details into consideration, many companies often find that Lumavate ends up being the best choice in PIM solutions for several reasons.

For starters, the Lumavate platform offers complete Product Experience Management (PXM) functionality in addition to a robust Product Information Management solution and Digital Asset Management (DAM) interface. This allows companies to seamlessly centralize the management of their product data while storing product-related digital assets and even build digital product experiences in minutes.

Meanwhile, Lumavate can integrate into several popular eCommerce platforms and other solutions, offering an unrivaled breadth of functionality that is often 75% more cost-effective than other solutions on the market.

Learn more about all Lumavate has to offer by taking a product tour or even scheduling a personalized demo. From there, you can see first-hand just what the right PIM solution can do for your growing business.