While there are many similarities between a DAM (Digital Asset Management) system and a PIM (Product Information Management) system, the two services have strong differences that set them apart.
In this article we will discuss both systems in detail, so you can understand the pros and cons of each PIM and DAM system. By the end of the article, you should be able to understand why DAM systems are important for your organization and How a PIM can integrate with a DAM system.
Well then, let’s get started.
What does PIM Mean?
Before we move on to the differences between PIM and DAM, it is really important to understand these concepts in a simple manner.
Product Information Management, abbreviated as PIM, is a centralized repository to store, organize, manage and syndicate massive product information, this is the PIM meaning common to everyone.
It enables retailers to develop product catalogs and distribute them across various eCommerce and sales platforms. PIM is in charge of all forms of content needed to market and sell items.
There are a lot of PIM solutions out there, such as Apimio, Plytix, Akeneo, Sales Layer, etc.
Every PIM software provides the same basic features and some more.
Learn more about PIM in 2 minutes: What is PIM software? (Benefits & Features) – Apimio
Benefits of PIM
Quick Marketing:
PIM allows you to have all of your product information integrated into one place; this makes it easier to stay up to date, be it in the form of a quick response to your market or anything else.
PIM allows you to easily enter a new market and also to expand your product portfolio.
Improved Customer journey:
As mentioned previously, PIM allows you to save time. One can use this time to make their customers happy and create a life time of experience for them. PIM allows you to provide your customers a good brand experience across all touch points.
Supporting Vendors and Suppliers:
The ability of product information management to serve the complete organizational ecosystem, including vendors and suppliers, is one of the most important business advantages of this technology.
The most important benefit of PIM-led vendor management is the empowering of suppliers through self-service and the freedom of contact at any time, anywhere.
What is DAM system?
Digital asset management, abbreviated as DAM, is a software solution for storing and managing digital content in a central location. Most importantly, DAM allows you to boost campaign productivity while maintaining brand integrity.
Finally, the finest DAM platforms structure your assets in such a way that they maximize their brand value. Its capabilities enable you to automate workflows, define asset licensing expiration dates, and set different degrees of user access for files, folders, projects, and entire campaigns. DAM software may also show you how creative assets are doing through in-app analytics.
Read more about DAM: Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution – Apimio
Benefits of DAM
Developing an ecosystem:
DAM is a system which can integrate with any other system including PIM.
This integration allows to build an eco-system for the digital asset of your organization.
DAM also helps to increase digital assets by retrieving data from various programs.
Brand Consistency:
The DAM’s capacity to keep your brand consistent and current everywhere it is used is another significant advantage.
A small group of authorised users have control over how brand assets are used, making it simple to safeguard critical assets and copyrighted content.
There is no need to worry about the unauthorised use of your assets.
Improve internal and external collaboration:
DAM allows sharing of internal and external assets.This attached feedback to each asset allows improvement in collaboration.
DAM also makes it easier for external users and saves their time by providing support for multiple asset formats, this way, they donot have to waste time and energy in finding or using external software to view assets.
Integration of PIM and DAM
Both DAM and PIM are different systems. However, once these systems come together, they can make work much easier. If both systems are connected, one can benefit from comprehensive product content.
The integration of a PIM and DAM system allows one to not only save time but also helps in increasing productivity and accuracy of the product content.
Integration of e-commerce PIM and e-commerce DAM allows one to easily transfer data from one system to another or from one tool to another, one doesn’t have to go through the hassle of manually doing all of this work.
It can be said that this integration is quite helpful as it helps one to maximize the value of technology investment.
Difference between PIM and DAM system:
The key difference is that Digital Asset Management deals with all of an organization’s digital assets, whereas Product Information Management focuses on a product’s lifespan. Let me expand on that:
Digital Asset Management helps in storing, organizing, and collaborating images, movies, presentations, papers, logos, marketing materials, and other digital assets. DAM’s main purpose is to increase the value of a digital asset by making it simple for you and your organization to search, access, retrieve, and use digital assets. When you have a lot of digital materials to access, retrieve, and distribute both internally and externally, DAM shines.
Product Information Management is concerned with a specific product. It combines product data and information into a single centralized system. This is done to maximize product distribution across sales and marketing channels. The PIM system manages all of the product-related data needed to market and sell products. A PIM can help you keep track of all the information you need to manage your items successfully. It could benefit you if you have a large number of SKUs and a dynamic product range that is updated often.
When to Use a PIM system?
PIM systems are typically used to store product-related data. This includes product copies and supplier information. However, certain PIM systems, such as Apimio PIM, now contain DAM capability and can store and distribute any product-related asset. This includes media assets such as photos, video, and audio.
Retailers, manufacturers, and companies that need to collect and gather product information, or who are obtaining product information from multiple sources, will benefit from PIM systems. PIM solutions are also useful for organizations that sell a variety of distinct SKUs.
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When to Use a DAM system?
DAM systems are suited for cases where non-audio and non-video materials must be streamed or transmitted to a large audience. It is also great for archiving content, tracking versions, and video transcoding.
DAM systems are ideal for firms with a large number of digital assets since they may assist streamline asset retrieval and save time. Remember that the average marketing professional spends 65 hours per year looking for lost digital assets. DAM systems are great for any firm looking to free up those 65 hours for more productive endeavors.
| When to use the DAM system | When to use a PIM system |
| A large number of visual assets | Several SKUs with a dynamic product range |
| Scattered branding across several channels | Complex product portfolio with frequent updates |
| Need to use your assets for other applications | A great deal of data is generated from various sources |
| Need of “official” place to store files within the organization | Multiple sales and marketing channels |
| Frequent access to files required | Faster Time-to-Market required |
| Frequent internal and external share of digital assets | All the related departments are in need of consistent and up-to-date product data |
| Involvement of multiple people in the assets with different workflows | The requirement to provide customers with a lot of product information |
PIM DAM FAQs:
The key difference between PIM and DAM is that the Digital Asset Management tool deals with all of an organization’s digital assets, whereas the Product Information Management system focuses on a product’s lifespan.
Retailers, manufacturers, and companies that collect and gather huge amounts of product information, and are obtaining product information from multiple sources, will benefit from PIM systems. PIM solutions are also useful for organizations that sell a variety of distinct SKUs.
Firms with a large number of digital assets, are looking to streamline asset retrieval and save time. Remember that the average marketing professional spends 65 hours per year looking for lost digital assets, and DAM systems are great for any firm looking to free up those 65 hours for more productive endeavors.
Conclusion
Both DAM and PIM have their own benefits and features. However, a lot of PIM software has DAM functionalities as well.
For product information like product attributes and marketing text, the PIM system is the one source of truth. For digital assets such as product photos, owner manuals, and quick start guides, the DAM system is the one source of truth. The DAM system feeds those assets to the PIM system by connecting the two.
Therefore, it’s always the best idea to use the software that provides both functionalities.
Frequently Asked Questions
PIM stands for product information management, and DAM stands for digital asset management. PIM is a software system that helps businesses manage their product data, while DAM is a system that helps businesses manage their digital assets, such as images, videos, and documents.
PIM and DAM systems are important because they help businesses keep track of their product data and digital assets. These systems help businesses improve their efficiency and productivity, and they can also help businesses save money.
PIM and DAM are two essential tools for anyone working in e-commerce. Here’s how they work:
PIM, or Product Information Management, is a tool that helps you manage all of the product information for your online store. This includes things like product descriptions, pricing, and images.
DAM, or Digital Asset Management, is a tool that helps you manage your online store’s digital assets. This includes things like product images, videos, and marketing materials.
Both PIM and DAM are essential for any e-commerce business. They help you keep track of your product information and digital assets, so you can easily find and use them when you need to.
Most businesses today have an online presence, which means they need to have a way to manage their product information. This is where product information management, or PIM, comes in.
A good PIM system can help businesses save time and money by making it easier to keep their product information up-to-date.
There are many different types of PIM systems available, so it’s important to choose one that will fit the needs of your business. If you’re not sure where to start, our team of e-commerce experts can help you find the right solution for your business.
So what is the difference between PIM and DAM? PIM is focused on managing product data, while DAM is focused on managing digital assets. While both systems can be used to manage images, for example, only DAM will also be able to manage videos.
Digital asset management (DAM) is important for various reasons, chief among them being that it helps businesses keep track of their digital files and ensure that they are accessible and organized.
It helps businesses save time and money by automating many tasks that come with managing digital assets.
It helps businesses boost their bottom line by making it easier to find and reuse existing content.
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