E-commerce – what it is and why it needs a PIM system
- E-commerce – what it is and how it works
- Basic e-commerce tools
- When traditional product management is no longer enough
- PIM System – the foundation of modern e-commerce
- Key moments when it is worth implementing PIM
- What are the real benefits of integrating PIM e-commerce
- How PIM Supports E-commerce Development
- Integration of PIM with e-commerce platforms
- The Future of E-commerce with PIM Systems
- Summary
- FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Electronic commerce has changed the way we buy and sell. However, running an online store is not just about launching a website and waiting for orders. Managing hundreds or thousands of products, their descriptions, images, and technical parameters is a challenge that exceeds the capabilities of traditional tools. In this article, we will explain what e-commerce is – what kind of business model it is and show why a modern online store needs a professional product information management system.
E-commerce – what it is and how it works
E-commerce, or electronic commerce, is the sale and purchase of goods or services over the internet. An online sales platform can take various forms – from a simple online store to extensive marketplaces or subscription platforms. The global e-commerce market, valued at 5.7 trillion dollars in 2024, is expected to grow to 8.1 trillion by 2026 (Statista).
However, an online store is more than just a website with a cart. It is a complex ecosystem with a content management system, product database, payments, supplier integrations, and analytical tools. All these elements must function smoothly and be synchronized, with product data being crucial. Research by the Baymard Institute shows that 20% of abandoned carts are due to incomplete or unclear product information.
Basic e-commerce tools
The online store page is the frontend – what the customer sees. But the real work happens in the backend. Software for the store includes platforms such as Magento, PrestaShop, WooCommerce, Shopify, as well as Polish solutions like Shoper, IdoSell, or SOTE. Each of them offers basic functions for managing products, orders, and customers.
The problem arises with scaling the business. E-commerce tools built into store platforms are designed for relatively small catalogs. When the number of products exceeds several hundred items, and sales occur across multiple channels, management becomes a nightmare. Forrester Research states that the average time for updating product data in companies without a dedicated system is 7-10 days.
When traditional product management is no longer enough
E-commerce platform, what kind of challenge is it for product teams? It is primarily the necessity to keep thousands of pieces of information up-to-date in real-time. Each product has dozens of attributes – from basic ones like name and price, to complex technical specifications, certificates, user manuals, or marketing materials.
Implementing an online store is just the beginning. The real challenges arise during daily operations and they are:
- price update for hundreds of products during the promotion,
- change descriptions according to the new SEO guidelines,
- adding new product variants,
- synchronization of stock levels, language version management.
Without the right tools, teams spend 60-70% of their time on routine, repetitive tasks related to data updates (source: McKinsey Digital).
PIM System – the foundation of modern e-commerce
PIM e-commerce is a solution that addresses all the mentioned problems. The PIM (Product Information Management) system centralizes product data management, creating a single source of truth for all sales channels. Instead of updating information in multiple places, teams work in one system, and the data is automatically synchronized.
How does it work in practice? Imagine you run an online electronics store. You receive a new batch of smartphones with updated specifications from the supplier. Without PIM, you would have to:
- manually update the description in the store panel,
- change technical parameters,
- add new photos,
- update PD instructions,
- repeat the process for each language version.
With the PIM system, a single update in the central repository is enough, and all channels will automatically receive the current data.
It is important to distinguish data types in e-commerce:
- Data from PIM– product descriptions, technical specifications, photos, marketing materials, certificates, instructions, translations.
- ERP Data– prices, stock levels, product codes, supplier information.
- Data from WMS– actual stock levels, product locations, availability statuses.
The key difference lies in the nature of these data:
- ERP and WMS – exchange fast-changing and transactional data with e-commerce – prices change during promotions, inventory levels update with each order, product availability changes in real-time.
- PIM system – provides a "golden record" – a model, verified product information and data tailored for multi-channel sales and publication.
PIM manages stable product information – what describes the product and helps sell it. These are data that change rarely but must be perfectly prepared for each sales channel. ERP and WMS provide operational data that change dynamically during business operations.
Key moments when it is worth implementing PIM
Not every online store needs a PIM from the first day of operation. However, there are clear signals that it's time to professionalize data management:
- 1.The number of SKUs exceeds 1000 items
With this number of products, manual management starts to become inefficient. The time spent on updates increases exponentially. - 2.Multichannel sales
When, in addition to your own online store, you sell on marketplaces, in a physical store, or through B2B catalogs, data synchronization becomes critical. - 3.International expansion
Language version management and localization is a challenge that PIM solves elegantly. According to CSA Research, products with descriptions in the local language sell 3x better. - 4.Frequent changes in the assortment
Industries such as fashion or electronics, where products change seasonally or are frequently updated, particularly benefit from automation.
What are the real benefits of integrating PIM e-commerce
Software for a store integrated with PIM delivers tangible results. According to Ventana Research studies:
- 75% reduction in time to market for new products,
- 50% fewer errors in product data,
- 30% increase in conversion due to better descriptions.
The sales platform gains from data quality. Complete, consistent, and attractive product descriptions are the foundation of success in e-commerce. PIM ensures that every product has all the required information, images in the appropriate resolution, and technical documentation.
How PIM Supports E-commerce Development
The PIM system is not just a data management tool – it is a platform that enables business scaling. When a company plans:
- adding new product categories,
- entry into new markets,
- launching B2B sales alongside B2C,
- integration with new marketplaces.
PIM becomes the foundation on which additional sales channels can be built without the need to redesign processes.
Integration of PIM with e-commerce platforms
Most PIM systems offer integrations with popular platforms via API or dedicated connectors. The integration process usually includes:
- mapping of data structure between systems,
- configuration of synchronization rules,
- determining the direction of data flow,
- testing and optimization.
In a typical e-commerce architecture, PIM works with other systems:
- ERP → PIM– provides the most basic information about the product (so-called master data),
- PIM → E-commerce– provides descriptions, photos, attributes, documentation,
- ERP → E-commerce– provides prices, stock levels, accounting information,
- WMS → E-commerce– updates the actual availability of products,
- E-commerce → ERP/WMS– forwards orders and reservations.
When choosing a PIM system, it is worth ensuring that it works well with other systems and with the main sales environment, which is the e-commerce platform. Above all, easy integration and flexibility. Such capabilities are offered by solutions like Pimcore or Akeneo.
The Future of E-commerce with PIM Systems
The development of artificial intelligence and automation opens up new possibilities. Modern PIM systems use AI to:
- generating SEO-friendly descriptions,
- automatic tagging of products based on photos,
- detection of missing information,
- suggestions for cross-selling and up-selling.
Gartner predicts that by 2026, 80% of large e-commerce companies will be using PIM systemsas a standard for product information management.
Summary
E-commerce – what is it in 2025? It is a complex ecosystem requiring professional management tools. An online store without an appropriate product data management system is like trying to run a warehouse without an inventory system – possible, but inefficient and prone to errors.
PIM e-commerce is an investment that pays off through time savings, error reduction, and better shopping experiences for customers. For companies that are serious about developing online sales, implementing a PIM system is not a question of "if," but "when."
Are you wondering if your e-commerce needs a PIM system? Check out our solutions:
- PIM Systems – Comprehensive Solutions for E-commerce
- Pimcore – a flexible PIM system for the demanding
Contact usand find out how professional product data management can transform your online business!
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Your online store needs a PIM because e-commerce platforms have limitations when managing a large number of products and multichannel sales. PIM centralizes product data, eliminating errors and time-consuming, manual updates in multiple places.
Implementing PIM solves problems with inconsistency and duplication of product descriptions across different sales channels. It automates updates, management of variants, and language versions, which significantly reduces the time needed to prepare products for sale.
Your e-commerce should consider implementing PIM when the number of SKUs exceeds 1000, you conduct multichannel or international sales, or you have frequent changes in your assortment. These are signals that traditional methods are becoming ineffective.
Integration of the PIM system brings benefits such as: 75% reduction in product entry time, 50% fewer data errors, 30% increase in conversion due to better descriptions, as well as more efficient scaling to new markets and sales channels.
Data from PIM are stable information describing the product (descriptions, photos, specifications) that rarely change but must be perfectly prepared for sales. Data from ERP (prices, stock levels) and WMS (availability) are dynamically changing operational and transactional data in the online store.