Product Information Management (PIM) with SAP: Efficiency in product master data management

Introduction to PIM with SAP

Product Information Management (PIM) is a central building block for managing and providing consistent, up-to-date and complete product information. In an increasingly digital business world, consistent and up-to-date product data is crucial to optimally reach customers across different channels.

With SAP ECC and S/4HANA, the CatMan Suite as a PIM system offers a platform for efficiently managing this data.

What is PIM?

PIM stands for the central management of all product-related information. This data includes master data such as material masters, prices, images, technical or sales texts, documentation, descriptions and product relationships. The aim is to create a “single source of truth” that ensures that all channels – from the website, online stores and print catalogs to mobile applications – are supplied from the same data source.

Advantages of PIM in SAP

1. central data storage:

– All product data is managed centrally and redundancy-free in SAP.
– Standardized database for all publications.

2. cost efficiency:

– Use of existing SAP infrastructure
– Minimize additional investments by reusing existing systems

3. agility and adaptability:

– Individual extensions and customizations possible
– Fast integration of new requirements

CatManSuite

The perfect addition: CatManSuite extends the PIM functionalities in SAP and enables professional and automated maintenance of product data. The modules include:

– CatImport: Import of supplier catalogs and communication with external data systems
– CatExport: Output of electronic product catalogs and publications for various channels
– CatTranslate: Support with the translation of master data

Key features of CatManSuite
– Data completeness check: Before publication, the system checks whether all the necessary data is available. Missing information can be added or requested via workflows
– Media-neutral text storage: Texts can be managed centrally and converted into various formats
– Document management: Management and assignment of images, PDFs, drawings and other files

Practical example: Use in product catalog publication

A central use case of PIM is the creation and management of product catalogs. CatExport is used to convert data from SAP ERP into target formats such as XML or HTML in order to make them available for online stores or print media.

Integration and scalability
The CatManSuite in SAP also enables seamless integration with third-party systems such as DAM systems (4ALLPORTAL) (digital asset management) or web store platforms. This enables a continuous data chain that can be flexibly adapted to changing market requirements.

The activities carried out include:

• Linking image data: The integration of the DAM system with SAP, such as with the SAP Connectors for 4ALLPORTAL: This allowed image data to be stored centrally and seamlessly integrated into catalogs.
• Make texts available: Product texts are maintained centrally in the existing processes and made available for various channels to ensure consistent communication.
• Product range maintenance: The product range for CP-Exchange, for example, can be continuously updated to meet the requirements of the platform and end users.

This example shows how PIM with CatManSuite is used in practice to ensure centralized and efficient data management.

Conclusion: Your path to digital product data management

With PIM in the SAP environment, companies create a solid basis for efficient, consistent and versatile product communication. The CatManSuite offers comprehensive expansion options and ensures that all publications are fed from a central data source. This enables companies not only to optimize their internal processes, but also to significantly improve the customer experience.

Contact us for your individual PIM solution

Our team of experienced consultants will be happy to support you with the implementation and customization of your new CatManSuite PIM system. Rely on our expertise to successfully implement your product data strategy.