The software-version of a chef’s taste-tester

The world of PIM is vast and fascinating, and it's exciting to see how it has helped many industries over the years, but before going into detail, let’s talk to a man who has been part of the PIM journey for over two decades.

The story of PIM can be traced back to the late 1990s and early 2000s when businesses were beginning to embrace eCommerce and the need for centralized product information management systems.

Prior to this, businesses managed their product information using a variety of disparate systems, such as spreadsheets and databases, which made it difficult to ensure the accuracy and consistency of product information across multiple channels. 

"My very first job was to set up product data for a transport and logistics company. It was before any real PIM system, and we handled all data in excel sheets. This was my first encounter with product data, and before you started adding data like pictures - that was so much easier," Klaus laughs.

PIM systems emerged as a solution to handling and utilizing data, providing businesses with a centralized repository for their product information and enabling them to manage and distribute that information across multiple channels in a more efficient and effective manner.

"In 1994, I found a study program at the Information Academy and started to learn more about the technology of the internet," Klaus explains. "I had always been drawn to the internet and found it fascinating."

"My first job was working for a video store, setting up the video's to be shown on a website. It wasn't advanced at all, pure content information," he laughs.

"Later I came to work with setting up product information for the company later known as Weber Saint Gobain, where I build an internal PIM system from scratch. This consisted in creating product data and connecting these to the multi-functional system that connected everything from CMS to package design," Klaus explains. "It was an enormous system, it connected all the outer ends of the business and took us a long time to build".

Quality Assurance is part of the development process where the software developer would say 'Hey, it might be done, take a look!', and the Quality Assurance Specialist tears it all apart.

Klaus is so to say one of the gatekeepers of the product. Every detail and click needs to be checked before the launch of any new feature and thereby helping ensure high quality. 

"For some reason, I have always worked with data information. I suppose I am kind of a nerd who always had an interest in online and data combined", Klaus smiles. 

Being part of the Quality Assurance team in Product Development he tests the codes the software developers are making. You could compare it to a chef's taste tester.

Just as a chef's taste-tester checks the food to ensure it is seasoned and cooked to perfection before serving it to guests, a QA checks the software to ensure it is functioning correctly and meets the desired specifications before it is released to users.

“I have worked with different aspects of PIM and web development, in general, but always enjoyed working with how the PIM system is set up”, Klaus explains.

Overall, the story of PIM is a testament to the importance of having accurate and consistent product information and the role technology can play in making that a reality. "PIM is basically just data displayed, but with that data, you have endless opportunities to do business smarter," Klaus says. 

Did you know that PIM systems have been used in the fashion industry for over 20 years to manage product information, such as product descriptions, images, and specifications? In fact, some of the world's largest fashion brands use PIM to ensure that their product information is consistent and up to date across all sales channels, including their websites, retail stores, and catalogs.

This helps to improve the customer experience and prevent costly mistakes, such as shipping the wrong product or displaying incorrect information about a product.