3 Free PIM Softwares That Will Kickstart Your Business
Free, but not for nothing: With these tools, you can rock your product information management without any additional costs!
- What is a PIM Software?
- Advantages of (free) PIM Tools
- 3 permanently free PIM Softwares
- 3 PIM Tools with free trial version
- Conclusion: Is free PIM software worth it?
Pop quiz: What's better than a helpful PIM software? Quite simply: A helpful PIM software that doesn't cost you anything! What sounds like a dream in today's software landscape is actually possible. They exist, the free solutions, with which you can manage your Product Information Management (PIM). Find out in this article which providers are available on the market, what functions you can expect from the free tools and what you should consider when choosing the right PIM software.
What is a PIM Software?
The Product Information Management (PIM) is an important part of e-commerce and digital transformation. The goal is to manage and optimise product information centrally (keyword: single source of truth) in order to use it in various channels and formats. A PIM software is a system for managing this information. Tasks of such software include data input, data processing and the provision of information in various formats and languages.
Thus, a PIM software allows you to collect and manage all relevant information about your products in one place. This includes, for example, product descriptions, images, prices, availability, technical data and much more. This information can then be used in different languages and different channels, such as online shops, marketplaces, print media and mobile apps.
In addition to central information management, the main tasks of a PIM software also include optimising data quality and consistency, automating processes and integrating with other systems. Centralised management allows you to ensure that all information about your products is current and correct. The maintenance of this data ensures that products are presented in a uniform and attractive manner. Thanks to process automation, you save time and increase efficiency in your company. Integration with other systems such as ERP systems, CRM systems and online shops also enables seamless data transfer to other product catalogues and better collaboration between different departments.
Advantages of (free) PIM Tools
The advantages of PIM software are correspondingly diverse. Centralised product information management saves you time and costs, and increases efficiency in your company. The optimisation of data quality and consistency also improves consistent customer communication and contributes to a positive development of your conversion rate. In addition, automation of processes enables faster and more flexible response to market changes.
In summary, PIM software is an indispensable tool if you want to manage your product information effectively and use it in various channels. Especially in times of e-commerce and digital transformation, an efficient PIM should be a central component of your business strategy.
3 permanently free PIM Softwares
As you can see: The range of functions and benefits of good product information management software is large. And most tool providers charge accordingly. But there are indeed a few providers who offer permanently free PIM tools in addition to their priced versions. The small catch: The free versions come as expected with a significantly reduced range of functions. Nevertheless, a free PIM tool can certainly make sense - for example, if you first want to get a feel for whether a certain solution fits your company at all.
Akeneo
Akeneo is a powerful product-information management tool and is one of the best-known solutions on the market. The software channels information to various omnichannels, such as online shops, mobile, point of sale, print, Amazon or Google Shopping. Akeneo PIM focuses on the accuracy and precision of product data to create an efficient product experience for an unlimited number of channels and markets.
In addition to the paid versions Growth Edition (available from €25,000 per year) and the Enterprise Edition (price on request), Akeneo also offers its tool in the Community Edition, which is permanently free. This version includes almost all standard features, such as product catalogue management, the ability to enrich information or export product data. You will have to do without additional features such as extended release and rights management, various automations, dedicated support by the provider and extensive insights into data quality in the free version.
Plytix
Plytix is another PIM tool that provides a free version in addition to its paid editions. Although the solution is primarily aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, thanks to its scalability it is basically interesting for all business sizes. Features included in the free version of Plytix include Digital Asset Management, 10 gigabytes of file storage and up to 100,000 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs). In addition, an unlimited number of users in your company can work with the tool.
Of course, some functions that could be important are missing in the free version compared to the paid versions (available from €450 per month): One central feature that you only get in the paid versions is the so-called Output. By this, the provider Plytix means the ability to export your product data from the PIM system to other channels - like your product feeds, your online catalogue or in the form of PDF templates. Role management and automated imports are also only available in the paid editions of the tool. A connection to other softwares through API is only limited in the free version.
Pimcore
Last but not least, the PIM tool Pimcore also comes in a free version: In addition to the paid On-Premises Enterprise Edition and the Cloud Edition, the tool can also be used as the so-called Open Source Community Edition. In this version, the solution has been continuously developed and maintained by more than 300 developers since its launch in 2010. The free version offers all the central features and functions that are also included in the paid editions: Besides Product Information Management, this includes a Customer Data Platform, a Digital Asset Management function and a Mobile Device Management system. For scalability, an unlimited number of products, data, channels and users can be managed in the Community Edition. However, you will have to do without certain features such as Enterprise Metadata, Long Term Support and Microsoft/Adobe Integration, which are only available at a cost.
3 PIM Tools with free trial version
Want a little more? Then take a look at the following three software providers for Product Information Management. These alternatives are not permanently free, but can be tried out in a free trial version over a certain period of time before you have to pay for them. And if that's not enough, you will find many more providers in our PIM category on OMR Reviews.
Conclusion: Is free PIM software worth it?
So we come to the big question of whether the free version of a PIM tool is worth it for you. The sobering answer in this case must be: It depends.
Free PIM tools can be a great option, especially for smaller companies with limited budgets. They can help you organise product data centrally and share it across various channels without incurring high costs.
However, free PIM tools also have their drawbacks. For example, they offer limited features and capabilities and are often not as comprehensive as the paid versions. In addition, free solutions may not meet the specific requirements of your company, which can lead to inefficient workflows and a loss of time.
It is therefore important to bear in mind that the choice of appropriate software depends on various factors, including the size and budget of your company as well as the specific requirements you place on the tool.
As your company grows and requires more features and capabilities, it may make sense to invest in a paid PIM tool. These often offer more comprehensive features and customisation options.
At the end of the day, it is important to weigh up the pros and cons of free and paid PIM tools and make the choice based on the specific requirements and goals of your company.
Nils ist SEO-Texter bei OMR Reviews und darüber hinaus ein echter Content-Suchti. Egal, ob Grafik, Foto, Video oder Audio – wenn es um digitale Medien geht, ist Nils immer ganz vorne mit dabei. Vor seinem Wechsel zu OMR war er fast 5 Jahre lang als Content-Manager und -Creator in einem Immobilienunternehmen tätig und hat zudem eine klassische Ausbildung als Werbetexter.
