Product Information Management (PIM)Content Management Systeme (CMS)

PIM vs. CMS – Overview and Comparison

Katharina-Maria Röder 4/28/2023

We show you the difference between PIM and CMS and how to find the right software for you

For managing product information, both Product Information Management (PIM) and Content Management Systems (CMS) are suitable. Which software is better suited for you depends on your requirements. So that you can make the right decision for one of the two systems, we will take a closer look at both systems in this article and compare their main functions.

What is a Content Management System (CMS)?

A CMS is a software application that allows to create, edit and publish digital content. CMS are mainly used for Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and Web Content Management (WCM). With a CMS you can without programming knowledge create a website and manage it. In addition, a range of tools are available to manage your content publishing workflow. This facilitates team collaboration. There is also a library or repository where all digital content associated with the website is stored. CMS are easy to use. After an introduction, any employee can work with it. If a website's content is frequently updated, a content management system can significantly reduce the associated effort. A CMS is a good way to create and manage a website efficiently and cost-effectively.

What's a Product Information Management System (PIM)?

A PIM is a software that supports your company in gathering, managing and distributing all relevant product information. The goal is to create a consistent and reliable source of information that is available to various internal and external stakeholders. By using a PIM system, data quality can be improved, and the customer experience can be personalized. The fundamental product data, such as name, dimensions, variants, and colors, are stored in the PIM. The main functions of a PIM system include managing the product catalog, maintaining product data, validating data and translation management. In short, a PIM system offers your company the opportunity to efficiently manage product information and create a consistent source of information.

What are the main differences between CMS and PIM?

Both tools aim to manage information. But that's almost where the similarities end. Let's compare CMS with PIM directly.

Image: CMS vs. PIM (presentation by the author)

As you can see, CMS and PIM are used in different situations and meet different requirements. While a CMS is mainly used for managing content on websites and other digital channels, a PIM specializes in managing product data.

When is a PIM system needed and when is a CMS system needed?

A PIM system is worth it, if you…

have many products to manage.
want to sell across multiple channels.
have multiple data sources and systems that store and update product information.
have complex products with many variants and characteristics.
want to sell in different markets and multiple languages.

A CMS system is worth it, if you…

create new content frequently.
update your content often.
share your content across multiple channels.
have a team that needs to access content.
need features like user rights management, workflow management, and content publishing.

In summary, one can say that a CMS is sufficient for a simple e-commerce website that focuses more on content such as texts. For complex product data such as variants, attributes, links, or multiple languages, a PIM system may be necessary.

What should be considered in the CMS vs. PIM decision?

You already know a bit about the purpose and functions of CMS and PIM. To make a final decision for one of the tools, you should take a closer look at the following topics:

Type of Content
⁠
⁠If your business mainly publishes content on a website or other digital channels, a CMS is the right choice. However, if you have many products that are to be marketed across various channels, a PIM is the better choice.
⁠
⁠
Complexity of Content
⁠
⁠If your products or content are relatively simple, you can manage them with a CMS. However, if you have products with many variants and properties being offered in various markets, then a PIM would be preferable over a CMS.
⁠
⁠
Number of Data Sources
⁠
⁠A CMS can combine a few data sources well. However, if there are many data sources from which information is being fetched, then a PIM is better. It makes it easier to gather and synchronize information.
⁠
⁠
Compatibility with other Tools
⁠
⁠The differing focus of CMS and PIM systems affects their integration with other tools. Hence, any potential compatibility issues between the systems and other tools need to be checked thoroughly.
⁠
⁠
Future Developments
⁠
⁠If you want to start small and with few products, a CMS is sufficient. However, if you already know that you will need to include more products in your assortment and sell internationally in the near future, it could be beneficial to opt for a PIM right away.