PRODUCT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
PIM consultant for building
product manufacturers
I help manufacturers bring their product information together, so websites, datasheets, merchant listings and specification platforms stay accurate and consistent.
I've managed a PIM in-house, so I know getting the software working is only half the job. The harder part is often sorting out the data, agreeing who's responsible for it and keeping everything up to date.
Common product data problems I fix
Select a problem to see how I'd tackle it.
I've managed product data from the manufacturer's side
At Knauf, I worked across product, technical, and marketing teams to manage PIM, with product information needed across our website, merchant channels and specification platforms.
That experience shapes how I approach PIM projects today. I understand the practical challenges of managing technical product information, not just how the software is supposed to work.
PIM setup, data and connections
PIM readiness and data audit.
I'll review where your product information lives, where it conflicts and what's missing. You'll get a clear picture of the problems and which ones are worth tackling first, even if a full PIM implementation isn't the answer.
Data model and attributes.
I'll help structure your product information around what each audience needs. Specifiers, merchants, installers and your own teams don't all need the same details, but they should be working from consistent information.
Ownership and sign-off.
Clear responsibilities for creating, checking and approving product information, with a process your teams can follow as products change.
Choosing the right platform.
Help selecting a PIM that fits your range, your team and your budget. Sometimes the honest answer is that you don't need a dedicated PIM yet, and a better-structured setup with what you already have will do the job for now.
Implementation and migration.
Getting your product data into the new system cleanly, so it's mapped, de-duplicated and checked, rather than moving the existing mess somewhere more expensive.
Connecting your channels.
Connecting your PIM with the systems that use your product information, from your website and datasheets to merchant feeds and specification platforms. I'll help establish the right integrations, exports and update processes for each channel.
THE DIFFERENCE
Sort the data out before buying the software
A PIM won't fix inaccurate product information on its own.
And moving thousands of incomplete records into a new system won't suddenly make them useful.
I start by understanding what you've got, what needs fixing and who's responsible for keeping it accurate. Then we can work out which technology, if any, will make things easier.
Two ways to work together
A defined project.
A clear scope, a fixed fee and an agreed end point. This could be a product data audit, platform selection, or a full PIM implementation and migration.
Ongoing product data support.
Regular support keeping your product information accurate as ranges change, new products launch and additional channels are introduced.
WHITE-LABEL SUPPORT
PIM and product data support for agencies.
Building a website for a product manufacturer? Product data can quickly become a project of its own.
I can handle that side of the work alongside your team, either white-label or directly with your client.
Questions about PIM
A PIM (Product Information Management) system helps you manage product information in one central place. That includes specifications, descriptions, performance data and links to supporting documents and images.
Instead of updating the same information separately across your website, datasheets and merchant listings, you manage it centrally and distribute it to the channels that need it.
Not always. If your range is small and your information only goes to one or two places, a well-organised setup with the tools you already have may be enough for now.
A PIM starts to earn its keep when you have a larger range, several channels and more than one team updating product information. The data audit will help establish whether it's worth the investment.
Not quite. Your ERP usually manages things like product codes, pricing, stock and orders. A PIM handles the richer information customers need to understand, compare and specify products, including technical performance, descriptions and supporting documentation.
The two can work together, with each system responsible for different information.
No. NBS Source is where specifiers can find and use your product information. A PIM helps you manage the underlying data and keep it consistent with your other channels.
How information gets from your PIM to NBS Source depends on the systems and processes you have in place.
Following the CCPI is a good starting point, but keeping product information accurate across multiple systems and channels is an ongoing job.
A PIM can support that work through clearer ownership, version control and approval processes. It doesn't replace the wider requirements of the Code, but it can make managing your product information easier.
I'd start by understanding what went wrong. Was it the quality of the data, the way the system was configured, or how people were expected to use it?
There may be no need to start again. Sometimes the better option is fixing the system you've already paid for.
Yes. If you already have a PIM, I can help get more out of it. If you work with an agency, I'm happy to work alongside them on the product data side.
It depends on the size of your range and the state of your data, which is why I start with an audit. That gives you a realistic plan and timescale before you commit to anything bigger.
Let's get your product information sorted
Whether you're starting from spreadsheets, struggling with an existing PIM or planning a new implementation, tell me what you're working with.
We'll start with a conversation about your current setup and what you're trying to fix. From there, I can recommend the most useful next step.
Not sure where to start? Explore the growth diagnostic →