Digital asset management vs Product information management

Put simply, DAM is about managing digital content such as images, videos, and documents. PIM is about managing product information, and ensuring it’s accurately and consistently published throughout the product lifecycle.

While both share similar benefits in helping to improve operational efficiency and ensure a much more streamlined customer journey, they serve different purposes, and whether or not an organization needs one or the other (or both) depends on their unique needs. As a general rule of thumb, a PIM system is most beneficial when you need to centralize the storage and distribution of product information. If you’re more in need of a system to centralize, organize, and manage digital assets owned by your organization, digital asset management is the way to go.

Given that many digital assets require accurate, up-to-date product information, there is an inevitable overlap between PIM and DAM software, and they often go hand-in-hand in supporting an organization’s multiple e-commerce and marketing channels. World-renowned research specialists, Forrester, describes their mutually beneficial relationship well: “Product information management (PIM) users can turn to digital asset management (DAM) to win the digital shelf, and DAM users can accelerate the shift to omnichannel with PIM.”

Both act as a centralized, secure repository for information that enables a consistent brand and customer experience. Each system helps to facilitate collaboration between both employees and external partners, and are highly configurable to an organization’s unique needs. When implemented and managed correctly, both systems can save companies a significant amount of time and money by speeding up time-to-market and automating the distribution of digital and product assets.

Digital assets stored in multiple locations with no real structure? Can’t find files fast enough? Struggling to ensure brand consistency? Need better control and visibility regarding who has access to what? Need a ‘one-stop-shop’ to collaborate and distribute marketing assets, as well as integrating with other marketing tech tools? Then DAM fits the bill in solving all these issues.

Want some more in-depth information on the ins and outs of DAM? Check out The definitive guide to digital asset management.

PIM software is great for organizations who need to manage large amounts of product-related collateral. Think e-commerce retailers, manufacturers, and other companies who need to centralize and source product information from multiple channels.

PIM libraries allow users to aggregate and collate product descriptions or related information and make sure the correct data is consistently published across all their marketing and sales channels. Maintaining a good PIM library helps mitigate the risk of embarrassing errors or inconsistencies in your product information, which can inevitably have a detrimental effect on your brand. Also, if your business needs to store and manage stock keeping units (SKUs), PIM systems can be really useful.

When you integrate your PIM and DAM systems, you get all the advantages of your PIM—a highly organized and optimized repository of product information—with the added capabilities of a DAM system. Your product data is linked automatically to your digital assets, meaning you can ensure consistency in your content, messaging, and branding. This, in turn, helps to mitigate human error and provides full control over product information and its related market channels.

Many DAM vendors like Bynder have readily available integrations with PIM solutions. To learn more about the possibilities of integration, get in touch with us today.

Curious to find the right DAM or PIM software for your needs, and can’t figure out whether you would benefit from some combination of the two? Inevitably this takes a bit of research and planning.

If you need a better understanding of the key features and benefits of each respective system, it’s a good idea to talk to an expert to discuss your organization’s specific use case, requirements, and end goals. To ensure it’s a productive meeting, consider the following: What are you looking to achieve with DAM and/or PIM? What challenges are you currently facing? What processes do you think need improving?

Also consider relevant stakeholders in your analysis and planning; what will they need from the system, and are there any obstacles that may need to be overcome regarding training or data protection requirements? An effective consultant will be able to guide you through the process, from selecting the right software vendor right up to implementation and training.

Your requirements will be specific to your unique needs, and will depend on your findings from the aforementioned analysis. Make sure you consider long-term goals and plans into account too, as you inevitably want the solution to be future-proof that offers lasting value.

Want to chat to an expert? Get in touch with us today, and one of our consultants can listen to your requirements and offer solutions to meet your exact needs.