The successful PIM project
When we at Pico talk about a successful PIM project, it is not primarily about choosing a system or technical implementation. A good PIM project is defined by product data being treated as a strategic asset, and by the solution being grounded in the real needs, processes, and complexity of the business.
PIM is rarely an isolated initiative. It is a fundamental discipline that affects the way an organisation works with products, documentation, markets, and channels. We therefore assess the quality of a PIM project by whether it creates a sustainable foundation that can evolve over time.
Why PIM projects are often complex
At Pico, we typically work with mid-sized and large B2B companies where product portfolios are complex, characterised by many variants, technical specifications, and market-specific differences. In that context, PIM is not simply a tool for consolidating data, but a system that must handle relationships, rules, and dependencies between products and their information.
The complexity increases further when product data needs to be used across multiple systems, languages, and markets, and when there are high demands for documentation, compliance, and data quality. A good PIM project accounts for this reality from the outset.
Business understanding before technology
At Pico, we always start a PIM project with the business, not the system. This means we work with a thorough understanding of the company's products, value chain, processes, and organisational responsibilities before we define data models and technical solutions.
A good PIM project is built on clear answers to questions such as:
What role does product data play in the business?
Who owns the data, and who works with it?
Which decisions and processes depend on accurate and up-to-date information?
Without this clarity, PIM risks becoming a technical exercise without real organisational grounding.
Data modelling as the foundation
We regard data modelling as the core of every PIM project at Pico. The data model is the structural foundation that defines how products, variants, attributes, relationships, and metadata connect.
A well-considered data model makes it possible to work consistently with product information across channels and markets, while also supporting future needs. Conversely, an inadequate data model can create limitations that are difficult and costly to correct later in the project lifecycle.
Incremental implementation and clear priorities
A good PIM project is rarely an all-or-nothing initiative. At Pico, we often work with an incremental approach, where scope and complexity are aligned with the organisation's maturity and resources.
This means we prioritise the areas where PIM creates the greatest value first, and accept that the solution will develop over time. Clear priorities are essential to prevent the project from becoming too broad or losing focus.
Integration as part of the solution
PIM only creates real value when it forms an integrated part of the company's system landscape. At Pico, we therefore see integration as a natural part of the PIM project, not an afterthought.
PIM often serves as the central source of product data for ERP, websites, e‑commerce platforms, DAM, and external channels. A good PIM project accounts for these dependencies and ensures that data flows consistently and in a controlled manner between systems.
Organisational anchoring and governance
Technology alone does not make a good PIM project. Equally important is the organisational setup around the system. At Pico, we work with clear roles, responsibilities, and governance principles, so it is transparent who owns data, who maintains it, and how quality is ensured over time.
A good PIM project supports collaboration across departments and reduces dependence on manual processes and knowledge held by individuals. It creates stability and makes product data less vulnerable to organisational change.
PIM as a long-term collaboration
At Pico, we regard PIM projects as long-term collaborations rather than defined deliverables. The business, the market, and the requirements for product information change continuously, and the PIM solution must be able to adapt to these changes.
A good PIM project is therefore not complete at go-live. It is an ongoing effort to develop data models, processes, and integrations in line with the needs of the business.
Connections to other areas
PIM is closely connected to several other disciplines at Pico. Data modelling and governance are essential for quality and consistency. Integration connects PIM with the wider system landscape. Commerce and website solutions are often dependent on PIM as a primary data source, and requirements for documentation, traceability, and sustainability presuppose structured and reliable product information.
In that context, a successful PIM project is not an isolated initiative, but a central element in a coherent data and technology strategy.