PIM KNOWLEDGE
PIM Project
Half of a PIM project is organisational work. The software is quick to install; the real work lies in the data model, data migration and responsibilities. These are the typical steps:
Our article Service partner or in-house team explores whether to implement with an integration partner or your own team.
For a detailed guide with a timeline, roles and common mistakes, see PIM implementation in four steps.
| Phase | Typical timeframe for mid-sized businesses |
|---|---|
| Analysis and target state | 4 to 8 weeks |
| System selection | 2 to 3 months |
| Solution design | 1 to 2 months |
| Implementation and data migration | 3 to 6 months |
| Pilot and rollout | 1 to 2 months |
Timelines depend primarily on data quality and the number of integrations and languages. Every month of the project uses up partner budget and internal team capacity, so a clearly defined scope for the first phase has a direct impact on costs.
The following indicative figures apply to larger mid-sized businesses. They show software costs by system tier, excluding implementation.
| Tier | Examples | Indicative software cost |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | Akeneo, Pimcore, OpenDXP, AtroPIM | Community version with no licence fee, enterprise versions by subscription |
| Entry-level | Plytix, Base.com, nextPIM, Ergonode, xmedia | around 100.000 euros |
| Professional | inriver, Centric PXM (formerly Contentserv), prodexa, Viamedici, pirobase | around 250.000 euros |
| Enterprise | Stibo Systems, Informatica (Salesforce), Syndigo, Salsify | around 500.000 euros |
Implementation is additional, typically costing 150.000 to 250.000 euros for mid-sized businesses. You can find all systems, including their pricing models, licensing models and target audiences, in our PIM vendor overview.
Which system category is right for you?
Use the PIM checklist to assess which system category and vendors match your requirements in just three minutes. We will email you an initial shortlist.
The main factors that increase PIM project costs are large numbers of products and variants, many attributes per category, multiple languages, numerous output channels, complex product relationships and poor source data. Use the PIM checklist to assess which system category is right for you in just three minutes. Our article on PIM ROI explains how to calculate the return on your investment.
| Cost driver | Why it increases costs | How to keep costs under control |
|---|---|---|
| Many products and variants | Higher data volumes, more complex variant logic, higher pricing tier | Model variants clearly and remove obsolete products before migration |
| Many attributes per category | Larger data model, more maintenance effort | Align attributes with channel requirements and use classification standards |
| Multiple languages | Translation, approvals and checks for each language | Plan a translation process with a glossary and AI support |
| Many output channels | Each integration is a separate subproject | Start with the most important channels and prioritise standard connectors |
| Complex relationships | Accessories, spare parts and configurations increase modelling and testing effort | Define relationship types early and test them using examples |
| Poor source data | Cleansing and enrichment take time and budget | Measure data quality before selection and budget realistically for the work involved |
Licence prices alone tell you little. A low-cost subscription can work out more expensive over time than a higher one-off licence fee, while an open-source system with no licence fee still incurs operating and development costs. Compare total costs over five years, using the same assumptions for all vendors.
| Item | One-off | Recurring annual costs |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Licence purchase | Subscription or maintenance |
| Implementation | Solution design, configuration, project management, testing | Ongoing development and change requests |
| Interfaces | Integration with ERP, online store, marketplaces, DAM | Connector licences, maintenance following changes |
| Data | Cleansing, migration, enrichment | Translations, new content, AI usage |
| Operations | Environment setup | Hosting, support, updates |
| Internal resources | Project participation by business departments | Data maintenance, approvals, product owner |
Our PIM criteria list provides a structured template for your comparison.
One product group, one channel, the most important languages. This reduces the initial budget and shows early on whether the data model and processes work.
Adapt your processes to the system's proven workflows wherever business requirements allow. Every custom development adds costs during implementation and with every update.
Measure data quality and clean up critical attributes before your implementation partner starts billing. This preparatory work offers the greatest leverage.
A product owner with sufficient time and decision-making authority saves more money than any discount by shortening coordination and approval cycles.
Also include a contingency budget, particularly for data migration and interfaces.
The budget delivers measurable benefits: getting new products online faster, less maintenance effort per item, fewer queries and returns caused by incorrect information, and new channels without additional staff. Establish these baseline metrics before the project so you can demonstrate the benefits later. Our article on PIM ROI explains how to calculate these benefits.
For larger mid-sized businesses, software costs range from around 100.000 euros (entry-level) to 250.000 euros (professional), depending on the category, with enterprise systems costing around 500.000 euros. Implementation typically adds another 150.000 to 250.000 euros.
Selection usually takes two to three months. For mid-sized businesses, implementation through to the first live channel often takes six to twelve months, depending on data quality and the number of interfaces and languages.
The community editions of Akeneo or Pimcore have no licence fees. Implementation, hosting, maintenance and ongoing development still incur costs and account for the largest share of expenditure.
SaaS spreads costs across an annual subscription and reduces the work involved in operations and updates. On-premises has higher upfront costs but can pay off over a longer period if you run your own IT operations. The key is to compare total costs over five years.
Recurring costs include subscriptions or maintenance, hosting and support, connector licences and ongoing development. There is also internal work involved in data maintenance and approvals, which increases as your product range and channels grow.
More than most expect. During implementation, you need a product owner with substantial time and decision-making authority, along with key users from the business departments. After go-live, data maintenance becomes an ongoing responsibility.
Use consistent volume assumptions, a common specification and a comparison of total costs over five years. The PIM criteria list provides a template.
Where does your PIM project stand?
Before you approve the budget: we provide a vendor-independent assessment of whether your data model, processes and systems are ready for your project, and quantify the gap.
Or go straight to PIM selection, the PIM criteria list or the free PIM checklist.
PIM KNOWLEDGE
Find out in 3 minutes whether a PIM system could benefit your business and which PIM systems could be right for you!
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