Products

In brief: In PIM, a product is the umbrella term for a good or service offered for sale, such as “Laufschuh Pro”. It brings together the information shared by its variants, the individual sellable items with their own item numbers.

Base product and variant

Many PIM systems distinguish between the base product (also called a model or product family) and its variants. The base product holds the name, description, material, brand and main images. Variants differ in a few attributes, such as size or colour, and have their own item numbers, EANs, prices and stock levels. Shared values are passed on through inheritance.

Not just physical goods

The term also covers services and digital products, such as software, maintenance contracts or training courses. These also need descriptions, attributes and prices and can be managed in PIM.

Example

The product “Laufschuh Pro” has a description, five main images and attributes such as heel-to-toe drop and cushioning. Under it sit 40 variants in four colours and ten sizes. The online shop displays one product with selectable options, while the ERP holds 40 items. Relationships define how products are connected.

See also

• Variants, items and SKUs
• Product information
• Inheritance
• Relationships
• Data model