What is ERP?

ERP Definition

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a category of business software that manages core operational processes (inventory, purchasing, finance, and order management) in a single integrated system.

How does ERP relate to PIM?

ERP and PIM solve different problems. An ERP tracks operational data: stock levels, purchase orders, supplier costs, and fulfilment status. A PIM manages the content needed to sell a product: descriptions, images, attributes, and channel-specific data. In practice, the two are integrated, pricing and inventory flow in from the ERP, while the PIM handles everything a customer or retailer sees.

Why can't businesses just use their ERP for product content?

ERPs are built for transactional accuracy, not content management. They can store a product name and a price, but they are poorly suited to multilingual descriptions, image libraries, or the varying attribute requirements of different sales channels. That gap is what a PIM is designed to fill.