Nowadays, any company that wants to manage its product information effectively can hardly do without using a PIM system (Product Information Management system). However, selecting PIM software is no simple matter — there are many PIM systems on the market, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes the decision when choosing a PIM solution cannot be made by a future user on their own due to a lack of technical know-how or specialist knowledge. In that case, PIM consultants need to be brought on board.
PIM consulting firms should also be selected according to certain criteria, the most important of which are:
- Experience with PIM software
- Industry-specific know-how (legal requirements, understanding of necessary classification systems, etc.)
- System neutrality
- Scope of services to be provided
With regard to these criteria, we present a list of the most popular PIM consultants and a detailed comparison of their services during the project phases in a table, to make it easier to select a PIM consulting firm.
On the German market, there are currently around a dozen companies offering PIM consulting services. These include: incoxx GmbH, PIM-Consult GmbH, Listen! Consulting GmbH, SDZeCOM GmbH & Co. KG, pörtner consulting, Bayard Consulting Group, mds. Agenturgruppe GmbH, ecom consulting GmbH.
Why Do You Need PIM Consulting?
PIM consulting is an in-demand service that has emerged as a result of increasing competition among PIM software providers. With around 100 PIM software systems available worldwide, including expensive solutions, the decision-making process for companies is often complex. A comprehensive selection process requires not only time but also a deep understanding of internal processes and issues related to product data.
Qualitative requirements analyses require technical expertise, but that alone is not enough. Comparing and accurately mapping specific requirements across different PIM systems requires experience that only an expert familiar with multiple PIM systems can provide. Therefore, involving an external PIM consultant seems extremely sensible in order to make well-informed decisions.
What Problems Can Arise?
Potential users may be confronted with various problems, including:
- Lack of knowledge about available PIM software
- Lack of time for selecting a PIM system
- Missing know-how about PIM software
- No understanding of what technical characteristics the PIM system should have
- No technically minded staff for the selection and project management when introducing PIM software
- Operational blindness — no understanding of what problems arise in managing product information and how they can best be solved.
- If any of these problems are present, involving a PIM consultant may be the best solution.
The Most Popular PIM Consulting Firms in Germany
SDZeCOM GmbH & Co. KG
- Website: https://www.sdzecom.de/
- Company headquarters: Aalen, Baden-Württemberg
- Public profile: 3 out of 5
- Year founded: 2007
- Number of employees: approx. 75
- Specialization: Consulting regarding the selection and implementation of MDM/PIM, support for MDM/PIM; Print Publishing: implementation of Media Asset Management and Multi Language Management.
- Systems examined: PIM, DAM/MAM, MDM
- Supported PIM systems: many
mds. Agenturgruppe GmbH
- Website: https://www.mds.eu/
- Company headquarters: Munich, Bavaria
- Other offices: Berlin
- Public profile: 4 out of 5
- Year founded: 2009
- Number of employees: over 50
- Specialization: Product marketing, product communication, visualizations, print catalogs, product configurators. Preparation of Print PIM and MAM implementation. Development of portals, online shops, CMS.
- SME specialization
- Systems examined: PIM, DAM/MAM
- Supported PIM systems: Pimcore (Silver partner)
Bayard Consulting
- Website: https://www.bayard-consulting.com/
- Company headquarters: Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Public profile: 2 out of 5
- Year founded: 2011
- Specialization: Consulting, implementation, development regarding PIM and MDM systems.
- Industry know-how: Retail, industry, healthcare
- Systems examined: PIM, MDM
- Supported PIM systems: Informatica, pirobase imperia, Viamedici
- Awards:
- Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Award 2018 – With 446.12 percent growth, Bayard Consulting GmbH ranked 19th
- Special Prize for Digitalization – WirtschaftsWoche Award "Best of Consulting 2017 Mittelstand"
LISTEN! CONSULTING
- Website: https://www.forbeyond.eu/en/
- Company headquarters: Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg
- Other offices: Kiel
- Public profile: 1 out of 5
- Year founded: 2011
- Number of employees: over 15
- Specialization: Consulting regarding the implementation of PIM/DAM/MDM, Omnichannel Commerce.
- SME specialization
- Industry know-how: Manufacturers and retailers (fashion, furniture, DIY, FMCG/food, mechanical engineering, MRO)
- Systems examined: PIM, DAM/MAM, MDM
- Supported PIM systems: many
PIM-Consult
- Website: https://www.pim-consult.com
- Company headquarters: Hamburg
- Public profile: 1 out of 5
- Year founded: 2014
- Number of employees: 11
- Specialization: Consulting regarding the implementation of PIM/DAM/MDM.
- SME specialization
- Industry know-how: Industry and retail
- Systems examined: PIM, DAM/MAM, MDM
- Supported PIM systems: many
incoxx GmbH
- Website: https://incoxx.com/
- Company headquarters: Ingolstadt, Bavaria
- Other offices: Esslingen
- Public profile: 1 out of 5
- Year founded: 2011
- Specialization: Consulting regarding the implementation of PIM, DAM/MAM.
- SME specialization
- Systems examined: PIM, DAM/MAM
- Supported PIM systems: many
Stefan Joachim Beratung
- Website: https://www.xing.com/pages/stefanjoachim-beratung/
- Company headquarters: Wangen im Allgäu, Baden-Württemberg
- Public profile: 0 out of 5
- Number of employees: sole proprietor
- Specialization: Consulting regarding the implementation of PIM, DAM/MAM.
- Primary focus: SMEs. Also serves corporations and mid-sized companies with corporate-like structures
- Systems examined: PIM, DAM/MAM
- Supported PIM systems: many
pörtner consulting
- Website: https://www.poertner-consulting.de/
- Company headquarters: Hundsangen, Rhineland-Palatinate
- Other offices: Westerburg
- Public profile: 3 out of 5
- Year founded: 2001
- Specialization: Conducting seminars and workshops. Consulting on software selection (CRM, CMS, BPM, PIM, DAM, MDM and others), e-commerce consulting, blockchain consulting.
- SME specialization
- Systems examined: PIM, DAM/MAM, MDM
- Supported PIM systems: Hybris, Heiler, Brandmaker, Infor, Contentserv, Stibo Steps, Akeneo, Pimcore, ViaMedici
ecom consulting GmbH
- Website: https://www.ecom-consulting.de/
- Company headquarters: Munich, Bavaria
- Public profile: 2 out of 5
- Year founded: 2015
- Number of employees: 22
- Specialization: Consulting in logistics, IT systems, sales, marketplaces, e-commerce.
- SME specialization
- Systems examined: PIM
- Supported PIM systems: many
GAFICON GmbH
- Website: https://gaficon.de/
- Company headquarters: Wettenberg, Hesse
- Public profile: 0 out of 5
- Year founded: 2009
- Specialization: Consulting in fulfillment and logistics, e-commerce, digital transformation, data management, PIM.
- SME specialization
- Industry know-how: Healthcare, industry, retail, agencies and publishers
- Systems examined: PIM, DAM/MAM
- Supported PIM systems: many
PIM Consultants in the Major Comparison
Other Providers for PIM Consulting and Implementation
There are also PIM service providers that can offer not only PIM consulting but also complete technical implementation. Naturally, system neutrality cannot be expected in such cases. Among others, the following are worth mentioning:
PRISCA GmbH
Website: https://www.prisca-gmbh.de/ Year founded: 2017 Company headquarters: Neusäß Branches: none Services: Requirements analysis, consulting, implementation, project support PIM software offered: CONTENTSERV, OpusCapita (formerly jCatalog), Pimcore
ADSCAPE GmbH
Website: https://adscape.de/ Year founded: 2017 Company headquarters: Siegen Branches: none Specialization: PIM and PIM-adjacent systems Services: Consulting, PIM software selection, conducting tenders, technical project implementation Preferred PIM software: none
The P.I.M. Company GmbH
Website: https://www.thepimcompany.com/ Year founded: 2008 Company headquarters: Augsburg Branches: Novi Sad, Serbia Number of clients: 12 Services: Consulting, technical implementation, training, support Software offered: Akeneo, Riversand
Conclusion
Selecting the right PIM consulting firm is not easy, but it is approximately 10 times easier than selecting a PIM system without a PIM consultant. When choosing a consulting firm, one should consider the industry experience, service portfolio, and neutrality of the provider. Everyone should carefully weigh all the pros and cons for themselves.
The implementation of a PIM system is a complex process that involves many departments of the user organization, so that the software can later be used as intended. And if you are planning to bring a PIM consultant on board, think from the very beginning about whether they can be helpful only during the concept phase or also during the implementation phase. A final decision on whether to involve a PIM consultant during the implementation (concept and execution) should only be made after the "PIM system selection" project phase.