How do you determine the size and budget for a PIM?

The diverse world of PIM

The world of PIM solutions is broad and diverse. In the Netherlands alone, there are more than thirty providers. These solutions differ not only in functionality but also in scale. Especially organizations that have never worked with PIM before should ask themselves whether they want to immediately implement a large and complex PIM system. If both the organization and its employees have no prior PIM experience, a large-scale system may feel overwhelming.

For organizations that are not yet mature in PIM, it can make sense to start with a simple online SaaS solution. These PIM systems are less complex and can serve as a stepping stone to prepare the organization for more advanced PIM functionalities in the future. This way, you can grow gradually in the early stages without being overwhelmed by features you don’t need yet.

Of course, not all companies without PIM experience are the same. Every situation is different. Your company might already have experience with similar systems or expect rapid growth in the near future. That’s why it’s important to check whether a PIM system fits your current business processes and aligns with your future expectations.

Budget considerations

Another key factor when choosing a PIM system is budget. Implementation and maintenance costs can be significant. For instance, you’ll need to account for recurring monthly fees.

It’s essential to make well-considered choices to stay within budget while ensuring a solid return on investment. Budget allocation also depends on the business case you can build. How much cost savings can a PIM deliver? How much additional revenue can it generate? How much growth can it enable? These factors determine the budget for the system, beyond the initial expenses.

Companies that already have a PIM system and want to switch usually find it easier to define a clear budget. For new PIM users, it’s often wise to choose solutions that can grow with them. Some PIM systems, such as Akeneo with its Growth Edition, allow you to start with a basic version and gradually expand to an Enterprise Edition. This enables organizations to let the PIM system grow alongside their business.

Consider a PIM selection process

When selecting a PIM system, it’s important to know where your company stands today and where it wants to go. This helps define both the budget and the desired scope of the system. If you want to be sure that you’re partnering with the best PIM vendor and that the system fully matches your needs, you may also consider going through a PIM selection process.