In an increasingly digital supply chain, accurate product data is no longer a ‘nice to have’. It’s a necessity. Whether you’re a manufacturer, importer, or distributor, chances are you’re already dealing with spreadsheets, scattered systems, and ad hoc processes to manage essential information about your products. But is that still enough?
The bathroom and building materials industry is changing rapidly. Product data now travels further than ever before. Into merchant systems, customer-facing websites, regulatory platforms, and even future product data passports. If your product data is inconsistent or incomplete, it’s not just inefficient. It becomes a commercial, legal, and reputational risk.
This is where Product Information Management (PIM) comes in. A PIM system provides a central place to collect, manage, and distribute structured product data. It helps create a ‘single source of truth’ that’s accessible across teams and ready to feed into customers’ systems, digital catalogues, and sustainability reports. That’s not just good for efficiency. It’s essential for collaboration and compliance.
And compliance matters more than ever. With new and upcoming regulations across Europe and the UK (including stricter rules on packaging, environmental impact, and traceability) manufacturers are expected to deliver more detailed and standardised product data. The introduction of Product Data Passports will only increase this demand. Businesses that can’t respond quickly risk being excluded from tenders, platforms, or supply chains.
Let’s be honest: for many companies, the idea of implementing a PIM system still feels daunting. It sounds technical. It sounds expensive. And it sounds like a lot of work.
The reality is that yes, setting up a solid data foundation does require effort. But it’s a one-time investment that pays off quickly. And once it’s in place, it makes every product update, every customer request, and every new compliance requirement that much easier to manage.
Choosing the right system helps. Etimix, for example, is a PIM solution specifically designed for the technical industry. Built around the ETIM classification, it already speaks the language of manufacturers, wholesalers, and installers. That makes onboarding faster and more meaningful. Especially for businesses that need to meet formal data standards.
The real value of PIM isn’t just in the software. It’s in the clarity and control it brings to your business. With growing pressures on transparency and traceability, managing your product information centrally is not just smart. It’s becoming essential.