Pimcore optimizes sales service costs through automation and integration
For several years, a data-driven approach has been one of the most widely discussed topics in the business world. Organizations continue to debate whether it is better to be data-driven, data-informed, or data-inspired. Regardless of the approach, one thing remains constant: accurate, consistent, and easily accessible data has a significant impact on business performance. This is particularly true for product information, which forms the foundation of sales, marketing, and customer service. How can optimising the flow of product information reduce sales operating costs, and what role does Pimcore play in this process?
From this article you will learn:
- how automation and integrations in Pimcore help reduce sales operating costs,
- which processes are worth automating first,
- which business systems Pimcore can integrate with,
- why centralized data reduces errors and improves team efficiency,
- how integrations support omnichannel sales,
- when investing in automation and a PIM system delivers the greatest return.
How can you tell when automation and integrations are needed?
Businesses often begin considering automation when manual data management can no longer keep pace with growth. In practice, this leads to more repetitive tasks, a higher risk of errors, and increasing amounts of time spent updating information rather than using it.
You should consider introducing automation and integrating your PIM system if:
- the same data is entered into several systems,
- employees regularly copy information between Excel, the ERP system, and the online store,
- product updates take several hours,
- product information differs across sales channels,
- errors in product descriptions or specifications are becoming more frequent,
- the business is expanding into new sales channels or markets,
- manual data synchronisation is taking up an increasing amount of time.
The more of these issues your organization faces, the greater the potential benefits of process automation and centralized product data management.
How does using Pimcore really reduce my sales service costs?
1. Pimcore reduces costs because... it doesn't create new ones.
Efficient product data management has a real impact on your costs. If you minimize errors caused by inconsistent, out-of-date information being spread across different departments, your team won't waste time trying to resolve issues.
If you additionally automate the process of filling in product data, your employees will be able – instead of engaging in time-consuming updating of information, e.g. in Excel sheets – to devote their time to other activities, such as analysing the most effective sales channels.
And this is the strength of the Pimcore platform. It supports entrepreneurs in streamlining the flow of data within their business: between departments, stakeholders and channels. This is possible thanks to work automation and integration with various systems and data sources, including areas such as assigning products to categories based on their description, standardizing data in product descriptions or attributes.
Pimcore's automation capabilities allow it to build a major competitive advantage, such as through personalized offers or dynamic pricing. Pimcore has observed that customers using the platform have increased productivity (40%) and reduced costs (15%).
| Area | Result |
|---|---|
| Automation | Less manual work |
| Integrations | No duplicate data entry |
| Centralization | Fewer errors |
| Workflow | Faster processes |
| API | Lower integration costs |
2. Pimcore maximizes profits by helping you stay ahead of your competition
Pimcore helps you accelerate the publication of product information across multiple sales channels. With PIM, you can more quickly fill in product information, including marketing description, cross-selling and upselling data, user-generated content, SKUs, and product dimensions. You will also reduce delays caused by data gaps and errors. This will let your business make profit by staying ahead of the competition.
It is worth mentioning that the creators of the Pimcore platform noticed that the more consistent the processed product data was among their customers, the easier it was for them to reach new markets, which increased sales and revenue by up to 20%.
3. Depending on your choice, it gives you capabilities such as enterprise-class solutions or open source solutions
The open-source Pimcore does not make a company dependent on a single vendor. An entrepreneur using the platform can develop it on their own or with a selected IT provider. The open source version (Community Edition) includes the PIM/MDM/CDP/DAM and DXP/CMS/Commerce modules. Importantly, in Pimcore – as opposed to Akeneo, for example – the free version is not limited by the number of records. There’s no limit to the number of languages, channels or users, which keeps the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of the Pimcore platform low and increases the ROI.
Before making your choice, you should also consider the benefits that the Pimcore Enterprise version can bring to your organization. The annual subscription includes marketplace integration and a translation interface, among other features.
Examples of integration in Pimcore
Pimcore allows you to seamlessly integrate your organization's existing information ecosystem. It connects the necessary systems and product data sources to ensure that all people in the company have constant access to the latest version of the information. This connection is made possible by Pimcore's software architecture, which is based on an API. This, in turn, is an implementation of the ‘connect anything’ principle dear to the platform's creators.
It's all thanks to the API
An API is a way of communication that allows systems to exchange data between one another. Let's give an everyday example that you may be very familiar with. Thanks to an API, when paying for online shopping you can seamlessly switch from your online store to a transaction service such as PayU, przelewy24.pl or dotpay, and then to your bank's website or mobile app to complete the payment. Pimcore's API works on a similar principle.
Pimcore integration examples
Now that you know how integrations in Pimcore are possible, let's move on to the specifics.
Importing data from external sources
You can import data in XLS, XLSX, JSON and XML formats into Pimcore from remote SFTP (client-server communication protocol) or HTTP (hypertext document transfer protocol) locations. Working on them will be easier: Pimcore allows you to schedule regular data updates and cleaning to save even more time.
Integrations with external systems
The Pimcore platform can also integrate with ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and SAP (Systems Applications and Products in data processing) systems.
Pimcore PIM + ERP
PIM and ERP systems can work harmoniously together. ERP collects information about products, customers, prices and warehouse locations. However, it focuses on product range availability, not marketing or sales. This is where the PIM system comes in. It gathers the product information available in ERP, helping to match it to the marketing needs of the organization and linking it to the output channels.
Pimcore PIM + SAP
One of the benefits of integrating Pimcore PIM and SAP is the centralized management of product data and elimination of redundancy. This in turn improves productivity by reducing the number of hours spent manually synchronising data and sending information to internal teams, wholesalers, suppliers and customers.
Integrations with e-commerce and marketplace platforms
Integration of product information with sales platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Alibaba or Walmart (as well as niche platforms) is seamless in Pimcore (in the Enterprise version). Data is optimized for each market, whether local or global.
In addition, the system enables multi-channel synchronization of orders and organizes information about the status of product availability across all marketplace channels (in the Enterprise version). It allows you to track orders in a centralized dashboard and gives you access to a complete overview of all orders. You can also compare the performance of each channel. This module helps you to control the number of orders and relate them to your stock levels, allowing you to provide your customers with up-to-date information on the number of products available, thus improving user experience. This has been confirmed by Pimcore customers: better availability of product data across channels has improved user engagement by 40%.
Importantly, the Pimcore Marketplace integration platform connects to these channels precisely thanks to the aforementioned API, which comes with built-in marketplace catalogue templates. Using these helps accelerate the presentation of products in new channels – and Pimcore supports over 2,500 of them.
Which processes should you automate first?
Not every automation needs to be implemented at once. In most projects, the greatest benefits come from improving the processes that consume the most time and are most prone to errors. This makes it possible to achieve initial results relatively quickly and expand the solution as the organization’s needs grow.
It is usually worth starting with the automation of:
- importing product data from ERP systems, Excel spreadsheets, or other sources,
- publishing product information to online stores, B2B platforms, and marketplaces,
- synchronizing data across all connected systems,
- workflow processes such as approving, completing, and verifying product data,
- managing images and marketing materials through integration with a DAM module,
- translation and localization processes, especially when selling across multiple markets,
- updating marketplace listings so that every channel uses the same accurate and up-to-date information.
This approach quickly reduces the number of manual operations, lowers the risk of errors, and eases the workload of teams responsible for managing the product offering. Further processes can then be automated in subsequent stages, allowing the scope of the solution to grow alongside the business.
From our experience
„As e-commerce businesses grow, so does the number of products, integrations, and systems that rely on product data. Automating the flow of information helps organizations stay in control, reduces repetitive work, and allows teams to focus on activities that drive sales rather than routine data updates.” - Maciej Pałubicki, CEO, Tandemite
A good example is the project delivered for Emotivo, where centralized product data management and process automation helped organize an offering of more than 7,500 attractions while improving collaboration with over 1,500 partners. By implementing a Pimcore-based solution, the company gained a more efficient way to manage product information and created a solid foundation for further business growth.
To sum up
Pimcore helps you reduce sales enablement costs by:
- Automating your organization's data workflow and eliminating errors,
- Speeding up the publication of product information across different sales channels through integration and automation,
- Enabling companies to develop the software on their own or with any IT supplier
FAQ
What processes can be automated in Pimcore?
Pimcore enables the automation of a wide range of product data management processes. These include importing data from external systems, publishing products to online stores and marketplaces, synchronizing information across multiple systems, managing workflows, handling translations, and updating images and other marketing assets. As a result, businesses can reduce manual work and streamline their sales operations.
Can Pimcore be integrated with SAP?
Yes. Pimcore can be integrated with SAP, allowing product data to be automatically synchronized between the two systems. This reduces the need for manual data entry, improves data quality, and enhances collaboration between sales, marketing, and logistics teams.
Does Pimcore integrate with ERP systems?
Yes. Pimcore integrates with a wide range of ERP systems and can retrieve product information, pricing, inventory levels, and availability data. It then enriches this information with marketing content, digital assets, and additional product data required for publication across multiple sales channels.
How do integrations reduce sales operating costs?
Integrations eliminate the need to enter the same data into multiple systems. Automated synchronization reduces errors, shortens the time needed to update product information, and decreases the workload associated with managing sales operations. As a result, businesses can lower operating costs while responding more quickly to changing market conditions.
Is automation suitable for small businesses?
Yes, provided it addresses genuine business needs. Even smaller organizations can benefit from automating repetitive tasks, particularly if they plan to expand into new markets, introduce additional sales channels, or scale their operations. The scope of automation should always be aligned with the size and complexity of the business.
Does Pimcore support marketplace integrations?
Yes. Pimcore supports integration with multiple marketplaces and enables the automatic publication and updating of product data. This ensures that every sales channel uses the same consistent and up-to-date product information, making it easier to manage product listings while reducing the risk of errors.
Can automation be implemented in stages?
Yes. Many organizations begin by automating their most critical processes, such as data imports or ERP synchronization, and then gradually extend the project to include additional integrations, workflow automation, and new sales channels. This phased approach delivers early business value while reducing implementation risk.
How should a business prepare for system integrations?
Before starting an integration project, it is important to identify all sources of product data, determine which business systems need to be connected, and review the processes used to create and maintain product information. A well-prepared analysis provides the foundation for an integration architecture that can support the organization's future growth.
