PIM to BIM — automate product information management

What is PIM (Product Information Management) and why do manufacturers need it?

PIM (Product Information Management) systems are solutions for centralizing product data — from dimensions, EAN codes, to certificates and technical descriptions. Like ERP, WMS or CMS, PIM is a type of system that was created in the 1990s to solve the problem of manually preparing printed catalogs for different markets, languages and audiences. With the development of the Internet and digital channels such as websites, mobile applications and e-commerce, PIM systems have started to support omnichannel, enabling the creation of consistent product portfolio information adjusted to the needs of customers, regions and languages. PIM for construction manufacturers provides Marketing Managers with unified data for communication, up-to-date specifications for Product Managers, and Customer Support Managers the ability to quickly respond to customer questions. Some also use the terms Product Experience Management (PXM) in the context of data management, which emphasizes personalization of the customer experience, and MDM (Master Data Management), which includes broader master data, such as customer or supplier information. PIM systems form the so-called. single source of truth for product data, eliminating manual work and increasing efficiency in sales channels, which is crucial for manufacturers who want to build trust and visibility.

PIM for BIM — what does the integration between PIM and BIM (Building Information Modeling) give us?

Building manufacturers want to provide their BIM libraries to designers using the same product data found in PIM systems (such as ETIM classes, EAN codes or certificates) and used in catalogs, websites or e-commerce. PIM systems, designed to centralize data, allow you to easily generate printed catalogs or build e-commerce platforms because these processes are well established. However, creating BIM objects and models, i.e. components in BIM libraries, is a completely different challenge. Moving data between PIM and BIM is not a standard process and typically requires manual input, which is time-consuming, costly and error-prone.

In addition, libraries need to adapt to local standards, languages and requirements in different countries. Preparing libraries of BIM objects and models for 20 markets, each with its own standards, is a huge challenge. An even bigger problem is updating libraries, for example in the case of an error in the geometry of a BIM object that requires manual correction in each of the 20 files. Such a process is not only impractical, but even unmaintainable, which increases the risk of data incompatibility between channels. The need for an efficient way to use data from PIM to create and maintain precise BIM objects is critical for manufacturers to provide designers in the construction industry with consistent data for BIM and thereby increase the visibility of their products.

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Problems in the construction industry and possible solutions

Construction manufacturers face challenges in managing product data and creating BIM libraries. To address these issues, we created BIMStreamer, a BIM software that automates processes and connects data from PIM systems to BIM libraries for omnichannel consistency.

Chaos in the data

Different versions of specifications in catalogs, websites or BIM libraries lead to errors and loss of designers' trust. PIM systems centralize data, and BIMstreamer Integrates with BIM libraries. Aliaxis, thanks to the multi-brand PIM platform and BIMStreamer, unified data for different brands, eliminating chaos in sales channels and BIM libraries.

Manual updates

Updating data for thousands of products (e.g. changing dimensions or certificates) is time-consuming, especially in BIM libraries, where data from PIM is not transferred as standard. BIMstreamer with its PIM for BIM function automates the creation and updating of BIM objects by combining data from PIM with library templates. In this way, OBO Bettermann simplified library management for cable systems, automatically updating parameters such as ETIM classes.

Adaptation to local standards

Creating BIM libraries for multiple countries requires adaptation to local standards and languages, and updates (e.g. geometry corrections) in multiple files are impractical. BIMstreamer allows you to generate and update libraries for different markets. Uponor creates more than 100,000 BIM libraries in 20 languages supporting the management of construction projects globally.

High cost

Manually managing BIM libraries is expensive — the estimated cost of one BIM object is $500-3000 (source: bimobject.com). BIMstreamer reduces costs through the use of automation. With our BIM software, companies such as Geze and Reflex Winkelmann optimize processes — automation is the future of BIM.

"58% of construction companies indicate a lack of qualified personnel as a barrier to BIM, which also applies to data management." 2022 Dodge Data & Analytics Report

BIMstreamer allows Marketing Managers to build a coherent offer, Product Managers to provide up-to-date data, and BIM Managers to focus on strategy, increasing process efficiency.

What if the manufacturer does not have a PIM (Product Information Management) system?

Not every manufacturer in the construction industry uses PIM, especially if they do not manage data for websites, e-commerce platforms or printed/online catalogs. Our BIM software BIMStreamer is designed to support manufacturers in such cases as well. If a manufacturer needs to deliver data exclusively to BIM libraries, BIMStreamer allows data management without the need to implement PIM for BIM.

Manufacturers can use BIMStreamer's intuitive administration panel, which allows you to enter and update product data (PCM), including import using Excel sheets. This solution is ideal for companies that want to focus on BIM libraries without investing in comprehensive PIM software. However, if we consider that PIM for BIM could improve other sales channels, as Sagiton we provide support in the implementation of PIM, in accordance with the requirements of the manufacturer. With the flexibility of BIMStreamer, manufacturers, regardless of their starting point, can deliver precise BIM models to designers while maintaining data consistency and minimizing costs. Our platform supports BIM integration with PIM and ERP systems, allowing you to create Revit compliant objects and export to appropriate formats.

PIM for BIM — summary

PIM and BIM systems are a duo that revolutionizes the processes of construction manufacturers. Consistent data from PIM can power BIM libraries, providing omnichannel — from catalogs to design objects — and eliminating the chaos of manual work. It is the PIM approach for BIM that allows you to eliminate the chaos of manual work, automate updates and effectively manage information in multiple channels simultaneously (omnichannel). Solutions like BIMStreamer, created by Sagiton, combine data from PIM with BIM libraries or work independently, supporting manufacturers regardless of their starting point. Companies such as Uponor, OBO Bettermann, Aliaxis, Geze and Reflex Winkelmann are already using this integration between PIM and BIM, increasing visibility and sales. BIM is the gateway to the market — and PIM is the key to opening it up.