In just a few years, PIM and DAM have become the two key components of e-commerce projects.

The former is in charge of product data compilation, standardization and omnichannel distribution. The second is responsible for media management (product photos, videos, 360° views, etc.), and more generally for files (notices, technical information, etc.).

Attempts to use a single tool to manage both data and media have, for the most part, failed. On the contrary, strong integration between these two tools has enabled retailers to benefit from the best of both worlds.

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The explosion in e-commerce sales in recent years has turned the entire product data collection chain on its head. The challenge now is to be able to distribute reliable information to all digital distribution channels as quickly as possible. Product time-to-market is clearly at the heart of these concerns. Numerous projects have been launched by manufacturers and distributors to rationalize the collection and distribution of product information. PDM (Product Data Management), MDM (Master Data Management), PIM(Product Information Management) and DAM(Digital Asset Management) are being discussed at all levels of IT departments.

Behind each of these acronyms lies its own expertise, and often a new piece of software to implement.

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Information systems architects are rightly wondering whether it might not be possible to pool platforms so as not to multiply projects, software and costs.

Depending on the points of view dictated by the needs of the different professions involved (product, quality, marketing, legal, operations, manufacturing), this can give rise to very lively exchanges on the choice of federating platform.

In particular, there is much debate between DAM advocates and PIM promoters, with the underlying idea that there can only be one.

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So who's right?

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