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Product data management

Data management1/5/2026Intermediate Level

Product data management (PDM) is the process of managing all product-related information throughout its lifecycle, focusing on organization, control, and access.

What is Product data management? (Definition)

Product data management (PDM) is a system that organizes all information created during a product's design and manufacturing stages. It acts as a central hub for technical details like CAD files, engineering changes, and bills of materials (BOMs). These tools help teams manage the complex data needed to build a product correctly. While PDM focuses on the technical side of production, PIM handles the marketing and sales side. This means PDM manages how a product is built, while PIM manages how it is sold to customers. Integrating PDM with a tool like WISEPIM helps businesses turn technical specifications into customer-ready content.

Why Product data management is Important for E-commerce

Product data management (PDM) is a system that tracks technical details while a product is designed and built. It provides the raw data that a PIM system needs to create marketing content. Without good PDM, technical errors often end up on your online store. These mistakes cause customer confusion and lead to more product returns. When you link PDM with a PIM system like WISEPIM, you ensure that technical facts are always accurate for your buyers. This connection helps maintain high data quality and prevents errors across all your sales channels.

Examples of Product data management

  • 1A PDM system stores and organizes 3D models and engineering drawings for a new appliance.
  • 2Teams use PDM to track changes and versions of a product's bill of materials (BOM).
  • 3The system controls which departments can access sensitive product design specifications.
  • 4PDM software automates the approval process for engineering change orders (ECOs) during product updates.
  • 5Manufacturers keep technical data sheets and safety certificates in a PDM to ensure product compliance.

How WISEPIM Helps

  • WISEPIM connects to PDM systems to collect technical data. It then adds marketing details to prepare your products for online stores.
  • Manage all customer-facing information in one central location. This keeps your sales and marketing details consistent and accurate across every channel.
  • Use PIM tools to check your data for errors. This helps you maintain high quality as you move technical data from PDM to your public webshop.
  • Speed up the process of turning technical specs into clear product descriptions. This makes it easier to create the content you need for e-commerce.

Common Mistakes with Product data management

  • Thinking PDM is only for engineers. This ignores how much marketing, sales, and e-commerce teams need that data.
  • Typing data by hand instead of using automated tools. This leads to human errors and makes updates take much longer.
  • Having weak version control. This results in teams using old or wrong product details for manufacturing and marketing.
  • Keeping PDM separate from other systems like ERP or PIM. This creates data silos where information is trapped and hard to find.
  • Failing to set clear rules for who manages the data. Without clear ownership, nobody knows who is responsible for fixing mistakes.

Tips for Product data management

  • Use version control to track every change to your product data. This prevents mistakes in manufacturing and marketing materials.
  • Decide who is responsible for each piece of data. Clear rules help keep your information accurate and consistent as products move from design to sale.
  • Connect your PDM with your PIM and ERP systems. This ensures all technical specs and marketing content come from one reliable place.
  • Set up automatic checks and workflows in your PDM. This reduces human error and makes updating product information much faster.
  • Check your product data often to find and fix mistakes. This prevents errors from reaching your customers or slowing down your business operations.

Trends Surrounding Product data management

  • AI Integration for Data Quality and Automation: AI algorithms automate data validation, identify inconsistencies, and generate preliminary product descriptions from technical specifications.
  • Enhanced Connectivity and API-first PDM: PDM systems offer robust APIs to integrate seamlessly with PLM, ERP, and PIM systems, supporting headless commerce architectures.
  • Sustainability Data Management: PDM systems increasingly track and manage environmental attributes of products (e.g., material origins, recyclability) to support compliance and green initiatives.
  • Digital Twin Integration: Linking PDM data with digital twins for real-time performance monitoring and predictive maintenance, enhancing product lifecycle insights.
  • Cloud-based PDM Solutions: Shift towards cloud-native PDM for better scalability, accessibility, and collaboration across distributed teams.

Tools for Product data management

  • WISEPIM: Centralizes product information, bridging technical PDM data with rich marketing content for various e-commerce channels.
  • PTC Windchill: Comprehensive PLM and PDM solution, managing product data from concept through service, often used in manufacturing.
  • Siemens Teamcenter: A widely used PLM portfolio that includes robust PDM capabilities for managing complex product development data.
  • Dassault Systèmes ENOVIA: Provides collaborative PDM and PLM capabilities within the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, facilitating global collaboration.
  • Akeneo: An open-source PIM solution that integrates effectively with PDM systems to enrich technical product data for all sales channels.

Related Terms

product information management pimproduct lifecycle management plmproduct contentdigital asset management damdata modelworkflow management

Also Known As

Product lifecycle management (PLM)Product content management (PCM)Engineering data management