How to choose the right PIM system – Best-of-breed or integrated solution?

The Pros:

• Today, many product and marketing managers use best-of-breed PIM solutions, because they offer the most features and are a fully customizable solution complete with a partner-driven support structure.

• Best-of-breed solutions are built to function as stand-alone solutions, meaning they offer a stronger platform than an integrated solution, which must live within the constraints of another solution.
• This also means that you will be able to upgrade or change any of your systems integrated with your PIM system without having to make any changes to the PIM system itself.
• Even though a best-of-breed solution is not integrated with a CMS or an ERP system, it is easy to access. And if you choose a cloud-based solution, it’s available from anywhere.

The Cons:

• Best-of-breed solutions are typically more expensive than integrated solutions. It’s wise to bear in mind, though, that this depends on a host of factors and that any company that implements a best-of-breed PIM solution will also enjoy savings in areas like time spent on different systems and hours lost correcting errors made.