14 Oct PIM, but Automated Please: Why Smart PIM Workflows Are a Game Changer
From Product Data Chaos to Clear Processes with AI-supported PIM Workflows
A guest post by David Klein (Senior Consultant at ATAMYA).
Efficient processes are now a key success factor in digital commerce. Companies that want to publish products quickly, error-free, and across multiple channels need not only high-quality data, but also clearly defined workflows.
And this is exactly where many businesses face challenges: In practice, it’s not just the product data itself that causes issues, but also the processes surrounding how that data is handled. Information must be collected, validated, enriched, translated, and finally approved for use in shops or catalogs. Often, these steps are carried out manually across different departments — a time-consuming and error-prone approach that delays product launches.
The solution? First and foremost, a Product Information Management (PIM) system. But the real value unfolds through smart PIM workflows in that system. Combined with artificial intelligence (AI), these workflows not only automate tasks but also manage them more intelligently — from initial data creation to finalized content in the sales channel.
What Are PIM Workflows and Why Are They So Important?
Before diving deeper into the topic, let’s first clarify what we mean by PIM workflows: These are predefined process chains that structure and automate tasks within product information management. They connect responsibilities across departments — from data management and marketing to e-commerce.
Why PIM Workflows Are Indispensable:
- Without workflows, data often gets stuck in silos, tasks are duplicated, and no one has a clear overview of the current process status.
- With workflows, everyone involved knows exactly who is responsible for what and when. Processes become structured, transparent, and less prone to errors — even across departmental boundaries.
Typical use cases include approval processes, translations, automated data validations, and the distribution of content across various channels.
For companies with large product assortments or international operations, workflows are key to ensuring data quality and accelerating time-to-market. PIM workflows are more than just digital to-do lists. They combine user tasks with automation, enabling clear processes, fewer errors, and more efficient collaboration.
AI as a Booster for Smart Workflows
While traditional workflows simply map out processes, artificial intelligence (AI) brings a new level of intelligence into the system. It can:
- Automatically generate texts — for example, product descriptions based on attributes
- Provide translations into multiple languages
- Check data quality and identify missing information
- Make automated decisions, such as flagging when certain data quality thresholds are not met
In this way, AI doesn’t just handle routine tasks — it actively supports the enrichment of product data with meaningful content. That’s a real added value for marketing, e-commerce, and data management.
The ATAMYA Workflow Engine: From Raw Data to Crisp Content
The ATAMYA Product Cloud features a powerful BPMN workflow engine (note from nexoma: BPMN stands for Business Process Model and Notation, a standardized visual language for modeling business processes), offering companies maximum flexibility. It enables the modeling of workflows that span from raw data import to final content delivery.
Here’s how it works:
- Importing Raw Data
- A PDF data sheet, for example, is uploaded into the system.
- AI automatically detects the product category (e.g., “monitor”) and identifies relevant attributes.
- Automated Processing
- Missing fields are flagged.
- If data is incomplete, a user is assigned to fill in the gaps.
- Once the defined data quality threshold (e.g., DQM level) is met, the process continues automatically.
- AI-Powered Content Creation
- Product descriptions are generated automatically using configurable prompts (e.g., factual or humorous tone, specific attributes).
- Translations for target markets are integrated directly into the workflow.
- Variants for B2C and B2B can be created automatically.
- Manual Review Where It Matters
- AI-generated content is reviewed and approved by a user to ensure data quality remains high.
- Flexibility Across Industries
- Workflows can be tailored to different industries or product types.
- For example, consumer electronics require different processes than a manufacturer of spare parts.
Practical Application: This Is Where ATAMYA Truly Shines
- E-commerce teams benefit from automated content delivery to digital sales channels such as online shops and marketplaces — fast and without the need for manual adjustments.
- Marketing receives AI-generated product texts that are tailored to specific target audiences and channels.
- IT and data management teams leverage automated duplicate checks, unit conversions (e.g., pounds to kilograms), and data validations.
- Product management can model and adapt complex approval and enrichment workflows with full flexibility.
The result: A seamless process that transforms raw data into high-quality content — automated, efficient, and fully adaptable.
Conclusion: Smart Workflows, Smarter Success
AI-powered workflows are no longer a vision of the future — they’re a decisive competitive advantage in digital commerce. Companies benefit from improved data quality, reduced manual effort, faster time-to-market, and a better customer experience.
With the ATAMYA workflow engine, complex processes aren’t just mapped — they’re made smarter. Thanks to its flexible, cloud-based architecture, the system grows with your business needs and ensures that your product data management remains efficient and future-proof.
Thank you for this insightful guest post, David!
Picture: Volker Wiciok
David Klein – Senior Consultant at ATAMYA