The Hidden Costs of Poor Product Information Management

According to Gartner, poor data quality costs organizations a minimum of $12.9 million a year on average. And yet, many businesses continue to overlook one of the most critical components of data quality: product information.

From missing specs to inconsistent descriptions, poor Product Information Management (PIM) doesn’t just cause internal headaches but has real financial consequences. The impacts are often subtle at first, but they add up fast.

In this blog, we’ll explain the hidden costs of poor PIM and show why investing in better product data isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s essential for sustainable growth.

Overlooking PIM? You’re Paying More Than Money

When Product Information Management (PIM) is treated as an afterthought, organizations risk being harmed. Businesses often underestimate the cost until the impact becomes impossible to ignore—poor product data ripples across every department and channel.

Below, we break down the hidden (and not-so-hidden) consequences of overlooking PIM costs far beyond numbers on a balance sheet.

1) Lost Sales Opportunities

Let’s be honest—how many deals stall just because the product info wasn’t ready? More than anyone likes to admit.

When distributors or sales teams don’t get the complete product picture, it slows everything down. Buyers want to make confident decisions, and incomplete data kills momentum.

Many sales opportunities were shelved or backed out of a purchase due to poor product information. Whether it’s a missing datasheet or outdated dimensions, the result is the same: lost revenue and missed opportunities.

2) Operational Inefficiencies

Every team has their own spreadsheet, and each version is slightly different from the other. That’s the first red flag.

This kind of data chaos eats up time and creates confusion across departments. Without a centralized PIM, teams waste hours correcting errors, emailing for the ‘latest version,’ or duplicating updates across platforms.

Poor PIM eats up revenues inside. Data professionals spend up to 50% of their time finding and correcting errors. Product data is more complex and detailed for retailers, and that number can be even higher due to the manual lift required.

3) Increased Returns and Customer Support Costs

Returns aren’t just a B2C problem; everyone suffers when a retailer gets the wrong spec sheet.

A single incorrect attribute can result in entire shipments being returned or rejected. When the specs don’t match what was promised, trust erodes fast.

Support teams then step in to handle issues that never should’ve happened in the first place. And when your partners start losing confidence in your product data, they hesitate to reorder.

4) Brand Reputation Damage

You know what kills credibility with partners and customers? Inconsistent listings across platforms.

Your brand takes a hit when a product looks different on the website, in the catalog, and in the distributor’s portal. This inconsistency leads to confusion, miscommunication, and even a negative perception.

Buyers rank accuracy and consistency among their top three decision-making factors. A solid PIM strategy ensures your brand speaks with one voice, everywhere.

5) Compliance and Legal Risks

Labeling laws, environmental standards, and safety certifications aren’t just industry-specific problems but a universal challenge. These requirements vary by region, get updated often, and demand one thing above all: consistent, centralized product information to stay compliant.

Without structured, up-to-date product data, staying compliant becomes a game of catch-up. Minor errors in regulated industries like fashion, automotive, and electronics can result in hefty fines or blocked shipments.

For example, the EU’s Digital Product Passport initiative raises the bar on transparency. Compliance becomes a nightmare if your product data isn’t centralized and easily traceable, not a checklist.

6) Poor Cross-Channel Performance

The more serious sibling among its counterparts (B2C, B2B2C, eCommerce, and others), even B2B, demands the same consistency that omnichannel strategies provide.

Your data needs to be aligned, whether you’re syncing with e-catalogs, marketplaces, internal tools, or printed brochures. Otherwise, you risk confusion at every touchpoint from procurement to onboarding to support.

“More than 70% of US digital retailers identified an increased focus on omnichannel selling as a trend that would have the greatest impact on their business.”

E-Marketer

A disconnected product experience breaks down trust and efficiency.

7) Missed Growth Opportunities

For those who say they are trying to launch in a new market with messy data, we say good luck scaling. Because luck needs to be a big part of their operations for that to work.

Expanding into new geographies or channels becomes a massive lift when product data isn’t standardised. Translations get lost, attributes don’t map, and distributors struggle to onboard.

PIMLAND’s customers often tell us the same thing: once their data is centralized and structured, scaling their product portfolio or entering a new region becomes 50% faster and far less painful.

Learned Lesson: How to Avoid Poor PIM Charges

Powerful Product Information Management (PIM) system ensures that your product data is consistent, accessible, and tailored to meet the needs of different sales channels.

This boosts operational efficiency and supports seamless collaboration across teams, ensuring that everyone, from product designers to sales teams, has the most up-to-date information at their fingertips.

But not all PIM systems are created equal. To manage and scale effectively, you need a robust platform that can keep up with the complexities of modern business, especially in industries like fashion, where trends move fast and product information must adapt just as quickly.

PIMLAND: The Solution Every Industry Needs

PIMLAND offers a comprehensive solution designed to streamline product information management across multiple channels and regions. PIMLAND’s PIM ensures that your teams have the correct product details at the right time, wherever they need them.

How does PIMLAND help businesses?

Multi-Channel Management

Products are listed across various sales platforms, and PIMLAND ensures consistency whether it’s e-commerce, social media, or retail, your product info stays aligned.

Multilingual Support

Industries’ global nature means catering to different markets. PIMLAND makes managing translations and adapting product descriptions easy, keeping everything compliant and market-ready.

Centralized Data Hub

Forget the old fragmented systems. PIMLAND centralizes your product data, making updates and integrations smoother and faster.

Real-Time Accuracy

With PIMLAND, your teams always work with the most up-to-date product info, helping you avoid mistakes and streamline your processes.

Ultimately, PIMLAND equips brands to tackle the complexities of managing product data in a fast-paced, global market. It integrates product lifecycle management (PLM) with product information management (PIM), ensuring a cohesive flow of accurate, actionable data from design to consumer.