Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Data Management,Integration,PIM,MDM,DAM

How can our software connect to Pimcore? With which services can Pimcore connect?

Pimcore can interface with any external software application or service. Quickly and easily configure PHP, REST, and GraphQL APIs. Use the CSV and Excel spreadsheet file import/export feature if you are not a developer. Use XML/JSON files for one-time or recurring push/pull jobs. Agencies and systems integrators use Pimcore to create customer-specific software solutions. All connectors precisely match your data models and underlying business workflows.

Do you have an existing connector for Magento / Shopware / Shopify or others?

Pimcore can easily integrate with any other third-party software. An API-driven, service-oriented architecture and Pimcore Datahub make it possible to configure interfaces to other systems quickly and easily. Additionally, the Pimcore extension marketplace offers connectors curated by our partner network. Nevertheless, building connectors from scratch using the native APIs provided by Pimcore Datahub is just as efficient as using a ready-made connector in many cases.

What is the best practice for launching a PIM for an online shop?

The first thing to keep in mind is which system will manage the master data. If there is an existing ERP system in place, Pimcore typically connects to this ERP system with a bi-directional interface. In Pimcore, the ERP data gets enriched with images, categories, attributes, etc. The data model and workflows in Pimcore act according to the company's needs, which will be working with this data. In the last step, the online shop connects, and interfaces to BI systems, CRMs, and external marketplaces follow.

How can I set up product feeds from Pimcore to Amazon / Google Shopping / Facebook / eBay / Zalando?

Pimcore can syndicate your product data to 2 500+ channels and marketplaces via standard APIs offered by our technology partner Productsup.

Which data can Pimcore PIM store?

Pimcore is a master data management software, it can store any information related to a product and any other corporate data. Data Objects are the containers used to manage structured data. Based on a class definition that defines structure and attributes, you can use objects to store pretty much any structured data – products, categories, customers, news, orders, blog entries; you name it.

Which specific datatypes does Pimcore support?

Pimcore provides more than 50 datatypes to cater to any specific need for product information management and master data management.

Is there any limit of products or SKU addition in Pimcore?

You can create, manage, and store as many products as you like in Pimcore, provided you have enough storage allotted in your database. You should also be using a powerful, well-configured server cluster or cloud infrastructure. The Pimcore application scales very well, and some of our customers are managing 100+ million product data records in a single Pimcore instance.

Can we integrate external DAM systems such as Celum, Cumulus, Canto, or Bynder?

Yes, this is possible via REST API and native PHP API with little effort.

Can the software import media files from a local folder to the server, or from a network share?

Yes, Pimcore can import single or multiple asset files in one-time or recurring cron jobs with its powerful APIs.

Are transformed asset files stored inside a human-readable folder structure on the server? Can we access these files without the aid of the DAM software?

Yes, Pimcore stores all files on the server in the identical folder structure as in the DAM system. You can access the assets without the need to log into the system. Direct URLs for the assets may be created and shared.

Can we connect and integrate Pimcore with our CMS Drupal, WordPress, Sitecore, or Adobe Experience Cloud?

You can use Pimcore as your product, image, and video library and directly display certain products and assets on our website for public viewing and download. Pimcore is extraordinarily flexible, and its APIs allow it to integrate with any CMS system. The REST, or GraphQL APIs and JSON/XML files, can be utilized to push and pull content to and from your marketing software.

How does the mapping and data conversion to product classification systems such as ETIM/ecl@ss/BMEcat work in Pimcore?

A function to map the managed data in the user interface into different output formats can be achieved with Pimcore's classification store. Using the API-based system architecture (REST, GraphQL, and PHP), Pimcore allows you to create any output format for any catalog standard and classification system. The data models adapt 100% to your company's needs. Like an integration with an online shop or digital commerce system (XML, JSON, etc.), exports in any standard catalog format can be created and implemented with Pimcore.

Technology & Architecture

What about scalability and performance?

Pimcore is used in highly agile global environments and at Fortune 500 companies with millions of pages, digital assets, and products, hundreds of editors, and millions of monthly visitors. The use of leading technologies such as MySQL, PHP, OpenSearch, Mongo DB, and Varnish, ensures that Pimcore scales very well.

What is the best way to learn Pimcore as a developer?

To get started, we recommend having a look at our public demos. You can download them and use them as a boilerplate to get started with a new project. Download Pimcore for free and just work with it by relying on our developer documentation. If you like, you can book optional developer training by subscribing to Pimcore Academy.

Is it possible to use an Oracle Database instead of a MySQL Database for Pimcore?

It is not possible to use an Oracle Database because Pimcore is only compatible with MySQL. Use any MySQL compatible database (e. g. MariaDB or Percona). Learn more about the database setup in our developer documentation.

How can we handle the deployment and staging processes, including database migration?

Learn more about the recommended staging and deployment process in our developer documentation. We deal with specific topics in the community forums or via the consulting services we provide.

Is it possible for us to customize or extend your solution at the source level?

Yes, our Community Edition is fully open source and can be customized and extended to your needs. You can even modify the core while still being able to receive all product updates.

Is it possible to write a generic REST API for multiple customers' product data in the same industry?

Yes, if you are using a generic data model, you can quickly write a generic API. Or you can use the existing built-in REST API as well.

Our understanding is that Pimcore is not a multi-tenant solution; instead, it could set up a division with its users and product catalogs. Is that correct?

Each instance of Pimcore writes into one separate, single database. If you would like it to write into multiple databases, you will have to set up multiple instances or installations. Pimcore helps companies gain ownership of their users, data, and product catalogs (based on individual company structure, product data, and business model).

What is your release and update cycle? Is downward compatibility guaranteed?

Our core development team is driving the continuous development of the product roadmap and new features. Daily development and the complete source code are transparently available on Github. Therefore the community can always see what is happening. Typically, every two years, a major release is published and every few months a minor release. We always ensure that new versions are downwards compatible to previous versions.

How long are new Pimcore versions supported?

When a new major version of Pimcore is released, the previous version is supported by providing security patches for Pimcore versions up to 2 years after end of support (EOS) of the corresponding version. The purchase of LTS packages is included in the Enterprise Edition.

How easy is it to update Pimcore, and how long does it usually take?

Pimcore Cloud Edition is always smoothly and steadily kept up to date by the Pimcore company as part of the software-as-a-service delivery model. Keep the On-Premise Editions (Community/Enterprise) manually updated using the PHP tool Composer. We recommend asking your implementation partner or service provider to perform updates for you. The downward compatibility and effort for the update vary by solution and use-case (a few hours to a few days of work are typical).

Is Pimcore an out-of-the-box product?

Pimcore Enterprise Edition offers a fully managed Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solution that simplifies configuration without the need for coding. Contrary to this, Pimcore's On-Premise options, namely the Enterprise Edition and Community Edition, offer a comprehensive software stack tailored for Digital Experience Platforms (DXP)/Content Management Systems (CMS), Digital Asset Management (DAM), Product Information Management/Master Data Management (PIM/MDM), and digital commerce sectors. These editions serve as a versatile toolkit for developers, providing foundational features essential for the development of various web applications. They are specifically designed to support rapid application development, enabling the swift creation of tailored customer solutions. It is important to note that the On-Premise Editions of Pimcore (Enterprise/Community) are NOT 'out-of-the-box' software products like WordPress, Magento, Akeneo, WooCommerce, Shopify, etc.

Does the CSA (Cloud Security Alliance) certify Pimcore?

The software Pimcore can run both on-premise and on cloud infrastructure. The Pimcore company itself is not a cloud service provider but instead relies on third-party providers for its hosting service. All providers we work with - AWS, Azure, Google - are fully CSA certified. Or you can also choose to use any other cloud hosting service provider of your choice.

Customer Experience Management,CMS,eCommerce

Can we create multilingual websites?

Yes, Pimcore provides multilingual support for CMS, eCommerce, and PIM, MDM, DAM.

Can Pimcore easily integrate with ActiveCampaign / Mailchimp / Sendgrid?

Use the Pimcore Customer Data Platform Framework to create marketing automation applications easily. Sample integrations to Mailchimp and IBM Marketing Cloud are available in the free download package.

Why should I use Pimcore eCommerce instead of Magento, Shopware, or Shopify?

Standard shop software offers standard features for standard needs. Often, they are not a good fit for ambitious, non-standard projects. If your business model is not standardized, standardized shop software might not be the best solution. Instead of out-of-the-box shop software, ambitious plans need a framework that optimizes the developer's productivity and creates impressive, futuristic solutions. In addition to eCommerce, Pimcore has PIM, CMS, and DAM integrated. You do not have to purchase and connect so many systems with interfaces. It saves you a lot of time and money in delivering your projects.

Pricing and Services

How is your licensing policy? Is there any license cost at the enterprise level?

The Pimcore Community Edition can be used free of charge by individuals and enterprises with the so-called GNU General Public License (GPLv3). Additionally, we also offer a Proprietary License (PEL) with the Pimcore Enterprise Edition.

How is your pricing policy? How do you earn money? How does your business model work?

The Community Edition of the Pimcore Platform™ is 100% free of charge. You do not have to pay any license fees for using the product. We provide optional paid services around the product. These include consulting, training, and support, as well as additional features that are called Enterprise Extensions.

Do you have an enterprise support Plan? Do you offer enterprise-level solutions? How about an SLA agreement?

Yes, we offer Enterprise Support and Service Level Agreements - 24/7 with 15 minutes reaction time.

Pimcore License

Is Pimcore secure despite its open-source nature?

Yes, Pimcore is secure despite its open-source nature. We introduced Pimcore Secured, a comprehensive enhancement to our platform, ensuring robust security and stringent open-source license compliance. Key features include a pre-selected security configuration for every release, proactive security patching, detailed security reports, powerful data entry protection, and a dedicated open-source security management feature to be launched in future updates. These measures ensure businesses can confidently deploy Pimcore while prioritizing innovation and growth.

How does the Pimcore Licensing Compliance apply across the different Pimcore Editions?

Pimcore's licensing revolves around two key licenses: The General Public License (GPL v3) and the Pimcore Commercial License (PCL). GPL, an open-source license, encourages collaboration but requires any modifications to be publicly disclosed under the same license. This can constrain commercial endeavors. Conversely, PCL is tailored for businesses, omitting the need to share source code, safeguarding ownership, and intellectual property. For commercial Pimcore projects, PCL is advised, while GPL suits open-source contributors mindful of its sharing requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs

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