Frequently Asked Questions

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. Interfaces can be built quickly and easily to any software or service because for each data component, a native PHP, REST, and GraphQL API is available. Plus, the CSV and Excel spreadsheet file import/export feature. Pimcore is used by agencies and systems integrators worldwide to create customer-specific individual software solutions. Connectors are precisely matching the data models and underlying business processes.
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 makes it possible to build interfaces to other systems quickly and easily. Additionally, the Pimcore extension marketplace offers a handful of connectors, curated by our partner network. However, in most cases, building connectors from scratch using the native APIs is just as efficient.
What is the best practice to start with Pimcore for building 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 2 000+ channels and marketplaces via a standard connector to our technology partner Productsup. All product feeds are using Pimcore's APIs.
Can you explain to me in which way a PIM works together with Magento or Shopware?
A PIM is used to consolidate and centrally manage your product data. You can enrich it with additional information such as accessories, attributes, classification, hierarchies, localization, and media assets and videos. Magento or Shopware can automatically access and retrieve this data via an interface and display it in your online shop.
Which data can Pimcore PIM store?
As Pimcore is a master data management software, it can store almost any information related to a product and other entities. Data Objects manage structured data. Based on a class definition that defines structure and attributes, objects manage pretty much any structured data – products, categories, customers, news, orders, blog entries; you name it.
What 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.
How does a business know it needs a Product Information Management System?
With data spread across multiple repositories, there can be numerous issues like inaccurate or contradictory product information, multiple pools for the same information, and mistakes that cause delays or sometimes inaccurate data reaching the end customer. Whenever a business has product information spread among several different repositories throughout an organization, it can benefit from a PIM.
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?
Pimcore can import single or multiple asset files in manual 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, Elastic Search, 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, the software 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?
New major versions are typically released every two years and are supported for two years until the next major version gets released. Once a new version is available, the old version is backed by our LTS (Long Term Support) packages, which are available as part of the Pimcore Enterprise Subscription. The LTS is usually available for up to 2 years until another major version is released.
How easy is it to update Pimcore, and how long does it usually take?
By using the PHP tool Composer, Pimcore can smoothly and steadily be kept up-to-date. We recommend that you ask your implementation partner or service provider to perform the updates for you. The downward compatibility is excellent (a few hours to a few days of work for an update, depending on the solution).
Is Pimcore an out-of-the-box product?
Pimcore is the leading open-source platform for managing digital data and digital experiences. It provides a fully integrated software stack for CMS, DAM, PIM, and Commerce. As a platform, Pimcore provides a solid foundation with generic functionality for all kinds of web applications and therefore allows rapid application development and building customer solutions fast. Pimcore is built for developers and empowers them to create exceptional digital experiences easily. Consequently, Pimcore is NOT an 'out-of-the-box' software product like WordPress, Magento, Akeneo, WooCommerce, Shopify, and others. You need a developer to get started.
Are PIM, DAM, and CMS standalone applications?
Pimcore comprises of five main product modules: PIM/MDM, DAM, CDP, DXP/CMS and eCommerce. These modules can be used together as well as standalone according to the business need. By using multiple modules, you can leverage platform possibilities of linking products with your online shop, digital assets with CMS pages, and digital assets with products.
How can I contribute to Pimcore?
First of all thanks for your support, you can access information related to contributing to Pimcore on GitHub.
Which IT security standards does Pimcore meet?
Pimcore meets the highest safety standards. As a framework, Pimcore does not possess a security certification itself. Instead, independent agencies certify individual customer solutions directly. These ongoing project certifications ensure optimal coverage of the core product, always meeting the latest security standards.
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

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.
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.
Can we create multilingual websites?
Yes, Pimcore provides multilingual support for CMS, eCommerce, and PIM, MDM, DAM.
Which output will we get in your web-to-print solution?
The two possible outputs create a PDF with the integrated PDF renderer PDFReactor or connect with InDesign Server to edit files in Adobe InDesign.
eCommerce Framework: Can I define rules for discounts? Can I define product bundles?
Yes. And much more than that. The Pimcore eCommerce framework covers any eCommerce use case and provides impressive features.
Can Pimcore handle RTL (right-to-left) content like Arabic?
Yes, RTL is entirely possible. We have many customers in the Arabic / MENA region, including Al Shaya. Click at the link to see an example RTL Pimcore website.
Should we use the community bundle CoreShop or Pimcore's native eCommerce Framework to create an online shop?
We recommend using the native Pimcore eCommerce Framework because we support, maintain, and enhance it daily. CoreShop is a pure community project led by one of our community members. The Pimcore company does not provide any support for CoreShop. To determine what fits your project best, you should also consider your needs and requirements. The eCommerce roadmap of Pimcore is focused on additional, prebuilt GraphQL API endpoints in Data Hub for orders, etc. for even better headless commerce.

Pricing and Services

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.
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.
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 Subscription.

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