Why integrated product information determines competitiveness - and how PET manufacturers are bringing structure to their data with Pimcore

The PET and plastics industry is under enormous pressure to transform:
Sustainability, regulatory requirements, increasing product diversity and international competition are clashing with historically evolved IT and data structures.

What used to be compensated for by experience and manual coordination is now a structural weakness. This is not a problem for the IT department, but a cross-cutting issue for the entire management.

The central challenge:
Product, material, production and sales data exist - but they are not connected. Without a consistent "data DNA", media disruptions, manual workarounds and uncertainties arise - especially in regulated markets such as PET packaging.

Key challenges in data management in the PET industry

1. fragmented product and material data

The reality:
Product data such as product info, recipes, material values, technical specifications and certificates are scattered across systems, Excel lists and departments - without a centralized view of a consistent database.

The challenge:

• No "single source of truth"
• Different data statuses between product, sales and production
• High manual coordination effort

Classification in the data DNA:
Without centrally maintained product data, there is no basis for clean processes - and for control over your own product information. The more fragmented the data is, the greater the manual effort and the risk of errors.

Pimcore approach:
Centralized Product Experience Management (PXM) bundles all product-relevant information into one structure. The decisive factor here is the clean modeling of data along real processes and responsibilities.

2. increasing regulatory and sustainability requirements

The reality:
Recycling rates, material origin,CO₂footprint,productpassportsand ESG reporting are becoming massively more important. This creates pressure for manufacturers to keep sustainability data consistent, verifiable and available at all times.

The challenge:

• Data is available, but cannot be analyzed or linked
• High costs for verification, audits and customer enquiries
• Sustainability becomes a data issue - not just a material issue

Classification in the data DNA:
Genuine sustainability is based on reliable product and material data. Regulatory requirements can only be mastered if this data is available under the company's own control in terms of digital sovereignty.

Pimcore approach:
Pimcore combines material, product and documentation data in a common structure and provides sustainability information consistently - with full data sovereignty for internal teams and external stakeholders.

3. complex product variants and customer-specific solutions

The reality:
PET products differ according to material, shape, weight, application, region or individual customer requirements. This results in numerous variants that make product data complex and require consistent maintenance.

The challenge:

• Variant logic is difficult to master
• Error-prone data maintenance
• Long time-to-market for new products or adaptations

Integration into the data DNA:
The more complex the product portfolio, the more important a clean, structured database becomes. Short time-to-market, high quality and consistent customer communication can only be ensured with manageable variant logic.

Pimcore approach:
Pimcore enables the centralized management of product variants and attributes in a clear structure. This allows complex variant logics to be clearly mapped, scaled and directly maintained without technical hurdles.

4. media breaks between production, sales and customer communication

The reality:
Production data, technical specifications and sales documents are often not synchronized. The consequences are not only inefficient processes, but also an increased risk of miscommunication and loss of trust.

The challenge:

• Sales works with outdated information
• Customers receive inconsistent statements
• Time-consuming manual creation of data sheets, catalogs or offer information

Classification in the data DNA:
Consistent product communication is only possible if all touchpoints access the same company database. Otherwise, inefficient processes arise and there is a risk of miscommunication and loss of trust.

Pimcore approach:
Pimcore provides product information across all media from a central database. Sales, marketing, partners and customers can access up-to-date content at any time - regardless of channel, format or target group.

5. lack of transparency across the product lifecycle

The reality:
From the initial product idea through development and production to market launch, a large amount of data is generated. However, this data is often isolated, meaning that there is a lack of transparency and correlations are lost.

The challenge:

• Decisions are based on partial information
• Potential for optimization and innovation remains hidden
• Knowledge is lost

Classification in the data DNA:
Real added value is only created when data is linked along the entire product life cycle and managed under your own control. Without transparency, both efficiency and innovation potential fall by the wayside.

Pimcore approach:
Pimcore creates transparency across all relevant product data and supports well-founded decisions along the entire product life cycle - without additional technological complexity for specialist departments or IT.

The PET industry doesn't need more data silos - it needs integrated, robust data DNAas a strategic foundation

With Pimcore Product Experience Management:

• product information is bundled centrally
• simplifies processes between product, production and sales
• Sustainability, variant diversity and time-to-market can be mastered