Viamedici is a leading German software provider for product information management (PIM), master data management (MDM), digital asset management (DAM) and smart product configuration (SPC). The modular Viamedici EPIM platform combines all these functions in an integrated suite – from central master data management to interactive product configuration. For over 20 years, Viamedici has been helping companies efficiently manage complex product data and make it available across multiple channels. Over 300 well-known customers worldwide rely on Viamedici's solutions, which regularly rank first in customer satisfaction.
Viamedici is headquartered in Ettlingen, Germany, and has international offices. Its solutions are specially tailored to the needs of industrial companies and technical retailers – i.e. companies with complex, highly varied products, global distribution and multi-layered catalogues. Industries such as mechanical engineering, automotive, electrical engineering and sanitation rely on Viamedici to keep their product data centralised and to distribute it to all channels (print, web, e-commerce, mobile) at the touch of a button. Thanks to open interfaces (e.g. to ERP systems such as SAP or shop systems), Viamedici EPIM can be seamlessly integrated into existing system landscapes.
Below you will find an overview of the individual modules of the Viamedici platform – PIM, MDM, DAM and SPC – as well as their functions and advantages. We will then highlight the partnership with INFOLOX , a long-standing implementation partner of Viamedici, which has been successfully realising joint customer projects for 20 years.
Product Information Management (PIM) – Central product data platform
Product information management is at the heart of Viamedici EPIM. All product-related data is centrally maintained and managed here, from technical attributes, descriptions and translations to media and documents. Viamedici's PIM module ("VIA/PIM360°") makes it possible to map even the most complex product portfolios with ease.
Key features and benefits of the Viamedici PIM solution:
- Maximum flexibility data model: EPIM supports complex, hierarchical and multi-variant product structures. Attribute sets can be created dynamically, including multi-valued attributes (e.g. lists, multiple values) and nested texts or description modules. This flexible data model is a major advantage, especially for technically demanding products, as it can map almost any information structure.
- Multilingualism & localisation: All product information can be maintained in any number of languages and country variants. Translations are managed directly in the system, resulting in consistent, multilingual catalogues and web content. Changes can be versioned and rolled out to different target markets. (Example: ZARGES GmbH saves time and money on international catalogues through centralised translation management.)
- Media-neutral data storage: EPIM strictly separates content and layout. This means that product data is captured in a media-neutral format and can then be used equally for print publications, websites, online shops or data sheets. Companies can thus establish a "single source of truth" – a central source from which all sales channels are served. Changes to the product appear consistently in every channel.
- Fully integrated MAM/DAM: Media asset management is fully integrated into Viamedici EPIM. Images, graphics, videos, PDFs and even text modules are directly assigned to products and managed in versions. The assets are searchable (tags, full text) and available across channels, ensuring that the right media material is used everywhere. This digital asset management (VIA/DAM) accesses a central media pool (single source), avoids duplicates and administers usage rights – e.g. which department or partner is allowed to access which media.
- Quality assurance & workflow: EPIM offers an integrated preview and approval module for extensive product data. Marketing and product managers can review data sheets or catalogue pages in EPIM, preferably as a preview, insert correction comments and grant approvals before the content is published. Workflows for approval and translation processes can be configured to ensure, for example, that every change is reviewed by the responsible persons.
- Multi-channel publishing & output management: Viamedici PIM enables product data to be exported in a wide variety of formats and channels from a single application. For example, connected publishing solutions can be used to automatically generate print catalogues, price lists or technical data sheets – in over 20 languages and always up to date from the central data. At the same time, web shops, websites or marketplaces (e.g. Amazon) can be supplied with the same data in real time via interfaces. This multi-channel capability increases productivity enormously: according to Viamedici/INFOLOX, over 500 print catalogues and price lists as well as more than 1 million dynamic data sheets have already been published for joint customers.
Target group & intended use: The PIM module from Viamedici is aimed at companies that need to maintain a large number of products and variations efficiently and without errors – for example, in the industrial goods sector, technical trade or mechanical engineering. Typical applications include: central product databases for catalogue and shop operators, online product catalogues with complex filter searches, electronic price lists and dealer portals, or the creation of print publications at the touch of a button (such as extensive product catalogues with tens of thousands of items). Viamedici EPIM is particularly useful where data quality, consistency and time savings are business-critical – e.g. to bring new products to market faster or roll them out synchronously in many regions.
Technology: The PIM system is designed as a scalable enterprise platform. It processes millions of product data records in real time and can be flexibly adapted to customer requirements (extensible data model, plugin mechanisms, API for external modules). Extensions such as the VIA/PIM 360° component also give users a complete 360° view of each product – including all associated assets and configurable variants.
Master Data Management (MDM) – Master data management across all domains
In addition to product data, Viamedici also supports other business-critical master data through the VIA/MDM module. This multi-domain MDM enables product data, supplier data, customer data and other master data to be stored and maintained together. The aim is to create a 360° view of all entities and a company-wide "golden record" – i.e. a single valid master data record per object, consolidated from various sources.
Core functions of Viamedici MDM:
- Centralised golden record management: VIA/MDM has a powerful data matching and cleansing mechanism. Master data can be imported from different source systems, matched (match & merge) and merged into a uniform data record. Duplicates or inconsistencies (e.g. a customer with a slightly different name in two systems) are detected and cleaned up. The end result is a verified, consistent data record for each object (product, customer, supplier, etc.) as a single source of truth.
- Multi-domain & scalability: The MDM module is not limited to product data – it can manage any data domain: from suppliers, customers and contacts to locations and hierarchies to financial or logistics master data. The architecture allows billions of data records to be managed in real time and in any number of languages or country versions without any loss of performance. Companies can thus consolidate all master data on a single platform instead of operating separate systems for each domain. This reduces system breaks and improves data availability.
- Data quality tools & governance: VIA/MDM provides comprehensive data quality assurance functions. These include validation rules, plausibility checks, duplicate checks (entity deduplication) and defined approval workflows before data is released. Audit trails make it possible to track who made which changes and when. Rights and role management ensures that only authorised persons can change sensitive master data. These governance functions are crucial for complying with compliance requirements and data protection regulations (e.g. GDPR).
- Analysis and reporting: High-quality master data forms the basis for precise analyses and forecasts within the company. Evaluations of individual or multiple data domains (e.g. sales by customer segment, product use by region, etc.) can be run directly in Viamedici MDM as soon as the data is consolidated. Integration with BI tools or data warehouses allows the cleaned data to be used for business intelligence.
- Integration & SAP compatibility: Viamedici MDM can play a key role, especially when migrating to new ERP systems (e.g. SAP S/4HANA). Master data is harmonised and optimised upstream in MDM before being transferred to SAP. Master data can be exchanged between Viamedici and ERP via bidirectional interfaces (SAP connector). This keeps the ERP "lean" and free of legacy issues, while MDM serves as a data hub during the transition. Overall, Viamedici MDM complements the existing IT landscape as a hub: if certain master data must remain in source systems for compliance reasons, MDM can leave it there and still reference it to complete the global data set.
Digital Asset Management (DAM) – Centralised media management
As an integral part of EPIM, Viamedici VIA/DAM offers a powerful digital asset management solution. This allows all of a company's digital content (assets) – such as product images, videos, graphics, PDFs, audio files and even 3D models – to be stored, managed and distributed centrally. VIA/DAM is fully integrated with PIM and MDM, but can also be used as a standalone module to ensure media-neutral working and consistent media usage.
Highlights von Viamedici DAM:
- Central media library: Similar to a digital archive, VIA/DAM acts as a central media pool for all departments and channels. Instead of storing image and video files decentrally on PCs or scattered network drives, they are stored once in VIA/DAM. This central storage ensures a single source of truth for all digital assets. All sales and marketing channels (web shop, catalogue, social media, etc.) access the same media files, which guarantees consistency – every product photo and every logo is used identically everywhere.
- Quick retrieval through intelligent search: VIA/DAM makes searching for and finding assets extremely fast and convenient. Each asset can be tagged with descriptive metadata and tags; in addition, text in documents is automatically indexed (full-text search). An intelligent search function (with filters by category, date, usage rights, etc.) enables users to find the media they need in seconds. This saves a lot of time compared to manual file searches. Country-specific variants of media can also be labelled and managed (e.g. a product image in the US variant vs. the EU variant). [
- Collaboration & rights management: VIA/DAM uses fine-grained rights management to control access and editing options for each user or partner. For example, it can be specified that only certain teams are allowed to upload or delete new assets, while external agencies only have read access. Every change or use of an asset is logged, and versioning restores previous versions if necessary. Creative agencies or photographers can work directly in VIA/DAM via secure access instead of exchanging data by email. This significantly speeds up design and approval processes. Overall, the tool facilitates cross-departmental collaboration on content, as everyone involved works with the same up-to-date media.
- Automation & publication: VIA/DAM has tools for automating recurring tasks. For example, images can be automatically converted to different resolutions or watermarked during import. Routine tasks (e.g. archiving expired media, checking usage rights) can also be predefined. Another major advantage is the seamless integration into publication processes: VIA/DAM can be connected to marketplaces (such as Amazon and Alibaba) to feed product media, including rich content (Amazon A+ Content), into these platforms. E-commerce systems or CMS can also be integrated directly, so that a web shop, for example, automatically uses the images maintained in VIA/DAM. This integration allows marketing campaigns to be rolled out more quickly because all channels are immediately supplied with the centrally updated images/videos.
- Cost savings & quality: The introduction of a central DAM reduces both costs and errors. On the one hand, duplicate storage and redundant work are eliminated (each file is only maintained once), which saves storage space and manpower. On the other hand, VIA/DAM actively supports quality assurance: consistent use of correct media standardises brand and product presentation and avoids incorrect or outdated images in publications. Companies can be sure that the right image material is used across all channels – an important factor for a professional appearance and compliant communication.
Smart Product Configuration (SPC) – Interactive product and solution configuration (CPQ)
With Viamedici SPC, Viamedici offers a CPQ (Configure Price Quote) solution that is seamlessly embedded in the PIM. This smart product configuration makes it possible to configure a wide range of products and solutions online – from the product finder to the specific product characteristics to the creation of quotations. Customers and sales teams can use a guided dialogue to put together individual products and see valid combinations, prices and quotations in real time.
Functions of the Viamedici product configuration:
- High-performance configuration engine: At the heart of the SPC Suite is a powerful rule engine that processes complex product logic and dependencies. Based on declarative rule models, it ensures that only valid variants can be configured. The user receives immediate feedback if a selected combination is excluded – including an explanation and alternative suggestions. Despite this real-time check, the engine remains extremely powerful: even extensive product kits (with thousands of features and rules) are calculated without any noticeable delay. This allows for a smooth, intuitive configuration experience.
- Guided selling & real-time visualisation: SPC focuses on a first-class user experience (UX) during configuration. A web-based interface (customisable to the corporate design) guides customers step by step to the right product (guided selling). A product selector first helps to select the right basic product or model, after which details can be customised. All changes are immediately displayed visually – for example, a product image or 3D model is updated live according to the selection made. This direct feedback increases user understanding and satisfaction. For sales staff, guided selling means that they can quickly configure the optimal solution for their customers without having in-depth knowledge of every variant.
- Integrated price calculation & quotation creation: During configuration, the system dynamically calculates the price of the selected variant (CPQ function). Discounts, customer-specific conditions or graduated prices are automatically taken into account so that the customer always sees the correct current price. At the touch of a button, a tailor-made quotation can then be generated – formatted with all the details of the configuration, company logo, contact details, etc. Viamedici makes it possible to adapt these quotation documents to the CI and provide them in different languages or currencies. For example, a sales representative receives a fully formatted PDF quotation in the local language, which significantly speeds up the sales process.
- Offline mode for field staff: A special feature of Viamedici SPC is its online and offline availability. Sales representatives in the field can use the configurator even without an internet connection (e.g. at the customer's site). The application automatically synchronises itself as soon as it is back online to update data and rules. This means that the full range of functions – configuration and quotation creation – is available anytime, anywhere, which is a major advantage in B2B sales (e.g. at trade fairs or in factory halls with poor network coverage).
- Seamless EPIM integration: All modules of the Smart Product Configuration Suite can be operated independently or integrated with Viamedici EPIM. SPC's strengths are particularly evident when integrated: product and rule data are obtained directly from the PIM and maintained there. New product variants or attribute values in the PIM are immediately available in the configurator. Conversely, configuration results (SKUs created for customer-specific variants) can automatically flow back into the ERP or PIM. This consistency offers a huge advantage: all data – from the basic product to the variant – is stored on one platform, enabling consistent translations, centralised quality assurance and uniform workflows. Viamedici emphasises that it is currently "the only company offering a PIM solution with a built-in product configurator". This USP (unique selling point) saves customers the tedious integration of separate PIM and configurator tools.
- Integration of external rules & systems: The Viamedici configuration can import and reuse existing rule sets, e.g. from the SAP variant configuration. Companies that already maintain complex product logic in SAP or other systems can integrate this seamlessly and expand it in SPC as required. Similarly, the output of the configuration is not limited to web portals: via Headless APIs, the configurator can be integrated into any front end (web shops, mobile apps, even machine controls). This flexibility in all directions (input and output) makes SPC a future-proof solution that can be easily integrated into existing sales processes.
20 years of partnership between Viamedici and INFOLOX – a model of success in the PIM sector
A key factor in Viamedici's success is its ecosystem of competent implementation partners. One of the first and still one of the most successful partners is INFOLOX GmbH from Lindau (Lake Constance). INFOLOX is an agency specialising in omnichannel publishing and product communication that joined Viamedici almost 20 years ago. In 2001 (approx.), INFOLOX implemented one of the very first Viamedici PIM systems at sensor manufacturer SICK AG – laying the foundation for a collaboration that would last two decades.
Today, more than 20 years later, SICK AG is still a loyal customer of INFOLOX and Viamedici. Together, they have set standards and implemented numerous customer projects in the industrial B2B sector during this time. See also 20 years of INFOLOX & viamedici!
