PIM for tools and hardware merchants and distributors

For tools and hardware merchants and distributors, the catalogue is the business. Whether you sell fasteners and consumables, power tools, accessories, or spare parts, product ranges can quickly run into tens or even hundreds of thousands of SKUs. Each one carries its own mix of technical specifications, variants, certifications, and compatibility rules.

When this level of complexity is managed through spreadsheets, ERP fields, PDFs, or a basic eCommerce platform, it does more than slow teams down. It limits scale, introduces errors, and makes it harder to deliver the buying experience professional customers expect.

This article explains why Product Information Management (PIM) has become a critical foundation for tools and hardware merchants and distributors who need to organise complex catalogues, reduce operational friction, and scale confidently across digital, trade, and procurement channels.

Why tools and hardware catalogues are uniquely complex

There are few other sectors which combine breadth, depth, and precision of information in the same way as tools and hardware.

• High SKU volumes with granular variations
  Take a single cordless drill: It might exist in multiple voltages, kits, battery configurations, and regional variants, each with different safety labels and certifications.
• Specification-led buying
  Trade buyers and procurement teams make decisions based on attributes like torque, tolerance, thread type, material grade, or load rating. If that information is incomplete or inconsistent, it stalls, or even curtails, the customer journey.
• Bundles, kits, and replacements
  Items like socket sets, toolkits, and assemblies introduce BOM-level relationships[1], and customers also need to find compatible spares and accessories quickly.
• Multi-channel pressure
  Information about the same product needs to be presented in different formats on different channels (like websites, portals, marketplaces, and printed catalogues) without appearing inconsistent and contradictory.

When product data is fragmented across spreadsheets, PDFs, supplier portals, and CMS fields, teams end up firefighting. Manual updates slow down launches, errors multiply, and customer confidence erodes, particularly in omnichannel environments where consistency matters.

What PIM changes for tools and hardware suppliers

A PIM system is the solution to provide a single, structured source of truth for all product information. However, its real value lies in how it’s able to handle larger and larger-scale complexity:

1. Industrial-strength taxonomy and attributes

A PIM solution enables suppliers to build deep product hierarchies (for instance, Fasteners → Screws → Wood Screws) as well as defining category-specific attributes.

Take a couple of examples:

·   An angle grinder might include disc diameter, power input, speed, and safety features

·   Fasteners would include granular details like thread pitch, tensile strength, and finish.

The key factor is that these attributes are standardised and governed, so all filters actually work and product comparisons are user-friendly and make sense.

2. Variants, kits, and compatibility logic

As opposed to duplicating data, a PIM can model relationships logically. Be it base products, variants, bundles, accessories or replacements, they’re all linked structurally. This makes it much easier to manage kits, support cross-selling (“batteries compatible with this product…”), and keep replacement parts visible.

3. Centralised assets and compliance documentation

SKUs are linked directly to the right supporting data:

·   Installation manuals

·   Safety data sheets

·   Certifications

·   CAD drawings

·   Product visuals (video, thumbnails, …)

What’s more, if and when any of that documentation changes, it’s updated once and syndicated everywhere, reducing risk and minimising need for manual updates.

4. Channel-specific syndication without duplication

PIM allows your teams to enrich data once, then distribute it in different formats and levels of detail to each channel. No need to reformat, and definitely no manual uploads!

A client use case: RS Group

One of our clients, RS Group, is a textbook example of the scale and complexity faced by suppliers of tools and industrial hardware. RS deals with hundreds of thousands of products, encompassing electrical, mechanical, and industrial components, so it must be able to support highly technical purchasing journeys across its various markets across the globe.

By investing in structured product data and PIM-led processes, RS has been able to:

• Standardise technical attributes across vast product ranges
• Enhance product discoverability through precise filtering
• Support multiple regional catalogues with localised compliance data
• Address the needs of both self-service digital buyers and enterprise procurement teams

The result is that not only is RS using cleaner data, but it can onboard new ranges much faster with far fewer errors. The longer-term gain has been a significantly improved customer experience, especially for professional buyers who rely on accuracy (and who are far more willing to enter into a long-term relationship with a demonstrably reliable supplier).

The commercial impact

Whether B2B, D2C, or trade-led, tools and hardware merchants and distributors see tangible benefits from investing in PIM:

• Faster time to market for new products and seasonal ranges
• Fewer returns and support queries due to clearer specifications
• Higher conversion rates driven by better search and comparison
• Lower operational costs by removing manual rework
• A scalable foundation for marketplaces, AI-driven search, and future channels

In this sector, buyers do not browse. They specify. Well-organised product data becomes a direct competitive advantage.

From catalogue management to growth enablement

PIM does more than tidy product data. For tools and hardware merchants and distributors, it transforms an overwhelming catalogue into a usable, commercial asset. One that supports growth across regions, channels, and customer types while improving operational efficiency and strategic agility.

At Start with Data, we specialise in helping tools and hardware merchants and distributors take control of complex, multi-supplier catalogues. From data onboarding and enrichment to PIM selection, implementation, and governance, we help teams build product data foundations that scale with confidence.

If your catalogue is holding growth back rather than powering it,  

Get in touch with us today and let’s talk through your setup.