Pimcore and Shopware: external PIM or PIM in the Shopware admin?
Pimcore and Shopware: external PIM or PIM in the Shopware admin? Many merchants ask this as soon as product data maintenance in the standard admin reaches its limits. This page compares both approaches factually and shows when a separate PIM system such as Pimcore fits, when a PIM directly in the Shopware admin is enough and how both can be combined.
- Pimcore is a standalone platform for product data and master data management that runs as a separate application and is connected to Shopware via an interface or a connector.
- PIM for Shopware is a plugin and works directly with the product data in Shopware, without a second system and without synchronisation.
- A separate PIM tends to fit with many output channels and central master data, a PIM in the admin when Shopware is the main channel.
- Both can be combined: the external system protection keeps texts maintained in Shopware from being overwritten.
The starting question: where should product data be maintained?
If you want to maintain product data professionally, there are basically two ways. The first is a separate PIM system that holds product data centrally and publishes it to Shopware and other channels. The second is a PIM that runs as a plugin in the Shopware admin and edits the data where the shop stores it anyway.
Neither way is better in principle. What matters is the number of channels, the role of Shopware in your business, the systems you already have and who maintains the data day to day.
Pimcore and Shopware or PIM in the Shopware admin: the comparison
The table compares both approaches by neutral criteria. The column for the separate PIM only describes the basic architecture, not individual features of a specific product.
| Criterion | Separate PIM such as Pimcore | PIM for Shopware (in the admin) |
|---|---|---|
| Operation | Standalone application next to Shopware | Plugin inside the existing Shopware installation |
| Data storage | Product data lives in the PIM and is transferred to Shopware | Product data lives only in Shopware, own tables only for settings, snapshots, logs and approvals |
| Synchronisation | Sync with Shopware via interface or connector | No sync needed, changes take effect directly in Shopware |
| Introduction | Own project with data model and connection to Shopware | Installation as a plugin, existing products are in the PIM right away |
| Output channels | Designed as a central data source for several systems and channels | Shopware as the main channel, further channels via feeds (CSV, XML, JSON) and CSV export |
| Daily work in Shopware | Maintenance in the separate system, changes reach Shopware via the sync | Maintenance in the Shopware admin, with bulk edit, variant generator, categories and AI texts |
Decision guide
A separate PIM such as Pimcore tends to fit if ...
- besides Shopware you want to serve many other output channels such as print, apps or other shops from one source.
- product and master data should be available centrally for several systems in the company.
- a dedicated team takes care of data modelling and can carry the operation of an additional application.
- Shopware is only one of several equal sales channels.
A PIM in the Shopware admin tends to fit if ...
- Shopware is your main channel and the product data is stored there anyway.
- you do not want to run a second system or set up a synchronisation.
- maintenance should happen where the data lives, with Shopware users and Shopware permissions.
- further channels such as marketplaces or price comparison sites are well served by feeds.
Combining both approaches
An external system, whether PIM or ERP, keeps delivering master data and raw texts to Shopware. In PIM for Shopware you then refine sales texts, translations, meta data, properties and categories directly in the shop.
To keep the next sync from overwriting this work, there is the external system protection. It stores a reference state of name, description, meta title, meta description and keywords per product number and language. If a Shopware integration that you selected as external writes to these fields, the PIM resets them to the reference state. Edits by logged-in users, on the other hand, refresh the reference state immediately.
For exchange without a connector there are CSV and feeds: the CSV import matches products by product number, EAN or manufacturer number, and the feed generator provides product data as CSV, XML or JSON under a URL with a token.
Frequently asked questions
Is PIM for Shopware a replacement for Pimcore?
Not in every case. PIM for Shopware is a plugin for product data maintenance directly in the Shopware admin. If you need central master data for many systems and channels, a separate PIM such as Pimcore can be the better fit.
Does PIM for Shopware need a synchronisation?
No. The PIM works directly with the product data in Shopware. It uses its own tables only for settings, snapshots, logs and approvals.
Can I combine an external PIM with PIM for Shopware?
Yes. The external system keeps delivering its data to Shopware, and in the PIM you refine texts, translations and meta data. The external system protection prevents these texts from being overwritten at the next sync.
Which fields does the external system protection cover?
Name, description, meta title, meta description and keywords of the product translations, each for the languages you select.
How do I pass data from Shopware to other systems?
Via the feed generator as CSV, XML or JSON under a URL with a token, or via the CSV export with profiles.
Further reading
- What is a PIM for Shopware? Basics - a PIM without an extra system
- PIM, ERP and Shopware admin: who owns what? - roles for product data
- External system protection in PIM for Shopware: guide - settings and reference state
- Protect Shopware texts from ERP overwrites - the guide on protection
- Feed generator in PIM for Shopware: guide - data for other systems
- Import Shopware products - CSV, mapping and preview
Try PIM for Shopware
All licence models and terms are listed on the PIM for Shopware pricing page. Not sure whether a PIM in the Shopware admin or a separate system fits your shop better? Get in touch via the contact form - we answer personally and honestly.
Pimcore is a trademark of its respective owner. It is mentioned for descriptive purposes only. Stone & Water is not affiliated with the trademark owner.