What is product data management software? Complete guide for fashion brands

Fashion companies today operate in a fast-paced, variant-heavy world. A single garment can come in dozens of sizes, colors, materials, and configurations — all while moving through design, development, production, distribution, and marketing phases at lightning speed. Managing all this complexity through spreadsheets, isolated databases, and disconnected platforms is not just inefficient — it’s risky.

Errors in product specs, outdated BOMs, inconsistent variant data, and disconnected workflows cost companies time, money, and reputation. That’s why forward-thinking fashion businesses are turning to product data management software to centralize, structure, and streamline the flow of product-related data across their operations.

What is product data management software?

Product data management software (PDM) is a system that centralizes, organizes, and distributes all technical and commercial data related to your products. In fashion, this includes everything from style hierarchies and materials to colors, sizes, BOMs (bill of materials), product images, care instructions, spec sheets, and technical documentation.

Unlike basic item catalogs or file folders, a true PDM system serves as the single source of truth for product information — ensuring every department, from design to production to sales, works with accurate and up-to-date data.

It’s important to distinguish PDM from PLM (Product Lifecycle Management):

• PDM focuses on storing and managing product data.
• PLM covers the full lifecycle of a product, including ideation, design, development, sourcing, and sometimes even end-of-life.

In many cases, fashion companies that already have an ERP system benefit more immediately from a PDM system tightly integrated with ERP, rather than a standalone PLM. This ensures that product data flows directly into orders, purchasing, inventory, and production.

What does product data management software do?

Let’s break down the core capabilities of modern product data management software — especially those designed for the fashion sector:

Centralized style and master data

Product data management software centralizes all item definitions, often referred to as style data or master data. This includes:

• Product names and codes
• Seasonality
• Product lines and collections
• Assigned departments or designers

In TRIMIT, these are maintained through a dedicated product hierarchy structure that supports style-centric workflows commonly used in fashion.

Variant and matrix management (size, color, fit)

One of the most critical features for fashion businesses is the ability to manage product variants. PDM software lets you create variant matrices, allowing you to define one product (e.g., a shirt) with multiple size and color combinations — without creating separate records for each.

For example:
Shirt A → Available in sizes XS to XXL, and colors White, Navy, Black = 18 variants

In TRIMIT, this matrix-based structure is intuitive, allowing you to manage and maintain combinations easily.

Bill of materials (BOM) and routing

PDM systems like TRIMIT allow you to define the full bill of materials for each product or variant:

• Fabrics and linings
• Buttons, zippers, and accessories
• Labels, tags, packaging elements

It also includes routing information for production — specifying the steps, work centers, and resources involved.

This ensures production runs are accurate and optimized, especially in complex or custom garment manufacturing.

Document and image management

Fashion products are visually driven and documentation-heavy. Product data management software includes the ability to attach:

• Tech packs
• Drawings and sketches
• CAD files
• Fabric swatches
• Quality standards and certifications

In TRIMIT, these documents are tied directly to the product record and accessible across the organization, including in B2B or supplier portals.

Lifecycle and workflow visibility

Even without a full PLM, good PDM software tracks the status of product readiness:

• Sample stage
• Approval stage
• Ready for production
• Archived/discontinued

It improves internal communication and ensures everyone knows which styles are in progress, approved, or retired.

Why fashion companies need product data management software?

Fashion brands and manufacturers face unique operational pressures that make PDM not a luxury — but a necessity:

High SKU complexity

Even small brands often manage hundreds or thousands of product variants. Manual tracking leads to errors, missed updates, and wasted resources. PDM simplifies this by providing scalable, structured management.

Fast time-to-market

Today’s fashion cycles are shorter and more intense. PDM software helps reduce lead times by streamlining collaboration and accelerating approvals, BOM creation, and handoffs to production.

Global and multi-channel operations

As fashion brands sell via retail, wholesale, e-commerce, and marketplaces, consistency in product data is essential. PDM ensures the same data powers your ERP, webshop, sales catalogs, and partner platforms.

Supplier and production collaboration

Whether you’re managing local workshops or global manufacturers, PDM ensures you’re sending accurate, complete specifications with every PO — reducing sampling errors and miscommunication.

Benefits of product data management software for fashion brands

1. Centralized product data

All data — including styles, variants, materials, and specs — is in one place. Everyone sees the same version, reducing confusion and duplicated work.

2. Reduced errors and rework

Accurate BOMs and variant definitions ensure correct manufacturing and minimize returns or quality issues.

3. Increased operational speed

Faster onboarding of new collections and seasonal styles. Reduced manual entry and streamlined workflows.

4. Better decision-making

With up-to-date product data, you can track trends, optimize sourcing, and manage margins more effectively.

5. Enhanced team collaboration

Design, development, procurement, production, and sales all work from the same system, aligned around product readiness and status.

6. Seamless integration with ERP

When connected to your ERP (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central), PDM enables end-to-end traceability from design to delivery.

TRIMIT: the leading product data management software for fashion brands

If you’re looking for product data management software tailored for the fashion industry, TRIMIT stands out as a best-in-class solution.

Built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, TRIMIT combines the power of an ERP system with advanced PDM functionality — enabling fashion businesses to manage styles, variants, BOMs, documents, and workflows in a unified platform.

Key PDM capabilities in TRIMIT

• Style and master data management: Organize your product catalog with hierarchies that match fashion workflows.
• Variant matrix: Handle unlimited combinations of sizes, colors, materials.
• BOM and routing: Define raw materials, components, and production steps per variant.
• Document attachment: Store tech packs, visuals, and specs with each style.
• Portal integration: Share product data with suppliers, agents, and customers through TRIMIT’s built-in portals.
• Collaboration tools: Align design, sales, production, and sourcing on up-to-date product data.

Seamless integration with Microsoft Business Central

TRIMIT is more than just PDM — it’s a full ERP tailored for fashion. Because it’s built directly on Business Central, there’s no data duplication or disconnected systems. Your sales orders, purchasing, production orders, and webshops all pull directly from the same source of product truth.

This means:

• A change to a fabric spec updates across BOMs and production.
• Adding a new color variant automatically flows into inventory, costing, and sales.
• Portal users see the most recent, approved style data.

Flexible licensing model

TRIMIT’s modules — including its product data management software — are enabled via a dedicated TRIMIT License within your Business Central environment. This lets you control access by company or role, making it scalable for growing businesses.

How to choose the right product data management software for your fashion business?

When evaluating PDM solutions, keep these considerations in mind:

• Industry fit: Look for software purpose-built for fashion. General PDM systems may not handle variant matrices, style hierarchies, or seasonal workflows out-of-the-box.
• ERP integration: Avoid siloed systems. Choose a solution that integrates natively with your ERP — preferably one that’s built on top of it, like TRIMIT is on Business Central.
• Scalability: As your business grows, your PDM must handle more SKUs, users, and channels without falling apart. Look for a solution that scales with your needs.
• Collaboration features: Make sure your teams — and external partners — can easily access, edit, or use product data based on permissions.
• Support and onboarding: You’ll need expert guidance to implement, train users, and align workflows. That’s where your implementation partner becomes critical.

Why Gestisoft is your partner of choice for PDM and ERP success?

As a Microsoft Gold Partner and TRIMIT expert, Gestisoft helps fashion businesses like yours implement the right technology to streamline operations, reduce errors, and grow faster.

We offer:

• Full consulting and implementation services
• Expertise in Dynamics 365 and TRIMIT
• Local support and training in French and English
• Proven experience with Canadian and international fashion brands

With our team, your transition to modern product data management software is smooth, strategic, and built for real results.

Fashion businesses today face increasing pressure to innovate, launch faster, and maintain consistency across more products, more partners, and more channels. Without a structured and centralized way to manage product data, even the best ideas fall apart in execution.

Product data management software like TRIMIT, especially when integrated with Microsoft Dynamics 365, gives you the tools to scale your brand with confidence.

At Gestisoft, we specialize in helping fashion companies build this foundation for smarter operations and sustainable growth.

Contact us today to schedule your demo and discover how TRIMIT and Gestisoft can transform your product operations.