ETIM: definition and role in PIM
ETIM is an international classification standard for technical products that defines product classes with standardised features, values and units.
In PIM practice, ETIM is widely used in electrical, HVAC, plumbing, building and shipbuilding product data exchange between manufacturers and wholesalers. ETIM International describes the model as one model in 17 languages, with synonyms per class. ETIM 10.0 was released in December 2024.
Illustrative example: a manufacturer of electrical installation products exports its range to wholesalers in the Netherlands and Germany. Each product sits in an ETIM class, and the PIM fills the class features with the correct values and units before export.
In a selection, ETIM support should be tested on the buyer's own range. Buyers should check the import of new ETIM releases and the mapping of internal attributes to ETIM features. Value list handling and export in the formats trading partners require also need a test. PIM products differ in how much of this they offer out of the box.
Related terms
Sources and method
How this page was made: drafted by the PIM Selection editors from the sources listed, checked against the PIMvendors selection method, and signed off by a named expert. Editorial policy.
Cite this page
PIM Selection (2026). ETIM: definition and role in PIM. PIMvendors.com. https://pimselection.com/glossary/etim/ (version 2026-10-14).