Part Information Management: There’s Gold in Them Thar Tables

A next-generation Part Information Management (PIM) system combines governed part data with integrated operational datasets and AI-driven analytics to enable automation, decision support, and direct revenue generation. This foundation enables advanced analytics, intelligent automation, AI-guided decision-making, and monetization through premium data services and APIs—driving higher margins, improved customer outcomes, and scalable digital transformation across the electronics industry.

The Traditional PIM

A traditional Part Information Management (PIM) system functionally serves as the centralized system of record for creating, normalizing, governing, and maintaining structured product or part data across its entire lifecycle. It consolidates data from multiple source systems, enforces data models and business rules, manages attributes, relationships, and classifications, and ensures data accuracy, consistency, and version control in a single source of truth. From this authoritative core, the PIM distributes trusted, up-to-date information to downstream systems and channels—such as ERP, CRM, eCommerce, engineering tools, partners, and customers—enabling efficient operations, reliable transactions, regulatory compliance, and effective digital experiences.

Traditional PIMs optimize data accuracy and consistency but do not, on their own, generate new revenue opportunities or intelligence.

Opportunity to Monetize the Part Catalog

Forward-thinking companies recognize that a PIM is not just an operational system but a monetizable data asset that can unlock new revenue streams. By leveraging high-quality, normalized part or product data, companies can offer premium data services such as enhanced search and discovery, parametric comparison tools, digital catalogs, and subscription-based access to enriched datasets for customers and partners.

PIM data can also power value-added services including design-in tools, configuration and compatibility engines, predictive lifecycle and obsolescence insights, compliance validation, and supply-chain risk intelligence. In addition, trusted PIM data enables targeted advertising, preferred placement, and co-marketing opportunities, as well as API-based data licensing models that allow third parties to embed authoritative product information directly into their own systems and applications.

Unlike traditional PIM systems that focus on data governance, next-generation PIMs are designed to activate data for analytics, automation, and monetization.

Rochester Electronics: A Forward Thinking Company

One of the most dynamic companies within the electronics industry, currently evaluating methods and opportunities to monetize their part catalog beyond traditional functionality is Rochester Electronics. Rochester provides semiconductor lifecycle and supply chain continuity solutions that are highly beneficial across the electronics industry by ensuring reliable access to both active and end-of-life (EOL) semiconductor components that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to source.

As the world’s largest continuous source of authorized semiconductors, Rochester stocks over 200,000 part numbers and 15 billion devices while also offering licensed manufacturing services—including design support, wafer processing, assembly, testing, reliability services, and IP archiving—that help customers avoid costly redesigns, reduce supply risk, and accelerate time-to-market for long-life products in aerospace and defense, medical, industrial, automotive, and transportation markets.

The company partners with over 70 leading semiconductor manufacturers, enabling authorized distribution of products from manufacturers such as Analog Devices, Infineon, NXP, onsemi, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, and many other semiconductor manufacturers, extending lifecycle support and trusted supply for critical components throughout complex electronic systems.

Speaking at CURRENT 2025, Colin Strother, Executive Vice President at Rochester, put it this way:

“Surely there must be a universal data format for part data. But no, I don’t think there is. And that is where the journey starts. Because when we look at the data we receive from our suppliers, one might send us twenty attributes. Another might provide hundreds. So we get to the point where we can bring the data in, but it is not usable. We need to decide what data is critical, what can be augmented, and normalize it. But where are we going to keep it? And how do we keep it current? And that’s where Orbweaver Forge came along.”
— Colin Strother, Executive Vice President at Rochester Electronics
Watch Colin’s presentation at CURRENT 2025

Why Next Generation PIM Matters to the Electronics Industry

Companies like Rochester are increasing the value of software solutions traditional to the electronics industry, such as a PIM. They do this by incorporating multiple data sets—like inventory, pricing, and API search data—that would not traditionally be included. As a result, Rochester is capturing advanced trend analysis and opportunities for data correlation to “make the customer glad they called” (Curt Gerrish, Founder, Rochester Electronics, 1981). The result: greater operational efficiency, optimized processes, and enhanced customer success.

Orbweaver FORGE offers solutions, including Supplier Data Intake, Part Information Management (PIM) and Part Data Syndication, maintaining an evergreen part catalog that enables advanced functionality beyond traditional PIMs. In the electronics industry, the companies that treat part data as an AI-ready asset will outpace those that treat it as static reference information.

T-Minus Transformation: Orbweaver’s 1,095 day mission starting January 1, 2026 is to advance the electronics industry as the definitive provider of intelligent automation software, accelerating digital transformation by delivering automation-driven, AI-guided software that enhances productivity, strengthens margins, and supports an evolving workforce.

Today is T-Minus 1,082.