#unopim

Managing product information across multiple platforms is one of the biggest challenges for growing businesses. Product details often become inconsistent when they are updated manually in different systems. 

Open source PIM integration services solve this problem by connecting your Product Information Management (PIM) system with ERP, eCommerce platforms, marketplaces, CRM, and other business applications.

With a connected ecosystem, product data is updated automatically across every sales channel from a single source of truth. This eliminates duplicate data entry, reduces human errors, and ensures customers always see accurate product descriptions, pricing, specifications, images, and inventory information.

PIM integration services also improve operational efficiency. Instead of spending hours updating product information manually, your team can focus on product marketing, customer engagement, and business growth. Automated workflows speed up product launches, making it easier to introduce new products across multiple channels without delays.

Another key advantage is better data consistency. Whether customers shop on your website, online marketplaces, mobile apps, or retail channels, they receive the same accurate product information. This builds trust, reduces product returns, and creates a better shopping experience.

As your business grows, integration becomes even more valuable. Open source PIM solutions are flexible and scalable, allowing you to integrate additional systems, automate more processes, and support expanding product catalogues without disrupting existing operations. 

They also reduce dependence on manual processes, helping businesses adapt quickly to changing market demands. Choosing professional PIM integration services ensures your implementation is secure, reliable, and tailored to your business requirements. 

From system integration and data migration to workflow automation and API development, expert services help you maximise the value of your PIM investment.

Managing a catalog with multiple variations, like size, color, or material, can quickly get messy. UnoPim solves this with configurable products, letting you organize all variations under one parent product.

Instead of creating multiple simple products separately, a configurable product allows you to manage all variations under one parent product, providing a seamless experience for both customers and catalog managers.

In this guide, we will walk you through how to create configurable products in UnoPim, explain why they are useful, and provide step-by-step instructions so you can get started easily.

What is a Configurable Product in UnoPim?

A configurable product in UnoPim is a product that can have different variants, based on configurable attributes you choose, like size, color, or material.

When you create a configurable product, you pick one or more configurable attributes (for example, Size or Color). UnoPim then lets you add individual variants for each option, each with its own SKU and details.

This means you don’t have to make a separate product for every option. All variants stay connected to the main product, making it easy to manage, keep information correct across channels, and save time when handling products with many options.

Key concepts:

Common attributes: Attributes that every variant shares. These are stored at the parent level. Examples: product name, description, short description, base images, etc.

Configurable Attributes/Variant-specific attributes: Attributes that make each variant unique. Examples: size (S, M, L), color (Red, Blue, Black).

Unique SKUs: Each variant (child product) has its own SKU (or unique identifier).

How this works in practice:

Imagine you sell T-shirts that vary by color and size.

You create one configurable product, called “T-Shirt.” Under it, you have children like “T-Shirt / Blue / M”, “T-Shirt / Yellow / S”, etc.

The parent stores shared things like “Description,” while each child variant has its own color, size, and SKU.

Why Use Configurable Products?

Configurable products bring multiple advantages:

Better organization: All variations are grouped under a single product listing.

Improved customer experience: Customers can select size or color from dropdowns instead of browsing multiple listings.

Easier management: Centralized control of product attributes, images, and associations.

Scalability: Perfect for catalogs with thousands of variations.

Understanding Configurable Attributes in UnoPim

Before creating a configurable product, you need to define configurable attributes/ variant attributes -the characteristics that will distinguish one variant from another.

When you install UnoPim, it comes with 21 default attributes to help you get started quickly. Among these are the most common ones, like Size and Color, which are often used to create product variations.

But every catalog is different. If your business needs something beyond the defaults-say, fabrics for clothing-you can simply create a new attribute, such as Material, with values like Cotton, Silk, or Wool. That way, you can build variants that match your exact product requirements.

When setting up configurable products, you will need to make sure:

Variant attributes are already created in the Attributes section.

These attributes are assigned to the Attribute Family of the configurable product.

This ensures that when you create your parent product, UnoPim will allow you to generate child variants (e.g., a Cotton T-shirt and a Silk T-shirt under one parent product).

Once your variant attributes are ready, you can move ahead with creating the configurable product.

Steps to Create a Configurable Product in UnoPim

Follow these steps to set up a configurable product inside UnoPim:

1. Log in to UnoPim Admin

Use your admin credentials to access the UnoPim dashboard.

From here, you’ll manage products, attributes, and families.

2. Navigate to Products → Create Product

3. Choose the Product Type — “Configurable.”

4: Select the Product Family

Pick a Family that already includes the attributes you will use for variation (e.g. Size, Color).

If these attributes are not yet part of a Family, add them in Attributes and then assign them to the correct Family.

5: Enter Parent Product SKU & Save

Type a unique SKU for the configurable (parent) product.

Click on Save Product to create the parent product.

6. Now, Select Configurable Attributes

Pick the attributes that will define the variations (e.g., Color and Size).

Make sure these attributes are already created in your Attributes section.

Select them as Super Attributes for the variable product. Click on Save Product.

7. Add Variants (Child Products)

For each variant:

Enter a unique SKU.

Select specific values for each Super Attribute (for example: Color = Blue, Size = M).

Click on Add to add the variable SKU.

8: Final Review and Save All Changes

Required attributes are filled in completely.

Common attributes (like Short description, Description, Images) are entered at the parent level so they automatically apply to all variants.

Variant-specific attributes (like Color and Size) are correctly selected for each child product.

Example: If you have created two variants of a T-shirt (based on Color and Size), only these two attributes will differ between variants. All other attributes (e.g.Material = “Cotton”, Description, Short Description, Image) remain the same and should be filled in as the parent level.

In this way, variations for the configurable SKU will be added. The image below demonstrates two variant products created under a configurable product.

Example Use Case

Let’s say you are selling T-shirts in 3 colors (Red, Blue, Black) and 2 sizes (M, L). Instead of adding 6 different simple products, you create 1 Configurable Product (T-Shirt) with 6 child products as variants. Customers see only one product in the store, and they can select a color and size from dropdown menus.

Conclusion

Configurable products in UnoPim simplify catalog management .Instead of adding the same product again and again for each size or color, you just create one main product and manage all its variations under it.

This way, you save time, avoid mistakes, and keep your product data consistent. The parent product stores the common details, and you update the variant-specific information for each child product.

For teams handling large catalogs, configurable products bring structure, easier updates, and a scalable way to manage data. Try creating your first configurable product in UnoPim and see how much simpler catalog management becomes.

If you’re managing a big catalog, this approach gives you better structure and easier updates. Create your first configurable product in UnoPim today and see the difference it makes.

Configurable products bring structure, speed, and scalability. Start your first one in UnoPim today and simplify catalog management.

Hope this helps you out! If you run into any problems, don’t hesitate to submit a ticket at our Support Portal.

The best free PIM systems for Shopify make managing product information simple. Tools like Pimcore, Akeneo, and UnoPim allow you to organize and update product details in one place. With Shopify PIM integration, you save time and ensure your product data stays accurate across all sales channels. For more information, check out our blog.