Can I use Craft CMS as a PIM system?
The "Thing" section could be set as a structure if you're planning of having hierarchy, if not, a channel would suffice. You would then create common fields that pertain to all "Things" and add them to all your entry types.

"Types" would be your entry types that would have different fields that are unique to the "Type" of "Thing".


Thing (Section - Structure/Channel)


Name (Title)
Primary Image (Asset)
Description (Rich Text)
Types (Entry Types)


Product (Entry Type)


Category (Categories)
Features (Matrix Field)


Name (Plain Text)
Image (Asset)
Description (Rich Text)






With this content model you'd be able to extrapolate quite a robust PIM system.