my $ifs = '|'; # or whatever

open FH, "<$file1path" or die $1;
my @file1data = map {[split $ifs, $_]} <FH>;
close(FH( or die $!;

open FH, "<$file2path" or die $1;
my @file2data = map {[split $ifs, $_]} <FH>;
close(FH) or die $!;