Classification with PIM
Classification for manufacturers
Classification is becoming an ever greater and more important part of managing product information; not just for yourself, but also for your partners/wholesale customers and consumers.
What is classification?
Uniform description
Classification is the uniform description of product information. This is done with a standard; a model that is determined in advance (by the industry). The classified information can be shared in various ways:
- Via export files with your customers so that they can also use your product information in their ERP data mangement programme and online store / catalogs;
- Directly with the users via your own website / catalogs / datasheets to provide them with detailed information.
Why use classification?
By providing classified files, you are ensured that the you always provide the right information. Moreover, it makes it extra easy for your wholesalers to promote your products. The benefits are listed below:
- High data quality thanks to the uniform recording;
- The extensive information reduces the chance of questions and errors from ordering customers, resulting in fewer returns and reducing sales costs;
- Exchange product data with wholesalers/buyers without any problem;
- Detailed product information on your online store and in the catalog.
Manual classification: this is is how it works
1.
The right foundation
Classification starts with the classification standard of (for instance) ETIM. ETIM makes the classification file available with the predefined ETIM structure of product groups, classes, attributes per class and (if applicable) the values you must choose from. The ETIM structure is loaded into your classification software, after which you can start entering or importing your product data.
Classification is labor-intensive work, so it is important to choose software that specializes in this. The Catalogger PIM software offers you a user-friendly tool for easy classification.
2.
Entering data
After loading the ETIM classification into the Catalogger PIM software, you can start. If you assign the right class to your (imported) item information, the associated classification input fields will be shown directly. Entering the predefined values can be done with fold-out lists from which you select the relevant attribute value. For images and downloads, you can enter the name of the file.
It is also possible to copy the attribute values of an item to other items in that class. And for even more convenience, there are smart search options and ‘reports’ that allow you to quickly navigate to, for instance, the products for which not all relevant attribute values have been entered yet.
3.
Importing existing data
A part of the classification information, such as prices, other trade information and item description, are likely already in your ERP system or in Excel. There is no need to enter this information again, as it can simply be imported into Catalogger PIM.
4.
Providing data pools
When you are done classifying, you can use Catalogger PIM to easily create an export in the right file format in order to share your product information with your customers.
For instance, to deliver information to 2ba, the exported item file with associated images and PDF files can be uploaded via the 2ba site. Of course, you can also directly distribute the classified data to your customers, without the intervention of a data pool.
Applying information in media expressions
In addition to classification, Catalogger PIM also allows you to very easily and automatically publish your product information to your website/online store and print.
On the website or online store
The website is the perfect place to show detailed product information. End users can easily consult the website when they feel they need additional information.
The classification data can also be used as filtering, making it easy to search for a product with a specific property.
In the catalog and datasheets
The classified data can also be used in the catalogs and in datasheets. You do not need to format this data manually; with Catalogger, this process can be fully automated. You can select the products and features you want to show from the PIM database. After that, Catalogger starts generating a professionally formatted document in your corporate style.