Product classification Standard for international e-Commerce ETIM International Marc Habets

1Sheet :21 April 2023

Product classification Standard for international e-

Commerce

ETIM InternationalMarc Habets


Marc Habets - ETIM NL

– Director ETIM Netherlands• Employed since 2003

– President ETIM International• Since foundation in 2008

3Sheet :

Agenda

• ETIM Netherlands

• Standards in product data management

• ETIM model : what is it, how and why?

• ETIM International

21 April 2023


ETIM Netherlands

• ETIM = European Technical Information Model

• ETIM NL = Foundation (started in1991)

• Participants– Manufacturers 76 companies, majority position

– Wholesalers federations ECEG and TGF

– and installers federation UNETO-VNI

• Standards for product classification and communication formats (e-business)

• Electrotechnical, heating and sanitary

5Sheet :21. April 2023

- To make the ever increasing material

databases easily accessible for the user

- in a user (customer) - friendly way.

Necessity of standards in product data management


- rapid growth of product range(90.000 in 1995, 160.000 in 1997, 280.000 in 2000, 500.000 in 2002, > 1.000.000 in 2009)

- further growth of information needs per article

- shorter product life cycle and quicker TTM (time to market)

- product database quality more important

This necessity is demonstrated by:


- Maintenance of product databases in an efficient way

- Automated processing of article information

- The suppliers are the owner – and responsible – for product information and distribution of product data in a standard way !

- All participants have to use the same standards - Names- Structure- Interfaces

Requirements


- Networks- Interfaces for data-exchange

- Data carrier / media

- Identification- Classification of products

Standards in product data management

All this aspects are important individually – don‘t mix!

All this aspects are requirements for efficient eBusiness

– but only in a standardized way!


Overview


Overview

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4

Assortment growth

Identification modus

Type of grouping

„100“ articles

Article number and article name

Identification

„1.000“ articles

Grouping of

articles

Codification


Basic product description

Classification


Structured product description

Product selection sources

Product offering

Type of communication

From stock

Buy, what you can touch

Face - to -

face

+ from catalogues

Buy, what you can read

+ from company database

Buy, what you can select

+ from external database(s)

Buy, what exists

Computer - to - computer


- Relevant for all companies in the supply chain

Manufacturer Wholesaler Installer / contractor

- Relevant for all kind of processes

Classification of products

12Sheet :

ETIM Classification• What is it?

- Fixed model for classifying electrotechnical articles- without hierarchy - with features / parametric

- Listing of the most important technical characteristics of each article class to describe and find the articles.- multi – lingual- media neutral- supplier neutral

13Sheet :

ETIM Classification

• How?– By using product classes, features and values, that are

descibed in a standardized way. Synomyms are used to easily find the right products!

• Why?– No double work, minimal failure costs, high data quality,

optimal data applications, efficient product data management. Cost savings, surplus value and … your customers ask for it!


ETIM Classification - Is NOT

- A software application

- An article data base

- A catalogue production tool

- A search engine

These are applications which use ETIM as the basis !!!

15Sheet :

Advantages

• Reduction of failure costs.

• Wrong orders are reduced to a minimum.

Direct Cost reductions!

16Sheet :

Advantages

• Increase in the efficiency of the communication (internal as well as external)

– Standardised– Automated– Direct coupling and/or processing in internal automation

Fewer actions necessary and faster acting! Time gained and thus savings!

17Sheet :

Advantages

• Heightens the information level to customers– Up to date-, complete- and correct product data

(throughout the entire supply chain)

Quality, service and fewer errors!

18Sheet :

Advantages

• Better logistics– Besides reduction in failure costs also reductions

possible in systems for stock management and order processing

19Sheet :

Advantages

• Possibility to re-use information– Data only have to be entered once– Data can be used for multiple purposes

Efficient management of product databases!

20Sheet :

Advantages

• Uniform information flow– Product information is specified once by producer– ..and entered in a standard format– ..and used by all parties in the supply chain– ..so the exchange of information is always based on the

same, original data in all direction – from and to the producer

Product information from the source and thus up to date,correct and complete!

21Sheet :

Advantages

• Optimization of catalogue management– Data are media neutral and can be used for different lay-

outs (catalogue software)

Time savings, less corrections and lower production costs!

22Sheet :

Advantages

• Standard interfaces– In the future only a few standard interfaces are needed

for the exchange of product data

Continuous adaptation of systems to new demands no

longer needed!

23Sheet :

Advantages

• Marketing instrument– Possible to arrange information to target group

– 1 on 1 marketing possible

– Unique product features are emphasized by complementary, specific marketing texts.

Distinguish by extra service!

24Sheet :

Advantages

• Efficient management reporting– Classification makes statistical analysis possible

Turnover figures and strategy possible on product class level!

25Sheet :

Advantages - summary• Reduction of failure costs.• Increase in the efficiency of the communication (internal as

well as external)• Heightens the information level to customers• Better logistics• Possibility to re-use information• Uniform information flow• Optimalisation of catalogue management

• Standard interfaces

• Marketing instrument

• Efficient management reporting

26Sheet :

ETIM Classification• Who uses it?

– Manufacturers : the ‘source’ of the product – Electronic and printed catalogues, online and offline databases and

applications as configurator

– Provide wholesaler with standardized product data

– Wholesalers: – Ideally receives classified product data from manufacturer

– Adds his own trade information to the product data

– Information to his customers: catalogues and databases

– Ordering: Online search/selection of articles

– Installers:– Online when searching or ordering products at the wholesaler or

producer

– Offline to build and update their own article database

27Sheet :

ETIM classification – the model

• Product groups

• Product classes

• Synonyms

• Features

• Values

• Units

productgroup

productclass unit

productclass- feature

feature-value

feature

value

productclass-synonym

synonym

28Sheet :

Types of features:

• Alphanumerical features– List of possible values (color, material,…)

• Numerical- and Range features– Number values (length, voltage, …)

• Logical features– “Yes or No” questions (true/false)

29Sheet :

productgroup

productclass unit

productclass-feature

value-feature

(search)feature

value

productclass-synonym

synonym

30Sheet :

31Sheet :

Classified product NL

Klassenaam

Wurgnippel

Kenmerk Waarde

Nominale diameter nvt

Nominale diameter PG 13,5

UitvoeringGesloten

Afdichtbereik 6-10,6

Beschermingsgraad (IP) IP55

Materiaal PVC

Kleur Wit

Halogeenvrij Ja

ICS E4W11

Klassenaam

229450915

Kenmerk Waarde

3348

9663 13,5

5916 149

8911 6-10,6

198 7461

6942 315

8 440

87 True

ETIM 4.0

Klassenaam

EC000451

Kenmerk Waarde

EF005114

EF005115 13,5

EF000010 EV000116

EF004593 6-10,6

EF005474 EV006420

EF002169 EV000163

EF000007 EV000202

EF000025 True

Classified product DE

Klassename

Kabeleinsteckstutzen

Merkmahl Wert

Nenndurchmesser nvt

Nenngröße PG 13,5

Ausführung Geschlossen

Dichtbereich 6-10,6

Schutzart (IP) IP55

Werkstoff PVC

Farbe Weiß

Halogenfrei Ja

Classified product EN

Classname

Cable sealing clamp

Feature Value

Nominal diameter nvt

Nominal size PG 13,5

Model Closed

Sealing range 6-10,6

Degree of protection (IP) IP55

Material PVC

Colour White

Halogen free Yes

ETIM International

Class name

EC000451

Feature Value

EF005114

EF005115 13,5

EF000010 EV000116

EF004593 6-10,6

EF005474 EV006420

EF002169 EV000163

EF000007 EV000202

EF000025 True

32Sheet :

ETIM classification – publication scheme

33Sheet :

ETIMTU1996

ETIMUNETO

1993

1999ETIM

Sonepar

ETIM1.1/2.0

From national and company standards

ETIMInternational 2008

To an international European standard

ETIMGermany

ETIMNL

2002 eCl@ss

ETIM – model evolution

MECIMNL

34Sheet :

Sector

Macro family

Family

Product

Features

ModelShapeMaterialColorEtc..

Hierarchic approach

Parametric approachETIM 4.0

ETIM – implementation in classification systems

UNSPSC

(company-)specific classifications

35Sheet :

Communication standards NL

Fu

ncti

on

al

Technique

Productinfomessage

Order

Order change

Order confirmation

Packing list

Invoice

Discountmessage

Articlemessage

EANCOM ASCII XML

--- ---

---

---

ob

ject-

com

mu

nic

atio

ntra

nsactio

n-

com

mu

nic

atio

n

36Sheet :

Product data exchange NL

• Scope for international data exchange– NL-specific formats not suitable for international use

– GS1 standard formats worldwide orientation

– BMECat currently best solution for international use

• Status BMECat in NL– Import in 2BA database easy and frequently used

• Export in NL formats to importers and/or wholesalers

– Larger wholesalers can import BMECat directly as well

37Sheet :

Product data exchange NL

• Bilateral between supplier and customer – Manufacturer-supplier

– Supplier-installer/endcustomer

• Through central branch database (2BA)

In both cases using the defined standard formats!

38Sheet :

- Central branch article database (2BA) operative

- Joint venture installers and wholesalers

- Non-profit

- Data based on branch standards classification + communication

- 223 companies already distribute their product data through 2BA

- 965.363 products 4.784.379 ‘buyable’ articles (article-numbers)

- Strong incentive for increase in classified data.

Data distribution - Netherlands

39Sheet :39

Producer

Importer

Wholesaler

Installer•Price Conditions

2badb


41Sheet :

Software tools for export to standard ETIM formats

• Software tools necessary

– To convert company data in ETIM classified product data

– To make export in standard communication formats

21 April 2023

42Sheet :

Software tools for export to standard ETIM formats

• Software provided by software companies– Exact, Proplanet, AG&P, ….

– From simple and relatively cheap to complex and expensive

• Tools provided by 2BA– Excel-import sheet

• limited classification – only classname

• Simple solution for easy start

– Basic softwaretool 2C for general use

• Technique: combination of .Net framework and SQL Server

• Simple and cheap solution

• Limitations, designed only for import in 2BA database, no additional features



45Sheet :

ETIM in use- Netherlands

• Example online database/webshop wholesaler

21 April 2023

46Sheet :

47Sheet :

48Sheet :

ETIM International – full member organisations

• ADIME Spain

• ELDAS Switzerland

• ETIM Austria

• ETIM Germany

• ETIM Netherlands

• ETIM Poland

• ICGME Belgium

• SEG Sweden

21 April 2023

49Sheet :

ETIM International

• Non-profit organization, founded in 2008, seat in Brussels

• Administration of all languages / classes from one administration group

• One model for Europe, one interface for suppliers, sharing of costs

• The use of ETIM offers advantages for all partners in the supply chain

• ETIM is operational in more than one language and available for the use in

different countries

• Cooperations with other standardization organizations (like eCl@ss)

21 April 2023

50Sheet :

ETIM International

- Ever more international wholesalers adopt ETIM as standard for their

(global) product data management

- Solar

- Rexel

- Sonepar

- …..

- The number of international suppliers that join and provide ETIM data

increases rapidly

21 April 2023

51Sheet :

ETIM International • No barriers for new member countries!

– No charges for the development done in the last 15 years!• Just join ETIM International

–Translate ETIM in your own language• Implement and start experiencing the benefits !!

• ETIM classified data from important international manufacturers are available and ready to use!

21 April 2023


Online database and service portal ETIM CMT

• ETIM CMT (Classification Management Tool) launched and operational

• Online tutorials available soon

• Further extensions planned– Example/image database connected to classes

– …



55Sheet :

e-Business = ETIM-Business !!

Thank you for your attention

Any questions?

21 April 2023

Documents

Product classification Standard for international e-Commerce ETIM International Marc Habets