Blog

Insights on product data enrichment, industry standards, and catalog management.

ETIM Product Classification: The Complete Guide for Manufacturers

Pillar article. Comprehensive guide covering what ETIM is, how the classification hierarchy works (groups → classes → features), why distributors and retailers are demanding it, and how a manufacturer with no dedicated data team can get started. Use concrete examples from electrical and HVAC product ranges. Reference the ETIM International database. Do NOT mention PIM software — frame the solution as "structuring the product data you already have."

Product Data for Manufacturers

Product Data Management for Manufacturers: A Practical Guide

Pillar article for the "Product Data for Manufacturers" cluster. Comprehensive guide that defines the problem space for manufacturers who have never thought systematically about product data. Cover: what "product data" actually includes (specs, descriptions, images, classifications, documents), where it typically lives in a manufacturer (ERP, Excel, PDFs, people's heads), why it matters now (digital distribution, e-commerce, platform requirements), and practical steps to get organized.

Product Data for Manufacturers

Product Data Quality Checklist for Industrial Suppliers

Support article. Practical, actionable checklist format. The reader wants to audit their current product data quality before a delivery or as part of an improvement initiative. Cover: completeness (are all required fields filled?), consistency (units, naming conventions, value formats), accuracy (specs match actual products), classification (ETIM/eCl@ss assigned correctly), and deliverability (can you export in the required format?).

Industry-Specific Data Challenges

Product Data in Industrial Distribution: What Suppliers Need to Know

Pillar article for the industry-specific cluster. Overview of what industrial distributors expect from their suppliers' product data. Cover the ecosystem: manufacturers → distributors → contractors/installers, and how product data flows through it. Explain what "good enough" looks like at each stage and where most suppliers fall short.