Product classification
Standard for international e-Commerce
ETIM International
Marc Habets
08 April 2015
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Marc Habets - ETIM NL
– Director ETIM Netherlands
• Employed since 2003
– President ETIM International
• Since foundation in 2008
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Agenda
• ETIM Netherlands
• Standards in product data management
• ETIM model : what is it, how and why?
• ETIM International
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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
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Necessity of standards in product data
management
- To make the ever increasing material
databases easily accessible for the user
- in a user (customer) - friendly way.
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This necessity is demonstrated by:
- 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
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Requirements
- 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
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Standards in product data management
-
Identification
Classification of products
Interfaces for data-exchange
Networks
Data carrier / media
All this aspects are important individually – don‘t mix!
All this aspects are requirements for efficient eBusiness
– but only in a standardized way!
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Overview
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Assortment
growth
Identification
modus
Type of
grouping
Phase 1
Phase 2
„100“
articles
„1.000“
articles
Article number and
article name
Grouping of
articles
Codification
Product
selection
sources
From stock
+ from
catalogues
Product
offering
Buy, what you
can touch
Buy, what you
can read
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Phase 4
„10.000“
articles
„100.000“
articles
Basic product
description
Structured product
description
Overview
Identification
Type of
communication
Phase 3
Face
- to face
Classification
+ from company
database
Buy, what you
can select
+ from external
database(s)
Buy, what
exists
Computer
- to computer
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Classification of products
- Relevant for all companies in the supply chain
- Relevant for all kind of processes
Manufacturer
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Wholesaler
Installer / contractor
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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
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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!
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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 !!!
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Advantages
• Reduction of failure costs.
• Wrong orders are reduced to a minimum.
Direct Cost reductions!
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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!
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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!
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Advantages
• Better logistics
– Besides reduction in failure costs also reductions
possible in systems for stock management and order
processing
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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!
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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!
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Advantages
• Optimization of catalogue management
– Data are media neutral and can be used for different layouts (catalogue software)
Time savings, less corrections and lower production costs!
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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!
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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!
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Advantages
• Efficient management reporting
– Classification makes statistical analysis possible
Turnover figures and strategy possible on product class level!
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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
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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
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ETIM classification – the model
•
•
•
•
•
•
Product groups
Product classes
Synonyms
Features
Values
Units
productgroup
productclass
unit
productclasssynonym
productclassfeature
feature
synonym
featurevalue
value
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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)
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productgroup
productclass
unit
productclasssynonym
productclassfeature
(search)
feature
synonym
valuefeature
value
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Classified
product
NLDE
Classified
product
Classified product EN
ICS
E4W11
ETIM
ETIM
International
4.0
Klassenaam
Klassename
Classname
Klassenaam
Klassenaam
Class
name
Wurgnippel
Kabeleinsteckstutzen
Cable sealing clamp
229450915
EC000451
Kenmerk
Merkmahl
Feature
Waarde
Wert
Value
Kenmerk
Kenmerk
Feature
Nominale diameter
Nenndurchmesser
Nominal diameter
Nominale
Nenngröße
PGdiameter PG
Nominal size PG
Uitvoering
Ausführung
Model
Afdichtbereik
Dichtbereich
Sealing range
Beschermingsgraad
(IP)
Schutzart
(IP)
Degree of protection (IP)
Materiaal
Werkstoff
Material
FarbeKleur
Colour
Halogeenvrij
Halogenfrei
Halogen free
nvt
3348
EF005114
9663
EF005115
nvt
nvt
13,5 13,5
13,5
Gesloten
Geschlossen
Closed
6-10,66-10,6
6-10,6
IP55 IP55
IP55
PVC PVC
PVC
Wit Weiß
White
Ja Ja
Yes
5916
EF000010
8911
EF004593
EF005474198
6942
EF002169
EF000007 8
EF000025 87
Waarde
Waarde
Value
13,5
13,5
149
EV000116
6-10,6
6-10,6
7461
EV006420
315
EV000163
440
EV000202
True
True
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ETIM classification – publication scheme
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ETIM – model evolution
1993
ETIM
From national
and company standards
UNETO
ETIM
TU
1996
ETIM
Sonepar
1999
ETIM
1.1/2.0
MECIM
2002
2008
NL
ETIM
ETIM
NL
Germany
eCl@ss
To an international
European standard
ETIM
International
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(company-)
specific
classifications
ETIM – implementation
in classification systems
Sector
UNSPSC
Macro family
Family
Hierarchic
approach
ETIM 4.0
Product
Model
Shape
Material
Color
Etc..
Parametric
approach
Features
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Communication standards NL
Technique
ASCII
XML
Productinfomessage
Discountmessage
Order
Order change
Order confirmation
Packing list
Invoice
---
-----
---
transactioncommunication
Functional
Articlemessage
objectcommunication
EANCOM
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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
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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!
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Data distribution - Netherlands
- 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.
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Producer
Importer
2ba
db
Wholesaler
Installer
•Price Conditions
39
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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
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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
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ETIM in use- Netherlands
• Example online database/webshop wholesaler
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ETIM International – full member organisations
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
ADIME Spain
ELDAS Switzerland
ETIM Austria
ETIM Germany
ETIM Netherlands
ETIM Poland
ICGME Belgium
SEG Sweden
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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)
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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
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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!
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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
– …
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e-Business = ETIM-Business !!
Thank you for your attention
Any questions?
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