Smooth Communication with Wholesalers – with ETIM da-ta management and BMEcat export

By using a classification standard like ETIM, information is not only standardized but also made available in a format that wholesalers can use.

For manufacturers of components used in switchgear, selling their products through wholesalers can offer an additional revenue opportunity. Because when designers find these products in their wholesaler’s catalogs, they can use them as components for their switchgear cabinets. However, to ensure these components are discoverable, it is crucial that all necessary data be available in a standardized format. Wholesalers prefer that this data be classified according to ETIM and submitted as BMEcat. What defines these standards, what added value do they offer, and what should manufacturers keep in mind?

In many places, companies are facing enormous cost pressures. Rising energy prices and increasing labor costs are straining their finances. This trend is no exception for the electrical industry. For manufacturers of components used in switchgear, an additional sales channel is therefore valuable. This channel is often the wholesale sector. However, this requires optimal product data management—ideally using the ETIM classification standard employed in the wholesale sector.

Without ETIM, it becomes more difficult to include products in the wholesaler’s portfolio, as the information needed to evaluate products or apply filters is missing. Furthermore, products for which only unreliable or incomplete data is available are selected less frequently for switchgear or are not displayed at all. To actually increase sales, it is therefore important for manufacturers to provide their product data to the wholesaler in a complete and standardized format.

ETIM data management ensures consistency

By using a classification standard, companies ensure that they maintain their product data consistently. The international ETIM classification standard, which is used in the B2B sector, is well-suited for interactions with wholesalers. It covers commercial and logistical data as well as some technical information. The benefits of classification are quickly realized and wide-ranging:

•    Consistency

•    Comparability

•    Ease of discovery via online store filters

•    Improved data quality

In addition, ETIM standardizes measurement units, so that, for example, dimensions or weight can be reliably incorporated into the planning process. Last but not least, ETIM provides the appropriate foundation on which product data management can later be implemented in accordance with the highly detailed ECLASS standard.

BMEcat Export for direct communication with the wholesaler

Once product data has been managed using ETIM, it must be transferred to wholesalers as securely and directly as possible. BMEcat is an exchange format that makes this possible, as it allows data to be delivered without going through proprietary systems. In addition, the specific requirements of each wholesaler can be accommodated. MatClass includes a profiling feature for this purpose. Here, a wholesaler’s individual requirements can be configured once. This primarily concerns the scope of data and the question of which data should be transferred and which should not. All subsequent transfers are automatically structured according to these requirements, resulting in significant time savings. Furthermore, the PDM software MatClass allows for the standardized transfer of unclassified materials and attributes that are not standardized in ETIM.

Conclusion: Classification is becoming a strategic task

Product data management is time-consuming and complex. But it is more than just a necessary evil—it’s worth the effort. By using a classification standard like ETIM, information is not only standardized but also made available in a format that wholesalers can use. The BMEcat exports also ensure this, allowing all data to be transferred securely and in a customized format. This optimizes communication with wholesalers. At the same time, components are selected more frequently in switchgear planning when all necessary information is available and easier to find. Thus, ETIM data management and the BMEcat export become strategic tasks that can have a direct impact on business success.