Good product data: the foundation for smarter purchasing

An item is more than just a name and an item number. To find and order the right product, you need reliable information. This includes technical specifications, dimensions, availability and the correct packaging unit. However, this information is not always complete, up to date or available in a consistent format. This creates challenges for both suppliers and businesses that purchase materials on a daily basis. Good product data is therefore essential for an efficient purchasing process.

Why good product data matters

Product data plays an important role throughout the entire supply chain, from manufacturer and wholesaler to purchaser and end user. When product information is missing or incorrect, it can be difficult to identify items correctly, compare them or select the right product.

Incorrect dimensions, missing product specifications or outdated availability information can lead to extra searching, incorrect orders and unnecessary delays. Employees may also lose time manually looking up or checking information.

Good product data is therefore about more than simply completing product details. It is about making sure the right information is available when someone needs it.

The challenge for suppliers

For manufacturers and wholesalers, managing product data is an ongoing process. Product ranges change, items are updated and new products are added. At the same time, data needs to be available across different platforms, such as webshops, catalogues and ordering systems.

This creates several challenges. Product information may be incomplete, data can become outdated and different systems may process information in different ways. Maintaining large product ranges also requires time and resources.

For suppliers, it is therefore important not only to provide product information, but also to keep it up to date, accurate and usable. The better the data is maintained, the easier it is for customers to find the right products and integrate them into their own processes.

Working together towards reliable product data

To make product data easier to exchange, standardised formats and central data sources are essential. One example is 2BA, a Dutch data pool for product and trade information in the construction and installation sectors. 2BA collects, validates and makes product data available, allowing manufacturers and wholesalers to share their information with customers in a structured way.

2BA uses the ETIM classification model, among other standards, which classifies and describes technical products in a uniform way. This makes it easier for customers to find product data and process it in their own software.

This demonstrates that data quality is not the responsibility of a single party. Reliable product information requires collaboration between suppliers, wholesalers and the systems in which that information is ultimately used.

From reliable data to smarter purchasing

Good product data only becomes truly valuable when it can be used in practice. When information is complete and easily accessible, it takes less effort to identify items and find the right details.

This is where BarTrack comes in. By bringing together products and additional product information from different wholesalers on one central platform, it becomes easier to access data without constantly switching between individual webshops.

The updated product page in BarTrack supports this approach. It provides access to basic details, additional product information, availability, pricing information, weight and manufacturer details. This makes relevant information more accessible when searching for and purchasing materials.

The better the underlying product data, the greater the opportunities to make smart use of this information in the future. It also creates opportunities for further automation and AI integration.

Good data as the foundation for the future

Product data may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about smarter purchasing, but it forms the foundation for it. Reliable and up-to-date data helps suppliers present their product ranges effectively and gives customers the information they need to choose the right products.

By investing in data quality and making information more accessible, businesses can reduce unnecessary searching and further improve their purchasing processes. This makes good product data more than just an administrative necessity: it is an essential requirement for a more efficient digital supply chain.

In summary

Good product data helps prevent errors, unnecessary searching and delays during purchasing. For suppliers, this requires continuous attention to the completeness, accuracy and currency of product information. Initiatives such as 2BA contribute to the standardised exchange of data. BarTrack builds on this by making products and product information from different wholesalers accessible on one central platform. In this way, reliable data provides the foundation for smarter purchasing, greater efficiency and future innovations.