The ETIM standard explained simply: classification and automation of your product data

Einleitung

Introduction

The ETIM standard is an international standard for the classification of product data.

It helps manufacturers, wholesalers, and online shops to describe their products in a structured and uniform manner. In Germany in particular, ETIM is the most important standard in the field of standardization alongside ECLASS. Anyone active in the HVAC, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or tools sectors cannot ignore ETIM.

In this article, we show you how you can automatically convert your product data into ETIM structures with DataNaicer – without manual sorting. This saves you time, reduces errors, and makes your data fit for Open Datacheck, Open Masterdata, CatalogExpress, and any Omni Channel Stream..

👉 By the way: A good database is also the basis for data mapping & data migration.

What is ETIM and why do you need it?

The founding of ETIM and its international significance

The ETIM Standard was originally developed in the Netherlands and quickly established itself as a free standard for technical classification.

Today, it is an international standard managed by ETIM International. In Germany, ETIM Germany is responsible for adapting the standard to local requirements.

What does ETIM actually do?

ETIM defines how technical products are described. There are fixed classes, attributes, and values so that manufacturers and retailers can present their data in exactly the same way. This is particularly important if you have many product groups in different categories, e.g., heating, plumbing, air conditioning, or tools.

This makes it easier for customers to compare, and your products appear with greater visibility in shops and search engines. It also makes it easier to work with partners and platforms.

More practical examples: How ETIM increases your efficiency

With ETIM, you don't always have to reprocess data. Once you have uniform structures, you can use them for every channel—whether for your online shop, your catalog, or portals such as Open Datacheck. This saves you a lot of time and reduces errors.

👉 You can find more information on this at Nexoma, which provides a very practical explanation of ETIM.

The ETIM standard and classification in practice

ETIM as an international classification standard

The ETIM standard has long been more than just a local concept—it is considered a true international classification standard. Whether for electronics, heating, plumbing, or air conditioning, ETIM establishes clear rules for how products are described worldwide. This greatly simplifies the standardization of product data.

Classification with software and tools

However, you don't have to classify your products manually. There are specialized classification management tools or systems such as Pimcore that help you automatically classify your product data into ETIM classes. This saves you time and helps you avoid errors.

Practical tips

Many companies such as ITEK and Lemonmind offer not only consulting services, but also webinars, new videos, and practical workshops to facilitate ETIM implementation. They show you how to best prepare your data.

👉 You can find more information on practical implementation at ITEK or in detail at Lemonmind.

👉 Or read about how to create a solid foundation in your database before you start classifying.

Automation & DataNaicer as a solution for ETIM

Why automation is so important for ETIM

In industry and wholesale in particular, manufacturers often work with thousands of items. Manually converting these to the ETIM standard is extremely time-consuming. This is where automation and smart software come in, converting your product data directly into classified product data.

DataNaicer: ETIM classification without effort

With DataNaicer, you save yourself the manual work. It analyzes your product texts, automatically recognizes which ETIM classification they belong to, and assigns them to the correct classes.

This creates classified product data that you can immediately use for Open Datacheck, Open Masterdata, or an Omni Channel Stream.

Increased efficiency thanks to modern software and tools

Whether with Pimcore, CatalogExpress, or DataNaicer—the right software greatly increases your efficiency. You can prepare all data directly for retailer portals, catalogs, and your online store. This allows you to remain competitive and meet all industry standards.

More practical experience through training and academy offerings

Many providers even have their own academy formats where you and your team can learn how ETIM standardization and classification work in everyday life. This saves you costs and errors in the long term.

👉 You can find more information on data preparation here.

Conclusion: ETIM and automatic classification made easy

Clean data for your products

The ETIM standard is key today if you want to present your products clearly and provide the same data everywhere. This is a must, especially for manufacturers who have many items in different categories.

Classification saves time and money

Automated classification saves you thousands of manual steps. Systems such as Pimcore, CatalogExpress, or DataNaicer do the work for you. This allows you to work faster, avoid errors, and comply with all industry standards.

Standardization ensures your success

Ultimately, proper standardization ensures that you remain competitive. Your data will be perfectly suited for dealer portals, shops, and all other channels.

Take the next step now

DataNaicer helps you create your classifications automatically—quickly, accurately, and in a way that gets you ready for ETIM right away. Not only does this save you money, it also puts you in the best possible position for the future.