Product feed
A product feed supplies structured item data to a target channel. Field mapping, stable identifiers and freshness need to work together.
Providing product data for a target channel
A product feed is a machine-processable collection of item data for a target system, such as a marketplace or product comparison service. It can contain an identifier, name, price and availability, for example. Source data is mapped to the target channel's fields and requirements. Depending on the solution, it is supplied as a file or through an automated transfer route. Publication at the destination also depends on when and how that system processes the supplied data.
A fictional lighting merchant supplies a desk lamp under the internal identifier DL-42. If it is no longer available in the shop while the target channel still uses older data, outdated availability can appear there. The new state therefore needs to be supplied and its adoption at the destination checked. In this example, the same lamp keeps its identifier when updated. That allows the change to be matched to the existing item rather than making it appear to be another item through a new identifier.
Sources
Related terms
- Product catalogueA product catalogue organises range information for search and selection. Catalogue entry, inventory availability and channel publication are separate data.
- Global Trade Item NumberA GTIN identifies a trade item across businesses. Internal item codes, serial numbers and barcodes have different roles.
- Product data qualityProduct data quality describes how well information fits its intended use. Complete fields can still describe the wrong goods.
- Online marketplaceAn online marketplace gives several merchants a shared selling platform. Product, selected seller and specific offer need to remain connected.
- Delivery capabilityDelivery capability describes whether a specific request can be fulfilled. A stock value alone does not fully answer questions of quantity, destination and time.
- Order historyOrder history shows previous orders within an agreed account scope. Old prices, current availability and current processing remain separate information.
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E-Commerce with ASES
Online shops, marketplaces and B2B portals