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Product Data Syndication Standards

Channel management and syndicationAdvanced Level

Product data syndication standards are shared formats and rules, such as GS1 GDSN, BMEcat and ETIM, for exchanging product data between suppliers, retailers and channels.

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What is Product Data Syndication Standards?

Product data syndication standards are shared formats and rules for exchanging product data between suppliers, retailers and sales channels, so every receiving system reads the same fields the same way. Well-known examples are GS1 GDSN, BMEcat, ETIM, ONIX for books and the Google Merchant Center product data specification. A standard fixes the structure (which fields exist), the values (units, code lists, classes) and often the file format, such as XML or CSV. Syndication itself is the act of sending the data; the standard is the agreed language it is sent in. Some standards are industry-wide, like ETIM for technical products, while channel specifications apply to one retailer or marketplace. Read more in the guide to product content syndication.

Why Product Data Syndication Standards matters for e-commerce

Without a shared standard, every trading partner asks for product data in its own layout, and suppliers rebuild the same file again and again. That costs time and creates errors: wrong units, missing fields, values in the wrong column. With a standard, a supplier prepares data once and many retailers can read it. In B2B sectors such as installation, electrical and DIY, retailers often only accept data in a standard like ETIM or BMEcat. Knowing which standard each partner uses tells you which attributes and code lists your catalog must support.

Examples of Product Data Syndication Standards

  • 1Standard: GS1 GDSN, Used for: syncing product master data between brands and retailers, Key: GTIN
  • 2Standard: ETIM, Used for: technical products such as electrical and installation goods, Key: ETIM class and features
  • 3Standard: BMEcat, Used for: B2B electronic catalogs, mostly in German-speaking markets, Format: XML
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How WISEPIM Helps

  • Export lets you build files with the field names and structure a trading partner asks for.
  • AI category classification assigns products to the Google product taxonomy with 95%+ accuracy.
  • Attribute management and the Attribute values page keep units and allowed values consistent, which standards require.

Common mistakes with Product Data Syndication Standards

  • Mixing units, such as cm and mm, in one attribute that a standard expects in one unit.
  • Storing values as free text where the standard uses a fixed code list.
  • Building one file per partner by hand instead of mapping once from a structured catalog.
  • Using an outdated version of a standard or classification.
  • Treating a GTIN as optional when the standard uses it as the key.

Tips for Product Data Syndication Standards

  • List the standards your trading partners use before you design your attributes.
  • Store values in a structured way: one unit per attribute and code lists where possible.
  • Keep GTINs complete and validated for every product.
  • Map your own fields to each standard once and reuse that mapping.
  • Track the version of each standard you deliver in.

Trends around Product Data Syndication Standards

  • Digital product passports add new required data, such as materials and repair information.
  • ETIM and similar classifications release new versions with more features per class.
  • AI shopping channels read structured product data, which raises the value of clean attributes.
  • Retailers accept API connections next to file exchange.
  • More classification work is done with AI and checked by people.

Tools for Product Data Syndication Standards

  • WISEPIM: a PIM for structuring, checking and exporting product data to channels and trading partners.
  • Akeneo: a PIM platform for structuring product information.
  • Salsify: a product experience management platform with syndication features.
  • GS1: the organization behind GTINs and the GDSN network for exchanging product master data.
  • ETIM International: maintains the ETIM classification for technical products.

Related Terms

ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number)Channel AdaptationChannel Content AdaptabilityChannel ManagementChannel-Specific Attribute Requirements

Also Known As

product data exchange standardsproduct data formatsproduct data standards

Frequently Asked Questions

They are shared formats and rules for exchanging product data between suppliers, retailers and channels. Examples are GS1 GDSN, BMEcat, ETIM and ONIX. They make sure the receiving system reads every field the way the sender meant it.

BMEcat is a file format: an XML structure for sending a whole product catalog. ETIM is a classification: it defines product classes and which features each class has. They are often used together, with ETIM features inside a BMEcat file.

The Global Data Synchronisation Network from GS1 lets brands publish product master data, keyed by GTIN, to retailers through certified data pools. It is common in food, drugstore and DIY retail.

Those channels use their own product data specification instead of an industry standard. The idea is the same: fixed fields, allowed values and a required format. A structured catalog makes it easier to meet both.

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