produktklassificeringar

Product classification is the process of organizing goods into a structured taxonomy that groups items by characteristics such as function, industry, and use. In German-speaking contexts the term is Produktklassifikation. The goal is to support consistent cataloging, improve search and navigation, enable efficient procurement and inventory management, and provide reliable data for analytics.

Classification schemes are typically hierarchical and codified. Widely used standards include the Global Product Classification (GPC) from GS1, UNSPSC, and eCl@ss. GPC and UNSPSC use numeric codes to represent product families and attributes, while eCl@ss emphasizes European industry-specific detail. Many organizations maintain internal taxonomies that map to one or more external schemes; crosswalks and data governance are essential for interoperability across ERP, PIM, e-commerce, and supply-chain systems.

Classification can be manual, semi-automatic, or automated using machine learning and attribute extraction. Ongoing maintenance is required to reflect new products, changes in categorization, and market changes. Proper governance includes clear category definitions, naming conventions, multilingual terms, and periodic reviews.

Applications include faceted search, targeted pricing and promotions, catalog syndication, and analytics such as product performance by category. Accurate classification supports supplier onboarding, procurement workflows, and compliance with trade and reporting standards.

Challenges include over- or under-granularity, localization, synonym management, data quality, and keeping classifications aligned with evolving products. Best practices include adopting a reference taxonomy, using standardized schemes where possible, maintaining crosswalks, and involving product data stewards.