27 May, 2004 — GXS today launched its established Product Information Management (PIM) solution to European suppliers in the retail industry at ECR, 24-26th May, Brussels Expo. The solution resolves the enormous issue that faces suppliers of having to provide item information to different retailers, using multiple methods to describe items as well as exchange product data.

GXS’ Product Information Management solution enables the automation of this information across the organisation. As a result, suppliers can extract and validate information from legacy systems; present or add retailers specific attributes and make certain they are validated respectively, as well as provide the functionality to meet the different data synchronisation demands of multiple retailers whether they conform to the EAN.UCC GDSN standards or not.

Alex Schumacher, GXS’ global director of retail business, said: “The data synchronisation battle is an ongoing one for the retail industry. Ensuring something as simple as a bottle of shampoo is classed as the same product in the same size packaging and described as the same colour is no easy task. This issue is of course multiplied for suppliers who have to do it in many different ways for numerous suppliers. The key lies in consistency of inputting and updating data to ensure that at every point of the chain whether internally or externally with suppliers, it is absolutely correct and PIM addresses this very issue.”

Key solution benefits:

• A behind-the-firewall solution designed to easily integrate into legacy systems and processes
• Advanced data transformation capabilities, including attribute and taxonomy level mapping
• Improved product information and process management
• Leverages existing customer infrastructure investments whilst providing comprehensive product information management functionality
• Improved operational efficiencies in submitting data to trading partners
• Enables and manages process for information to be approved before the data is published to avoid multiple inconsistent entries and reduce discrepancies
• Provides full history of changes to data catalogue to reduce waste dialogue and improve efficiency

Key solution features:

• A scalable platform with flexible data import capabilities, a data staging area, an intuitive web-based browser and pre-built support for all GDS standard data elements and classification codes
• Optional pre-packaged functionality incorporating ‘out of the box’ functionality needed to synchronise product data through EAN.UCCnet Global Registry
• Integration of legacy systems to generate information in the different formats required by retailers
• An intuitive interface for creating and editing product information as well as the ability to categorise product information, i.e. UDEX categories, and to restrict product information at a user level
• Robust, user configurable validation routines, ensuring content quality
• Support retailer-specific product information that may need to be synchronised outside a data pool
• Internationalisation which allows product information to be viewed and maintained in the language specific to users
• A scalable platform with robust data-export capabilities that supports most large ERP platforms, as well as GDSN compliant XML messages
• Ability to integrate with existing global data pools including Transora, SINFOSS, etc.

• Eine Lösung hinter der Firewall für eine einfache Integration an Legacy-Systeme und -Prozesse
• Erweiterte Funktionalitäten zur Datenumwandlung, darunter Mapping auf der Ebene der Attribute und Taxonomie
• Verbesserte Verwaltung von Produktinformationen und Prozessen
• Ausschöpfung bestehender Infrastrukturinvestitionen beim Kunden und Bereitstellung einer umfassenden Funktionalität zur Produktinformationsverwaltung
• Erhöhte Betriebseffizienz beim Senden von Daten an Handelspartner
• Befähigung und Verwaltung des Prozesses zur Informationsfreigabe vor der Datenveröffentlichung zur Vermeidung von Inkonsistenz zwischen verschiedenen Eingaben und Reduzierung von Diskrepanzen
• Bereitstellung aller vergangenen Änderungen im Datenkatalog zur Reduzierung unnötiger Gespräche und Steigerung der Effizienz Haupteigenschaften der Lösung:
• Eine skalierbare Plattform mit flexiblen Funktionalitäten für den Datenimport, einem Ort zum Zurückspeichern von Daten, einem intuitiven webbasierten Browser und bereits eingebautem Support für alle Standard-Datenelemente und -Klassifierungscodes der globalen Datensynchronisierung
• Optionale integrierte Funktionalität mit der erforderlichen Fähigkeit “von der Stange” zur Synchronisierung von Produktdaten über das EAN.UCCnet Global Registry
• Integration von Legacy-Systemen zur Erstellung von Informationen in den unterschiedlichen Formaten der Retailer
• Eine intuitive Schnittstelle zur Erstellung und Bearbeitung von Produktinformationen sowie Fähigkeit zur Klassifizierung von Produktinformationen, z.B. UDEX Kategorien, und zur Einschränkung von Produktinformationen auf der Ebene des Anwenders
• Stabile, anwenderspezifisch konfigurierbare Validierungsroutinen zur Gewährleistung der Content-Qualität
• Unterstützung retailerspezifischer Produktinformationen für eventuelle Datenpool-externe Synchronisierungen
• Internationalisierung zur Betrachtung und Pflege von Produktinformationen in der anwenderspezifischen Sprache
• Eine skalierbare Plattform mit stabilen Funktionalitäten für den Datenexport, die die meisten großen ERP-Plattformen sowie GDSN-fähige XML-Nachrichten unterstützt
• Fähigkeit zur Integration an bestehende globale Datenpools, darunter Transora, SINFOSS, usw.

About GXS
GXS is a leading global provider of B2B e-commerce solutions that simplify and enhance business process integration and collaboration. Organisations worldwide, including more than 75 percent of the Fortune 500, leverage GXS Trading Grid® to achieve balance between supply and demand. Active in the global standards arena, GXS solutions enable customers both large and small, to connect with global partners, synchronise product information, optimise inventory levels and demand forecasts, and accelerate the execution of supply chains.

Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., GXS provides sales and support to businesses and their partners worldwide. For more information about GXS visit www.gxs.co.uk.