Overview

The vast majority of e-catalogue formats use some form of item classification coding.  This coding is used to assist buying organisations in searching for, and selecting the correct product or services to meet their requirements.  Searching by structured codes is far quicker and more reliable than using text descriptions, particularly as each supplier may use their own terminology when describing the items they supply.

Most e-catalogue formats utilise the UNSPSC (United Nations Standard Products Services Code) set of codes.

Each UNSPSC code is made up of 8 digits. These 8 digits are split into four levels whereby,

Digits 1 & 2 (Level 1)        = Product Segment

Digits 3 & 4 (Level 2)        = Product Family

Digits 5 & 6 (Level 3)        = Product Class

Digits 7 & 8 (Level 4)        = Product Commodity

Using an example item of threading taps, this has a code of 27112806 which has the following breakdown:-

27000000 = segment of Tools and General Machinery

27110000 = family of Hand Tools

27112800 = class of Tool Attachments

27112806 = commodity of Threading Taps.

The Supplier Portal Catalogue provides a complete UNSPSC dictionary with search and analysis capabilities for multiple versions of the UNSPSC dictionaries.