What is the ETIM standard, and what is it used for?

What is ETIM?

ETIM (Electro-Technical Information Model ) is an international model for classifying and characterizing“rich” technical data for building products, particularly electrical and HVAC products.

Producing high-quality data is a major challenge for the construction industry, given end customers’ growing demand for transparency.

The international ETIM (Electro-Technical Information Model) standard was thus designed to classify technical product data in the building supply sector. It enables the FAB-DIS data exchange format to function optimally.

ETIM helps organize the vast amount of data, making it possible to look up any item and describe it unambiguously using relevant characteristics. Products are thus described in a uniform and consistent manner, regardless of the manufacturer, medium, or language.

Manufacturers can integrate product data into their PIM (Product Information Management) system. Retailers, for their part, benefit from optimal product listing across various distribution channels: the Web, stores, catalogs, and apps.

The History of the ETIM Standard

The ETIM product classification standard was developed to structure the flow of information between professionals, manufacturers, and distributors in the construction sector. ETIM was designed to meet the construction industry’s growing demand for clear and structured information on technical products.

The ETIM model was first used by manufacturers and distributors in the electrical engineering sector, but it quickly gained traction in other fields and countries around the world.

A model that is updated regularly

Today, this classification model (or taxonomy) is available in 17 languages. It is supported by no fewer than twenty member organizations, representing 21 countries. It is updated regularly.

To date, international versions of ETIM are released every two years. The current version of the ETIM model is V 8.0. The French version has been available to all members since March 2021. The next version, 9.0, is currently in development and will be available in late 2022. Manufacturers must have these updates.

There is also a dynamic version of the model, which allows all changes to be incorporated in real time.

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What is a data exchange format?

Previously, retailers did not require suppliers and manufacturers to use specific data formats when submitting product data.

However, the wide variety of formats in which the data was received made it difficult to analyze. While some providers supplied complete and detailed data, others provided files that were sparse and difficult to analyze.

Standardized data exchange formats were developed to address these issues, with the goal of ensuring everyone speaks the same language. In some cases, multiple formats coexist depending on the industry.

More and more retailers are asking their suppliers for standardized formats.

GS1: The Universal Language of Industry

Historically, the GS1 format (formerly GenCod or UPC) was developed to improve supply chain efficiency by creating a unique product code accessible via a barcode: UPC (Universal Product Code) in the United States, followed by EAN (European Article Numbering) in Europe.

If each product has a GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)—the new term that replaces the EAN code— which identifies it, it becomes easier to link that product reference to a wide range of information, including commercial, logistical, and regulatory details.

The GS1 identification system defines the standard for communication between businesses and commercial products throughout the supply chain. Creating accurate barcodes is essential for ensuring the accuracy of information.

The FAB-DIS Standardized Data Exchange Format

The standardized and unified FAB-DIS data exchange format is in particularly high demand in the building electrical sector, but it is now expanding to include all stakeholders in the construction, industrial, and infrastructure sectors.

The FAB-DIS file is an Excel spreadsheet consisting of tabs containing various types of information:

Rates
Business Data
Logistics Data
Media
Technical Specifications

Each data type corresponds to a tab in the spreadsheet. All of this data is standardized. The ETIM data model, in turn, structures the technical data. ETIM is natively integrated with FAB-DIS.

This format, adopted by nearly 1,000 stakeholders in 2020, is increasingly in demand in the construction industry. FAB-DIS is gradually becoming an essential standard for data exchange between manufacturers and distributors.

A guarantee of quality and reliability for distributors, this format helps reduce time to market and improve product listing, thereby creating a win-win situation in data exchange.

What is the difference between FAB-DIS and ETIM?

ETIM is a uniform data model that applies exclusively to technical data, whereas FAB-DIS is a data exchange format that applies to several types of data:

Retail Data
Logistics Data
Media Data
Technical Specifications (ETIM Model)
Other data

The ETIM model is just one of the data models natively integrated into the FAB-DIS exchange format. ETIM is encapsulated within FAB-DIS.

The FAB-DIS exchange format is the vehicle for disseminating technical product data. FAB-DIS is a single exchange format that is accessible to as many people as possible and can be adapted to:

To address the needs and constraints of manufacturers and distributors who wish to efficiently exchange product information for integration into their systems (ERP software, e-commerce sites, etc.)
Changes in regulations affecting the marketing of products for the construction industry (declarations of performance, environmental levies, etc.)
There is a need for offers to be better highlighted through rich, up-to-date content that can be easily verified using a unified, secure, and high-performance monitoring tool available to all companies, regardless of their industry, size, or the maturity of their information systems.

Adopting FAB-DIS means boosting productivity by eliminating the time-consuming task of managing multiple proprietary formats. No special hardware or investment is required.

The result: up to a 40% time savings on your data cataloging tasks. FAB-DIS lets you focus your time on enriching and improving data quality, rather than on duplicating it.

By default, the FAB-DIS file is filled out manually. DATASOLUTION integrates the ETIM model into the marketing production platforms it deploys for its clients, particularly in PIM (Product Information Management).

Once this data has been entered into the PIM solution, it is then automatically processed for various formats and purposes. This data can be imported into marketplaces, e-commerce sites, etc.

A PIM (Product Information Management) system facilitates the enrichment and maintenance of data through a graphical interface and a tailored data model. For manufacturers and distributors who wish to use the ETIM model, it is therefore preferable to use a PIM solution.

What business challenges does ETIM address?

There are many business challenges associated with using a standardized and unified data format, such as ETIM:

Increased use of electronic communications for various purposes (marketing, logistics, etc.)
Customers' Expectations for Transparency
End customers are increasingly comparing products online
Increasingly shorter product life cycles
Production of accurate, up-to-date, and high-quality product sheets
Need to showcase offers with rich content and media
The need to provide reliable and consistent information throughout the customer's purchasing journey (multi-channel strategy: e-commerce, marketplaces, brick-and-mortar sales, etc.)
Reduced time-to-market
Optimizing product sales across all channels

How does the ETIM model work?

The ETIM data model is created by coding a set of technical data. The model is based on various levels of product categories.

The ETIM model has two classification levels:

Product Group
Product Class

Each product class is assigned to a unique product group. The group level was created solely to facilitate the management of product classes.

The ETIM model also includes the following entities:

Feature
Value
Unit
Synonym

Product Class

In ETIM, a class describes similar products, as well as groups of products from different manufacturers or suppliers. Each product class has various attributes designed to specify the technical characteristics of the products within that class.

The characteristics of each class are organized according to their importance, as well as their essential aspects (dimensions, electrical characteristics, etc.).

ETIM includes nearly 6,000 product classes from sectors as diverse as:

Electricity
Plumbing, Heating, and Ventilation
The building
Tools

Other sectors may be included in ETIM at the request of members.

Features

A characteristic is clearly defined by a description, a characteristic type, a unit, and/or a value.

Here are the types of characteristics:

A stands for alphanumeric: list of possible values (e.g., red, green, long, short, etc.)
L for logic: closed-ended questions, that is, questions that can be answered with a yes or no (also known as Boolean logic, true or false)
N for numeric: single numeric value
R for interval (or " range " in English): two numerical values defining a range of values

Value

Each attribute of a class corresponds to a specific alphabetical list of possible values.

Unit

A "unit" refers to the unit of measurement that defines the expected value for numerical and interval characteristics.

Synonym

A synonym (or keyword) provides an alternative description of a product class. A synonym can refer to multiple product classes, and a product class can have multiple synonyms.

Why use the ETIM data model?

Distributors need accurate and reliable data to sell manufacturers' products.

The ETIM data model enables the uniform classification and description of technical products through product groups, product classes, synonyms, characteristics, values, and units.

Thanks to ETIM, the exchange of detailed information needed to easily find a specific technical product has become a reality.

The standardization provided by the ETIM model makes it possible to:

Automate processes
Identify a product more easily
Evaluate a product based on standardized, objective, and controlled criteria
Communicate effectively and clearly with international partners
Fill in the search filters on large e-commerce sites with faceted search
Populate comparison tools and configurators
Compare products from the same manufacturer or products with each other
Make it easier to read
Assist end customers with their purchases

The ETIM classification model is said to be “unambiguous” because all of its elements are predefined.

The Benefits of ETIM for Industrial Manufacturers

For industrial manufacturers, ETIM evaluates products based on objective and well-defined technical criteria, such as the standard specifications included in sales materials, the specifications commonly requested by installation contractors, and the specifications compatible with the major French and European certifications.

ETIM’s Benefits for Distributors

For distributors, the ETIM model makes it possible to populate media with data and automate processes such as internal classification, content management, or MDM (Master Data Management); the production of print and digital communication materials; and filters and search fields in applications and e-commerce sites.

ETIM Model: Which Industries Does It Apply To?

The ETIM classification model is used in various building product sectors.

In the coming years, other industry sectors and product groups are expected to be incorporated into the ETIM model.

The model was designed for use by professionals (installers, integrators, distributors, and manufacturers) who offer products aimed at a B2B (Business-to-Business) audience.

Electrical Engineering
Plumbing and Heating
Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Plumbing
Building Materials
Tools

What data does ETIM manage?

The data requested in the ETIM tab of the FABDIS file are:

Brand Name
Commercial reference (manufacturer-specific) or unique identifier for a non-standardized product
ETIM Product Class Identifier Number
ETIM characteristics that have numbers assigned to them and are represented by a code (standardized alphanumeric values, numeric values, range of values, or yes/no logic)
ETIM Model Version

Unlike a database, the ETIM model itself does not manage a manufacturer’s brand or product code. There is a mandatory association between the product code and the ETIM class, which allows the characteristics and values included in the classes to be linked.

The manufacturer is responsible for establishing this association/mapping before providing the information to its distributor. This association must be established in order to create a link via FABDIS or in another format.

The business reference is the key piece of information for linking to other data in the FABDIS database.

What are

What are the advantages and benefits of ETIM?

#01

Products that are more easily visible in catalogs and marketplaces
#02

Providing Communication Materials with Structured Data for Distributors
#03

Improved effectiveness of communication and interaction with all trade stakeholders
#04

Advanced features, such as Easy-Check GOLD by FAB-DIS (a solution designed to simplify the creation of manufacturer files and verify their compliance for distributors)
#05

Process optimization, resulting in savings in time and resources
#06

Better product listings on retailers’ e-commerce sites because the product descriptions are more detailed
#07

Greater satisfaction among end customers, who can easily find the products they need
#08

Achieving significant cost savings by streamlining procurement, inventory management, and distribution—by consolidating large orders and optimizing the portfolio
#09

Reduced Risk of Error Through a Common Language
#10

Comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date product data throughout the supply chain
#11

Improving the reliability of transactions and optimizing online sales through e-commerce sites
#12

Improved strategic decision-making through the use of harmonized data that is processed in a meaningful way and shared with customers and partners

ETIM by the Numbers

Model release date: 1991
Model introduced in France: 2013
A new version of the model is released approximately every 3 years
Version 8.0
5,415 classes or product families
22,698 ETIM characteristics
25,000 ETIM values
Available in 18 countries and 22 languages
90 members of ETIM France, including 69 manufacturers, 14 distributors, and 7 partner members (PIM software vendors)