Expertise · data and standards

Understand ETIM: classes and features

ETIM helps describe technical products consistently. Similar products are grouped into classes; features, values and units describe their properties. This makes product data easier to compare, search and exchange.

Assess your ETIM starting point
Schematic illustrationETIM: class, features and values
Product information
Class
Feature
Feature
Value / unit

Expert reviewApproval

The class determines the relevant features. Values need reliable sources; a mapping is not an approval.

Understand your ETIM data
  • Product range and target version
  • Classes · features · values · units
  • Evidence · expert review · approval

What ETIM does for product data

Consistent classification makes technical product information easier to compare, search and exchange. The model does not replace missing facts. Source fields, descriptions, units and values must provide sufficient evidence for decisions about classes and features.

Learn about ETIM together

Get to know ETIM in a live online workshop with no prior knowledge required. For up to six people from your company, in German or English, with a separate option covering how both standards work together.

Explore BMEcat and ETIM workshops

Common starting points

Suggestions

  • products do not yet have an ETIM class
  • classes exist, but technical features are missing

Source data

  • data fields and units are inconsistent
  • multiple ETIM versions or legacy data need assessing

Output

  • a BMEcat catalogue needs to carry ETIM data

Scope and prerequisites

  • effort and automation potential are unclear before the project starts

Recommended approaches

ETIM readiness analysis

Assesses data coverage, field mapping potential and implementation readiness before a project.

ETIM readiness analysis

Assign products to ETIM classes

Qualified pilot for a defined set of products when classification is the specific goal.

Assign products to ETIM classes

Derive ETIM features

Qualified pilot to derive features and values from existing product information.

Derive ETIM features

Limits

For a pilot project, we jointly select a limited set of products. Before making an offer, we assess the data, usable ETIM version, scope and output format. Assignments require verifiable product information and expert review of the proposals.

FAQ

What does ETIM readiness mean?

Readiness describes whether product data, fields, the product range and the target process are sufficiently prepared to make a useful start on classification or feature enrichment.

Are classes and features assigned fully automatically?

No. Automation can help generate proposals, but uncertainty requires evidence, expert review and explicit approval.

Does ETIM replace a PIM system?

No. ETIM structures classification and feature data. An existing ERP or PIM remains the primary product data environment and can be complemented by the process.

Expertise · data and standards

Define your task

Assess your ETIM starting point