What is ETIM – and why is the standard important for product information?
ETIM (European Technical Information Model) is an international standard used to classify and share technical product information. The standard is rapidly gaining ground in industries such as electrical engineering, construction, HVAC, electronics, and industrial production, because it creates a common structure for product data. When all parties in a value chain work within the same framework, errors are reduced, and collaboration between manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers becomes more efficient.
What is ETIM?
ETIM is a classification system that ensures product information can be shared without misunderstandings. The system works as a common language for technical data, which means that manufacturers and distributors can deliver exactly the same information across countries, languages, and systems. With ETIM, a product can be described unambiguously and in a structured way, saving time and ensuring higher quality throughout the supply chain. At the same time, the standard makes it easier to comply with regulatory requirements and new digital trading platforms.
How does ETIM work?
The ETIM model is based on fixed product classes and associated attributes. Each product is assigned a set of unique characteristics that may include everything from dimensions, materials, and functions to units and synonyms. This data can then be translated and used in multiple languages and markets without the risk of errors or misinterpretations. Once a product has been correctly classified, the same data can be reused across systems and channels – from ERP and PIM to webshops and online marketplaces.
Why use ETIM?
Without a common standard for product data, many companies face the same challenges. Manufacturers describe their products in one way, wholesalers receive data in another format, and retailers are left with the time-consuming task of restructuring and adapting the information. This creates several concrete problems:
- Many manual processes – product data often needs to be entered and adapted multiple times in different systems.
- Increased risk of errors – inconsistent data can lead to misunderstandings, incorrect orders, and ultimately dissatisfied customers.
- Lack of efficiency – when data cannot be reused directly across the value chain, processes become slower and more expensive.
- Difficult to scale – the more products and markets added, the greater the challenges of managing data without a shared framework.
With ETIM standardization, these barriers are removed. All stakeholders work with the same product classifications and attributes, providing a common language for product data. This makes collaboration easier, reduces errors, and frees up time to focus on growth and innovation rather than manual data handling.
Benefits of ETIM
One of the biggest benefits of ETIM is consistent data quality. Product information becomes more accurate, and the risk of errors is minimized. This saves resources both internally and at the retailer level. In addition, ETIM ensures faster time-to-market, since data does not need to be manually adapted from system to system. Standardization also makes it easier to export products to international markets, as ETIM is already widely used across much of Europe. At the same time, end customers receive better and more transparent information, which strengthens trust in the product and supplier.
Who uses ETIM?
The standard was developed in the Netherlands in the 1990s with a focus on the electrical industry, but today ETIM is used in more than 19 countries and has become an integral part of processes in many different industries. The electrical and electronics sector, construction and installation, HVAC, and shipbuilding are just some of the areas where ETIM has gained a foothold. Among the many companies already working with ETIM are international manufacturers such as Siemens, ABB, 3M, and OSRAM, highlighting the standard’s significance and widespread adoption.
How is ETIM used in Kontainer PIM?
At Kontainer, we have built our PIM system to fully leverage the potential of the ETIM standard. This means that companies can ensure high data quality across the entire value chain – from production to retailers and end customers. Kontainer PIM makes it easy both to import and structure product data in line with ETIM, and to distribute it in exactly the format required by internal systems and external channels.
The result is a unified data foundation where information is always correct, consistent, and up to date. This reduces errors, creates efficiency, and frees up resources within the organization.
All of this can be set to run fully automatically with seamless integration into the company’s existing systems and channels – and this is where our powerful API plays a central role.
Why ETIM and Kontainer PIM can be important for your data quality
ETIM has become a key to creating consistency and efficiency in the management of technical product information. For companies working with large volumes of data, the standard is not just an advantage – it is increasingly a necessity to remain competitive in both national and international markets.
With Kontainer’s API integration, the transition to ETIM becomes simple, and companies can ensure that their product data is always consistent, accurate, and ready for distribution in the correct formats.