Eclass

ECl @ ss is a cross-industry product data standard for the classification and description of products and services with the aim of simplifying the electronic commerce of classified products. In particular, the use of the eCl @ ss as a standardized basis for a product group structure in ERP systems is widespread.

ECl @ ss association

Formation and organization

The eCl @ ss eV was founded on 14 November 2000 of 12 large companies in the German economy. In the meantime ( 2013), the club has over 130 members from industry, associations and public institutions. Fundamental to an electronic purchasing services - just as with tangible products - is a standard for the exchange of information between suppliers and customers. Such a standard set of supported primarily by German industry eCl @ ss eV

The eCl @ ss eV is a non- profit organization, the industry defined across international classification standard of the same name, developed and disseminated. The association is supported by full and supporting members from companies, associations and institutions.

Membership

The club has the following memberships:

• Ordinary members: Full members may be companies, associations or public bodies or authorities.
• Supporting members: The supporting membership serves to give individuals or businesses the opportunity to experience the work of the Association, to promote these financially and professionally, and on the basis of a reduced membership fee appropriate information on classification to obtain standardization etc..

Besides the usual club committees such as the General Assembly and the Executive Board, the Association has the following bodies:

• An office for the coordination and implementation of ongoing tasks by appointment by the Board: The operational and administrative activities of the Association are carried out on behalf of the Board of a branch. The office is located in the Institute of the German Economy in Cologne Consult GmbH. More presences in China, France, Austria, the Benelux countries and in Egypt.
• A scientific advisory board: The Scientific Advisory Board is to assist all aspects of the development of eCl @ ss scientifically to promote him with my own ideas and activities and to support its dissemination in science.

Financing

The association is funded by membership fees, grants and from the revenues generated through the sales of standards. Each ordinary member pays an annual membership fee in accordance with its company size. Supporting members pay a reduced fee. The actual amount of the contributions resulting from the contribution rules of the association. The eCl @ ss standard requires a license. Cost of which is graded according to company size, so that small businesses pay a lower price than large companies. The license can be purchased on the download portal.

The eCl @ ss standard

The eCl @ ss standard is a hierarchical system, similar to the UNSPSC classification system for grouping of products and services. It consists of four hierarchical levels (classes): Subject (level 1), the main group (level 2), group (level 3) and subgroup ( level 4). From the hierarchy implies that a higher-level class includes its child classes, ie they are assigned to their logical. Consequently, there corresponds a parent class of the union of their subordinate classes. The nodes of the tree are referred to as classes of materials. On the 4th level (subgroup ) is eCl @ ss so-called feature strips available. Features enable the detailed description of products and services and thus enable the search in the various catalogs. The features are defined by values ​​. Each attached words and synonyms provide fast, targeted finding your product and your classes of properties.

In summary, the system consists of the following elements:

• Classes: The classes or groups allow you to group products and to organize in this way.
• Tags: Through the various classes Tags of simplifying the search for products and standardized ( eg group " chairs " is also used in search terms such as "sit " or " office chair " found).
• Features: Features, additional product attributes that can be used only useful for products of a specific class, for example, the performance under incandescent or diameter in tubes. The goal is to introduce these characteristics to the standardization, ie DIN, EN, ISO, DKE / IEC
• Values: values ​​specify the range of values ​​for the characteristics
• Units: Based on DIN and ECE units to indicate the unit of the features.

International standards

Both the processes for the development of standards and formats, and the data model technical principles are based on international standards.

• The data model is based on ISO 13584-42 / IEC 61360th
• For each element there is a globally unique identifier. This IRDI (International Registration Data Identifier) ​​based on international standards ISO / IEC 11179-6, ISO 29002 and ISO 6532nd The identification consists of a three-digit prefix as a certificate of origin from the identifier and version number of the structure element. The ICD (International Code Designer) for eCl @ ss is 173
• The release process is in accordance with ISO 22274th

Versions

Since release 7.0, the Advanced version, in addition to the Basic version available to date ( flat characteristic strips ), offered. It uses new structural elements such as blocks, cardinalities or polymorphisms to describe complex products extensively and is therefore responsible for engineering ( design, planning ) are suitable. The Basic version is used primarily for goods classification and department systems in the procurement, distribution and maintenance.

The following eCl @ ss releases are currently available:

• ECl @ ss 4.0
• ECl @ ss 4.1
• ECl @ ss 5.0.1
• ECl @ ss 5.1 and Service Pack 5.1.1, 5.1.2, 5.1.3, 5.1.4
• ECl @ ss 6.0.1
• ECl @ ss 6.1
• ECl @ ss 6.2 and Service Pack 6.2.1
• ECl @ ss 7.0
• ECl @ ss 7.1
• ECl @ ss 8.0

Over the years, the eCl @ ss standard has grown rapidly, so it is today (2013 ) are already more than 39,000 classes, 16,000 features and over 52,000 keywords.

Release development

The development of the eCl @ ss standard is based on ISO standards. Participation in the development is possible for everyone. It is on the one hand, an online portal that provides content development platform, free of charge, can be submitted on the amendments. On the other hand, there is the possibility of active participation in professional groups. In these groups, product experts, buyers, sales managers, etc. from different companies interact with and work together with structural content of the standard. Amendments are first checked for formal correctness and completeness, then tested in the specialized categories of product experts and possibly further developed and finally the CQC ( Center of Quality Control) final procedural and substantive accuracy in eCl @ ss overall context examined.

Cooperation with other organizations

Since 1 January 2006, Member of ETIM eClass and vice versa. ETIM Germany eV ( Electrical Engineering Information Model ) is an initiative to standardize the electronic exchange of product data in the Department of Electrical Engineering. Both organizations, the harmonization of ETIM have set with the eCl @ ss standard to the target and are collaborating among others with VDMA, ZVEI and DIN.

Furthermore, there is a similar cooperation with the proficl @ ss association, which has established similar ETIM an industry- specific standard. With the Prolist International eV is a collaboration. Together, a harmonization of the Prolist Dictionary conducted at the BMWi -funded project " eCl @ ss for the middle class " to harmonize industry standards ETIM and proficl @ ss with the eCl @ ss standard to version 7.0.

On 1 January 2013 Prolist International eV is absorbed into the eCl @ ss eV. The complete data technical and organizational integration, the development of existing technologies was assured.

Network authorized IT service provider

Authorized IT service providers offer a range of consulting and support services.

Dissemination

In addition to large international companies such as Siemens, VW - Audi, BASF, RWE, rail, E-ON, including, for example, the German medical industry for eCl @ ss has decided as a classification standard for electronic data exchange. Even in public procurement, such as when buying the house of the federal and some states he is employed.

According to a survey published in 2002 by the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO, translated by 296 companies surveyed, 34.9 % a standard product classification, of which a turn eClass 32.4%, ie 11.3% absolute. This eCl @ ss was in Germany before ETIM (6.6%) and UNSPSC ( 3.8%).

Reference images

Since mid-2012, the club offers the opportunity to use the standard as a marketing tool. The so-called eCl @ ss reference image allows to place the product image on the Internet on various online marketplaces and comparison portals as a reference image for a product group. In the eCl @ ss standard each product class is a great typical figure is assigned - the class reference image. The reference image is then - on behalf of all the products in this class - the product of the manufacturer including logo and is supplied by eCl @ ss to all users of the standards and published on the Internet. The acquisition of the reference image spaces via an auction platform. The auction of the reference image takes places under a so-called reverse auction, ie the maximum auction price will be reduced from the date of the auction start daily at defined stages, until a bid is awarded the contract or the auction expires upon reaching the minimum price. Here, the bidder will have the opportunity to give their bid throughout the auction. Achieved the current daily price of the auction then the bid of a bidder, it receives the contract. Consequently, the bidder at any time have the option of a reference image space quasi purchase immediately, by providing the current daily price.