Understanding BMEcat: The data standard for modern product management

The BMEcat standard is more than just a data format – it is the game changer for companies that want to manage product data intelligently and scalably. Here you can find out what BMEcat is and, above all, why it is the secret weapon for smooth data transfer and a tangible competitive advantage.

Efficient processes and smooth data exchange formats are crucial in digital commerce. However, challenges can arise when it comes to transferring complex product data. This is where BMEcat comes into play: a standard that has been specially developed to simplify and harmonise data exchange between suppliers and trading systems.

BMEcat: What is that?

BMEcat is a powerful tool in the field of catalogue data transfer. Developed and maintained by the Bundesverband Materialwirtschaft, Einkauf und Logistik e. V. (BME), BMEcat is a standardised XML-based format that enables error-free communication of product data.

But what is so special about BMEcat?

First of all: BMEcat is cross-industry and open to all companies. It provides a structured basis for the electronic catalogue (e-catalogue) and defines the structure of the data fields using so-called tags. This allows product information and multimedia content to be exchanged easily and efficiently in the B2B sector.

Thanks to its universal applicability, the format is not only popular in Germany – BMEcat is also becoming increasingly popular internationally, making a decisive contribution to successful product data management.

BMEcat definition: The meaning behind the name

The abbreviation BMEcat stands for more than just a technical term. The first part, ‘BME’, refers to the Bundesverband Materialwirtschaft, Einkauf und Logistik e.V., one of the largest purchasing associations in Europe with over 9,750 members. The second part, ‘cat’, stands for ‘catalogue’. Taken together, this results in a standard for electronic catalogues that is specifically tailored to the requirements of the BME association.

Advantages of BMEcat

The standard has established itself as a valuable industry standard in recent years – and for good reason. A key advantage is that the standard can be used free of charge and supports companies in e-business, e-procurement and e-commerce in the structured management and exchange of their product data. Thanks to the simple integration of classification systems such as ETIM and ECLASS, BMEcat helps to create a harmonised and uniform data structure that facilitates collaboration within and between companies.

A particular benefit of the format is its efficiency. As data export is standardised and automated, both sides benefit: The supplier has a one-off programming effort and can then reach a large number of customers. Conversely, customers (recipients) can integrate the data from different suppliers automatically and error-free into their systems. This automation saves valuable time in data maintenance and speeds up the listing of new items with the customer – a real benefit when market requirements and supply chains are subject to constant change. Seamless synchronisation of article features, images and descriptions is thus guaranteed.

Concrete advantages of BMEcat at a glance:

• Time savings: Automated processes significantly reduce the effort required for manual data maintenance.
• Faster article availability: New products are available in the customer’s system more quickly thanks to automated data transfer.
• Consistent data structures: A standardised structure of article data ensures clarity and prevents misunderstandings.
• Free of charge: BMEcat can be used free of charge, which is particularly attractive for small and medium-sized companies.

Which functions BMEcat supports

What has certainly already become clear: BMEcat is more than just a data exchange standard – it is a real problem solver for companies that work with complex product data. With a wide range of functions, it ensures that your product information is not only transmitted correctly, but also dynamically and flexibly:

• Graduated prices: Optimise your pricing by automatically applying discounts based on order quantities.
• Multimedia elements: Give products the visual presence they deserve – from pictures to overview images that perfectly showcase your offers.
• Additional documents: Link product information with manuals, brochures or technical data sheets – all directly with the item.
• Related articles: Show your customers what really goes with their purchase – accessories, spare parts or related products are just a click away.
• Minimum order quantities and quantity intervals: Automate ordering processes to process quantity requests and discounts in real time.
• Price Indicators: Transparent pricing that automatically indicates which costs such as customs or shipping are already included.
• Date-dependent prices: Prices that are flexibly adjusted to time periods – ideal for promotions or seasonal adjustments.

Where the standard is used

BMEcat is also very versatile and has proven itself in various areas of the company – above all in purchasing, sales and marketing.

Purchasing: more efficient processes and transparent data management

In purchasing, BMEcat is often integrated into e-procurement systems. Here, all relevant articles, including purchase prices and detailed product information, can be mapped in a structured database. The great strength of this application lies in the self-ordering function: requisitioners in the company can select the products they require directly in the system. The subsequent order is placed automatically with the supplier after approval by the cost centre manager. This simplification not only speeds up the ordering process, but also makes purchasing more efficient and transparent.

Sales and marketing: centralised data for greater reach

BMEcat also unfolds its full potential in the areas of sales and marketing. The standard is ideal for centralising product data in a product information management system (PIM), where all relevant information is collected and managed in one place. A major advantage: from here, product data can be automatically distributed to various target platforms.

Thanks to seamless forwarding from the PIM system, data can be easily transferred to marketplaces or integrated into your own online shop. This consistent and flexible data preparation saves time and ensures the quality and up-to-dateness of the data across all channels.

Further areas of application and potential added value

BMEcat is also used in other areas of the company that depend on the reliable exchange of product data. Logistics processes, for example, benefit from the structured management and forwarding of warehouse stocks and article information, while technical support and customer service receive an up-to-date and standardised database for their work.

Whether as a link in digital procurement or as a basis for automated sales strategies – the use of BMEcat helps companies to organise processes more efficiently and prepare data in a consistent and customer-oriented manner.

This is what the BMEcat looks like

BMEcat is based on the text-based XML format, which enables structured and flexible data exchange. This structure has been thought through down to the last detail and defines how the various product information should be organised and transferred.

Each piece of information in the catalogue – such as product names, prices, descriptions, classifications and media such as images or documents – is identified, as described briefly above, by tags that define the content in a clear and standardised way. This standardised structure makes it easier to process the data on the receiving end and significantly reduces the risk of misunderstandings or incorrect transmissions.

The following screenshot shows a typical section of a BMEcat 1.2:

Versionen von BMEcat

Speaking of BMEcat 1.2: From its early days to the current version, the standard has undergone a remarkable journey – continuously adapting to the changing requirements of the digital market and product data management. Each version has brought new features and improvements that have made the exchange and management of product information ever more efficient and flexible.

BMEcat 1.2 (2001)

The first major revision of the BMEcat standard – version 1.2 – was published in 2001. It was based on the original version and primarily brought improvements in product classification and backwards compatibility. This enabled companies to integrate older catalogues into the new version without any problems. Version 1.2 also enabled the transfer of product master data such as descriptions, prices and images, which considerably simplified the exchange of catalogue data with partners and systems such as Shopware 6.

BMEcat 2005

A real milestone was reached with BMEcat 2005. This version not only brought support for external catalogues such as OCI, but also the possibility of integrating multilingualism and multi-supplier catalogues. The data model was expanded to include configurable products and dynamic prices – and logistics information was added to the product descriptions. A real step forward in the flexibility and adaptability of the standard.

BMEcat 2005.2 (2022)

In 2022, with the publication of BMEcat 2005.2, the standard went one step further. The introduction of the ‘Integrated Procurement Point’ (IPP) enabled companies to dynamically query information directly in the supplier systems – from product and price queries to availability and requests for quotations. This innovation has taken procurement management to a new level.

ETIM BMEcat

For companies that work with technical products, there is also the ETIM BMEcat. Based on the BMEcat 2005 structure, this standard supplements the standardised provision of technical product data with ETIM-specific classes and features – a customised solution for the industry.

With its ongoing development, BMEcat offers companies of all sectors and sizes a robust solution for the efficient and standardised management of their product data.

Integration of BMEcat made easy with synQup

The integration of BMEcat into existing systems is often a challenge, especially when different software solutions need to communicate with each other. This is where our iPaaS solution synQup comes in, enabling a seamless connection between different systems and thus making the exchange of catalogue data efficient.

Thanks to synQup’s BMEcat Connector, data can be processed quickly and reliably and then transferred to systems such as Shopware 6.

With synQup, companies can easily integrate BMEcat into their existing IT landscape in order to process product information in a standardised and automated way. In addition to strong performance, the connector offers numerous advantages for e-commerce, particularly in the management of product variants, customised content and graduated prices.

Functions of the synQup BMEcat Connector

Our BMEcat Connector is more – it is the bridge that transfers product master data to your target system at lightning speed. It allows you to transform catalogue data into valuable business information that flows directly into the system.

Here is an overview of the most important functions:

• Creating variants using product features: Imagine if your customers could immediately choose between different product variants – be it the colour, size or material. This is exactly what our Connector makes possible! By transferring product properties, variants are automatically created in your online shop. These flexible options not only ensure user-friendly navigation, but also offer a whole new level of customer convenience.
• Graduated prices and customised content: The Connector not only makes pricing easier, but also enables the implementation of volume discounts. With support for tiered pricing models, you can set up different price levels for different order quantities – a real advantage for B2B customers who often rely on discounts for bulk orders. But that’s not all: customised content can be integrated effortlessly. With Shopware, for example, this personalised data is stored directly in custom fields – for a tailored shopping experience that will delight your customers.
• Processing large amounts of data: Large amounts of data? No problem! The BMEcat Connector was developed for speed and efficiency. In tests, we successfully imported a 250 MB BMEcat file with more than 5 million lines of data into the synQup transfer database in less than 20 minutes. And it gets even better: 10 GB of product images and other assets were transferred in just 50 minutes. With this speed, even large product catalogues are no longer an obstacle.
• Extended support for product images and assets: The connector also leaves nothing to be desired when transferring product images and other assets. Regardless of whether the images are stored as relative paths in BMECat or saved on external servers such as SFTP or in Amazon S3 – synQup ensures smooth linking and transfer. Your images end up in the target system directly and in top quality, without you having to worry about the details.

Flexible handling of changes in the BMEcat file

The connector also offers outstanding flexibility when it comes to efficiently processing changes to product data. With synQup, you can forward these changes to your shop system, such as Shopware 6, quickly and in a targeted manner without unnecessary additional effort.

Two methods are available for this:

1. Full import: With a full import, all product data is re-imported from the BMECat file. This method is particularly suitable if extensive changes are made to the product information or new products are added.
2. Delta import: You can use the delta import for even more efficient processing. Here, only the changed, added or deleted items are imported. This saves you valuable time and resources, as the entire file does not have to be re-imported. In the context of T_UPDATE_PRODUCTS, you can define which items are to be created, updated or deleted.

Examples for controlling the individual actions in the BMECat file:

• <ARTICLE mode="new">...</ARTICLE> – New article is created.
• <ARTICLE mode="update">...</ARTICLE> – Existing article is updated.
• <ARTICLE mode="new">...</ARTICLE> – Article is deleted.

With this flexibility, you retain complete control over your product data and can transfer changes to your system in an efficient and targeted manner.

Further advantages for your online shop

However, our connector offers many other advantages that make the exchange of product data not only efficient, but also extremely flexible.

• Efficient variant creation: Support for product properties makes it possible to create product variants quickly and easily in the shop. Whether colour, size or material – variants are generated automatically and can be presented to the customer at a glance.
• Personalised content: By transferring customer-specific data, you can create a customised shopping experience. In Shopware 6, this data can be integrated directly into custom fields so that your shop can offer each customer personalised information.
• Automatic management of graduated prices: The connector enables the automatic management of graduated prices, so you can easily create different price levels for different quantities. In the B2B sector in particular, you benefit from flexible pricing that meets individual requirements.
• Scalable performance for large volumes of data: Even with extensive product catalogues and complex product structures, the transfer remains fast and reliable. The module ensures that there is no loss of performance even with large volumes of data and many product variants.

Conclusion

The BMEcat standard is more than just a technical format. It is the backbone of efficient, transparent and scalable data communication in digital commerce. At a time when product data is the be-all and end-all for a seamless purchasing experience, BMEcat offers not just a solution, but a vision for the future of digital business relationships.

Contact us to learn more about the BMEcat Connector and how it can support your e-commerce business!