Supplier Data Quality Checklist for Product Catalogs

Supplier Data Quality Checklist

Supplier data quality directly determines catalog accuracy, time-to-market speed, search conversion rates, marketplace compliance, and customer trust.

Use this 12-stage checklist before importing vendor feeds, PDFs, datasheets, or spreadsheets into your PIM, ERP, or e-commerce platform.

1. Source-File Integrity

• Is the supplier identity verified?
• Are all pages and sheets present in the package?
• Are scanned or image-only PDF pages flagged for OCR?
• Are linked CAD drawings, spec sheets, or images accessible?
• Is the file submission timestamp and version recorded?

2. Product Identity & Uniqueness

• Does every record contain a clear product title and model name?
• Is the Manufacturer Part Number (MPN) explicitly stated?
• Is the SKU / GTIN / UPC unique across the entire master catalog?
• Are product family relationships clearly distinguished from individual SKUs?
• Are discontinued or obsolete models identified?

3. Attribute Completeness & Structure

• Are mandatory category attributes populated?
• Are attribute keys mapped to canonical names rather than vendor jargon?
• Are technical specifications separated into structured key-value pairs rather than hidden inside paragraph text?
• Is every attribute value supported by visual page-level evidence?

4. Taxonomy & Classification

• Is every product assigned to a valid node in your internal master taxonomy?
• Do category assignments trigger appropriate category-specific validation rules?
• Are supplier-specific categories mapped to standardized industry classifications (e.g. ETIM, UNSPSC)?

5. Value & Unit Normalization

• Are physical units standardized (e.g. converting in to mm, lbs to kg)?
• Are decimal formats and numeric ranges validated?
• Are controlled values (e.g. IP ratings, color finishes, mounting types) selected from approved drop-down lists?

6. Duplicate Detection

• Are duplicate SKUs or MPNs flagged across different supplier submissions?
• Are equivalent cross-reference parts identified?
• Are packaging variants (single vs 10-pack) modeled distinctly?

Summary Checklist for Catalog Teams

1. Review File Source: Verify file readability and completeness.
2. Validate Identifiers: Enforce SKU and MPN uniqueness.
3. Normalize Units: Convert vendor imperial/metric values into standard units.
4. Map Taxonomies: Assign SKUs to correct master taxonomy categories.
5. Enforce Pre-Publishing Rules: Block incomplete records from reaching e-commerce channels.

Related Solutions & Guides

• Product Data Validation
• PIM Data Preparation
• Supplier Product Data Onboarding
• Product Attribute Mapping Guide
• Validate Data Before Publishing