Welcome to the EDATA FAQ section — here you’ll find quick answers to the most common questions about accessing and using the EDATA product data pool. Whether you’re new to EDATA or need help with login issues, data formats, or integrations, you’ll find the answers you need right here.
Your Questions Answered: EDATA Product Data Pool – FAQ
I’ve lost my EDATA password, what do I do?
Head to the EDATA data pool and click on Reset password.
It will prompt you to add your username (which for most users it will be firstname.surname) or your email address.
You’ll receive an email with a link to reset your password. If you have any problems, please call the team at the EDA on 020 3141 7350.
What types of data does EDATA hold?
EDATA currently covers the following product data elements:
- Master: product codes, descriptions, GTINs, marketing bullets, order units, etc.
- Assets: images, datasheets, certificates, manuals, etc.
- ETIM: product technical specifications based on the ETIM standard
- Packaging: volumetrics and packaging material breakdowns of products’ sales packs, as well as additional transit packagings
- Sustainability: embodied carbon data and documents, recyclability, WEEE, RoHS, REACH, Energy efficiency, battery data, etc.
What does Gold, Silver and Bronze data quality mean?
All products in EDATA are measured against EDATA’s data quality standard, and scored ‘In Development’, ‘Bronze’, ‘Silver or ‘Gold’, depending on the amount of data they have.
Manufacturers are also awarded a data quality score level, which is based on their product’s data quality level, as well as some additional criteria, such as the up-to-dateness of their data.
How can I know which export I need to use in EDATA?
EDATA offers a variety of exports to all their users. Ultimately, it depends on what data you are looking for, and how you are looking to use it.
BMECat files are XML files configured based on the BMECat format, which is widely used across Europe as a mechanism to share catalogue data. This format will include most of EDATA’s Master data, as well as Assets and ETIM data.
We also offer additional Excel and CSV templates for each individual element, so users can export all data elements using Excel or CSV files.
Additionally, there is a Master + ETIM Excel template which combines the Master data with the technical attributes based on the ETIM standard. This template is configured differently, and is only recommended for small ranges of products, as each product type will be set up as a new tab in the Excel file.
Does EDATA have an API that we can use to pull data from and feed our ERP, PIM or website?
EDATA offers a full suite of API (Application Programming Interface) calls available for any wholesaler or system who would like to integrate with EDATA. This includes GET calls to call for products individually or in bulk per manufacturer, as well as POST calls to call for products based on any given list of references.
For more details on the APIs, the parameters available, etc, please get in touch with the EDATA team.
Specific for your type of business
Wholesaler
Manufacturer
We are an EDA Wholesaler, is there any cost to using the EDATA data pool?
No, it is completely free of charge to any wholesaler or branch in the EDA.
In our wholesaler business, is it best to share one log in to the EDATA data pool between our team or to have a separate log in for each person?
If you share one log in between several people, it means only one person can log in at one time. Others will have to wait for someone to log out before they can log in. For maximum flexibility, it’s best to have a separate log in for each person – it doesn’t cost anything.
Request an extra log in here.
I can’t find a manufacturer I want. Who can I speak with to have them added in EDATA?
Please speak to the EDA head office (020 3141 7350) about any manufacturers you’d like to see in EDATA, and if we are not already working with them, we’ll do our best to have them join EDATA.
We can also work with wholesalers to arrange round tables to introduce EDATA to their manufacturers, so if you’d like to arrange one, please email the EDATA team.
I am looking for product images, how can I download these from EDATA?
The Asset Index is the best way to retrieve assets in bulk from EDATA. Just find the range of products you want to retrieve images from and generate an Asset Index!
There are 2 options when using the Asset Index export:
- Download URLs – This is the best way to work, as you will receive an Excel file with a list of products and URL links to EDATA’s DAM, where all these files are hosted.
- Download physical assets – This is an alternative for those who may not be able to work with URLs, or that are just looking for a very small range of products. This export will generate a zip file containing all assets linked to the products in the selection, alongside an Excel listing all the products, and the filenames of those files that go with them.
Images or documents can also be downloaded manually from EDATA, as you will find an option to download any selected assets when you navigate to the ‘Assets’ tab within any product’s page.
How do I search for products in EDATA if I don’t know which manufacturer makes them?
At the top of the page (but below the various tabs) there is a search bar where you can search using any terms you want. If you are looking for a specific product and you know the product code, that’d be the best thing to do.
Alternatively, you can introduce some keywords and any specific information you have about the product you are looking for, and EDATA will return the products that match the closest to these terms.
Is there anywhere that I can see how many products a manufacturers has, and when have they last updated their products in EDATA?
In the Dashboard tab, you will find all the key information you may need prior extracting any data from a manufacturer. This includes how many products they have in EDATA, when it was the last time they updated their range in the platform, as well as a few metrics regarding their population of fields.
What is ETIM?
The ETIM standard is at the heart of the EDATA data pool. ETIM is an international standard adopted by many countries/markets across the globe including the UK’s electrotechnical sector.
The ETIM standard is a clear-cut way to logically structure the information describing a product’s technical attributes and performance information. If you are receiving data from multiple manufacturers, and if they have not ETIM-ised their data, then it is going to require extra workarounds for you and other wholesalers. That’s why adopting a data standard is so important in EDATA – it is all about making life easier and more streamlined for our members.
I am a manufacturer and would like to learn more about the EDATA Platform.
I have access to EDATA but don’t know how to use it. Is there any training available for individuals or teams?
For individual businesses looking to introduce EDATA to their staff we can organise Team calls to demonstrate the platform, go through all the details, and answer any queries there may be about the platform.
Any user with any queries can get in touch through our email edata@eda.org.uk and we’ll look at solving your query as soon as possible, whether it is via email or scheduling a call with you.
In our manufacturer business, is it best to share one log in to the EDATA data pool between our team or to have a separate log in for each person?
If you share one log in between several people, it means only one person can log in at one time. Others will have to wait for someone to log out before they can log in. For maximum flexibility, it’s best to have a separate log in for each person – it doesn’t cost anything.
Request an extra log in here.
What is ETIM?
The ETIM standard is at the heart of the EDATA data pool. ETIM is an international standard adopted by many countries/markets across the globe including the UK’s electrotechnical sector.
The ETIM standard is a clear-cut way to logically structure the information describing a product’s technical attributes and performance information. Wholesalers will be receiving data from multiple manufacturers, and if this is based on ETIM, it will save them a lot of work harmonising the data.
Additionally, since ETIM is used in over 20 markets, if you export products into Europe or the US, you don’t have to worry about other standards or translating any technical attributes. ETIM data can be automatically translated to 20+ language variants.
Still need help? No problem, email your query: edata@eda.org.uk
