Automating product data extraction for Sonepar.
Sector
Wholesale Distributor
Products
5,000,000+
Employees
48,000+
Sonepar, a global leader in B2B distribution of electrical products, has faced significant challenges in managing the vast array of product data from suppliers who do not always adhere to the standardized ETIM format. This case explores how Sonepar overcame these challenges by implementing an AI-powered solution to streamline and automate the product data extraction process.
Background
Founded in 1969, Sonepar is an independent family business that operates 145 companies across 48 countries. As a global market leader in electrical product distribution, Sonepar serves over one million customers with a diverse product range. The company is committed to providing top-tier solutions and services through its extensive network of 48,000 employees and 3,000 offices worldwide.
The challenge.
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Unstructured product data
Sonepar receives product descriptions from suppliers that often combine product names and characteristics in long, unstructured text. This required manual intervention to extract the necessary details, a time-consuming process.
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Inconsistent data formats
Not all suppliers deliver product data in the standardized ETIM format. This inconsistency made it difficult to ensure accurate classification and proper data exchange within the supply chain.
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Manual data entry
Due to the lack of standardized product data, product characteristics were often manually extracted, resulting in incomplete product specifications or products being omitted entirely from Sonepar's range.
Our solution.
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AI-powered data extraction
The PowerEnrich solution uses artificial intelligence to intelligently identify and map product names, characteristics, and abbreviations, matching them to the ETIM standard.
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ETIM data model training
The system is trained specifically on Sonepar’s ETIM data model and the languages used for product descriptions, ensuring precise mapping and classification.
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Rule-based refinements
Data stewards can further refine the extraction process by adding custom rules, improving accuracy and allowing for better product data enrichment.
The result
PowerSuite has empowered Sonepar to...
Accelerate product integration
Sonepar can now integrate products from suppliers who do not follow the ETIM standard more efficiently, expanding its product range more quickly.
Create richer product specifications
The automation of data extraction results in more detailed product specifications, leading to higher-quality product listings.
