Introduction to product attributes and unit types

Attributes are the essential details you must provide for each product. While some attributes are mandatory, others are optional. 

Examples of mandatory attributes for New Line Form: 

1. Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) (Unique product identifier)

2. Brand name

3. Product category

4. Unit type

Examples of mandatory attributes for Amazon:

1. Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) (Unique product identifier)

2. Gross weight

3. Product dimensions

Examples of mandatory attributes for HFSS (High in Fat, Salt and Sugar):

1. Nutritional value

2. HFSS Legal category

3. HFSS Food/Drink

ProductDNA requires data at the lowest level at which the GTIN appears. In other words, you will need to enter data at the unit level, either as a base unit or pack. The hierarchy of products is then used to establish a relationship between the product on the shelf and the box used to ship larger quantities.  

When creating a product, you will be asked to select its unit type. It describes the hierarchy level of the product (i.e. base unit or each, pack, case or pallet) depending on its role (i.e. consumer unit, display or logistical).

• A consumer unit is the lowest level of the product hierarchy that is barcoded and labelled (e.g. ingredients statement, nutrition table) and is intended for end-consumers at the point of sale.

• A logistical unit is neither a consumer unit nor a display but how it will be shipped. It is an element of your logistical hierarchy that is not meant to be presented to the consumer in its present state, such as a pallet or a case.

• A display unit are shipping units that contain a single GTIN or several unique GTINs that are intended to go directly to the selling floor or any other area of display.

  E.g. display unit with 20 suncreams placed next to the point of sale. This display unit is shipped with the 20 suncreams as one item.

To the left you will see the productDNA landing page. 

Once you start creating your products, they will be visible here and you can return to this page at any time by clicking on My Catalogue. This page includes the following options:

1. Search: search products by name or GTIN.

2. Filters: filter your product catalogue view by selecting the available criteria.

3. Quality: See whether 100% of your mandatory attributes have been completed for the selected recipients in the Product Page by checking for empty circles, half-filled circles and full circles (e.g., a full circle  means 100% of the mandatory attributes are completed and are ready to be published and shared with selected retailers).

4. Product comments: here you can check if retailers have left comments on any  product listings you have shared.

5. Physical check status: here you can check the status, which may read as: not available, check not required, ready for check, received, pass, fail or approved.

6. Columns: you can customize your landing page by selecting the columns you want to appear.

7. Reporting: this section provides useful information about the creation, sharing and blocking of products, as well as the data quality percentage. 

8. Imports: here, you can upload and import your Excel template file. You can also view any errors that occurred during the data upload and see how to fix them. 

9. Create a product: find more details on how to create a product in the step "3b. Creating a consumer unit using productDNA user interface (UI)".

10. **Bulk actions: you can select products and trigger actions such as editing, publishing, triggering a physical check, etc.