ECLASS Definition
ECLASS (formerly written eCl@ss) is an international standard for product classification that sorts products and services into shared categories and describes them with a common set of attributes. It gives each product type a fixed code and a defined list of properties. This lets companies exchange product data across systems, languages, and countries without remapping it for each trading partner. The standard is maintained by the non-profit association ECLASS e.V., which publishes a new version every year.
How is ECLASS structured?
Products are sorted into a four-level hierarchy, from broad to specific: Segment, Main Group, Group, and Subgroup. Each level adds two digits, creating an eight-digit class code such as 27-01-01-01.
Each class at the lowest level has its own list of properties, such as material, dimensions, or rated voltage, along with their units and allowed values. Every class, property, and value also has a permanent ID called an IRDI (International Registration Data Identifier). The ID is the same in every language, so "rated voltage" in English and "Bemessungsspannung" in German point to the same property.
How is ECLASS different from ETIM?
ETIM is a similar standard that focuses mainly on technical products sold through wholesale, such as electrical, plumbing, and heating equipment. ECLASS covers a broader range of industries and also includes services. The two standards use different codes, so a trading partner that requires one won't accept data in the other. Many manufacturers support both by entering attribute values once and mapping them to each standard.
Who uses ECLASS?
ECLASS is used mainly by manufacturers, distributors, and procurement teams in industrial and B2B trade. Common uses include supplying product catalogs to customers' purchasing systems and meeting distributors' data requirements. Companies usually assign ECLASS classes and fill in the required properties in a Product Information Management (PIM) system, then export the data to partners. Using the standard requires a paid license, priced by company size.
