Product categories divide a product range into smaller groups. A fruit catalogue, for example, might use these categories:

Each of these main categories can have subcategories, which in turn can have further subcategories. For example:

This type of structure is called a category tree. The terms product tree and product taxonomy are also commonly used.

Multiple category trees for the same product

A product can belong to several category trees at the same time. The structure above makes sense for customers, but the purchasing department might prefer something like this:

The finance department might organise products differently again:

Different channels may also call for very different structures. Sorting by popularity may work well in an online shop, while alphabetical order may be more suitable for a printed catalogue. Categories can also vary by country or customer group. In Hawaii, for example, the structure might look like this:

Categories, classifications and attributes

Categories are primarily used for navigation and sorting. They should be distinguished from classifications such as ETIM, ECLASS or GS1 GPC. These define the characteristics a product in a particular class must have and are often specified by trading partners. In a well-designed PIM system, the relevant attributes are assigned to each category or class. A drill, for example, has different mandatory fields from a battery.

Tips for building your category structure

• As a rule, use no more than three to four levels so customers can find their way around
• Give each category a clear, distinct name, avoiding overlaps
• Maintain one main tree in the PIM system and derive channel-specific trees from it
• Use rules to automate category assignment wherever possible

See also: Categorisation rules · Classifications · Catalogues · Inheritance · Data model