BMEcat is the current standard for the exchange of information about the products.
BMEcat was created to standardize the exchange of product information. Product information can refer to any data that is generally available in catalogs. Therefore, BMEcat files are also called "catalogs". Catalog data includes technical specifications, textual descriptions, pricing, ordering and packaging information, and multimedia information such as photos, drawings, certificates, product cards, security cards, etc. Along with the product data, it is also possible to send a complete system of classification of products or provide information about the used classification system.
To standardize the exchange of information, BMEcat also allows the automation of data exchange. In the case of BMEcat format, the universal markup language (XML) was used, which is designed to represent different data in a structured way. The BMEcat catalog, as an XML file, is not human-friendly for reading, but it is good for computer communication. In addition, XML is platform-independent, making it easy to exchange data between different systems.
Standard BMEcat is very universal – it allows us to describe any kind of product. ETIM International has imposed certain requirements on the use of BMEcat elements. That's why it is colloquially said that the product data files prepared by the guidelines for the electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or construction industries are in the "BMEcat ETIM" format. Several guidelines concerning: technical parameters, descriptions, keywords, prices, ordering information, options, packaging, etc. have been introduced for simple and easy communication about technical products. For example, the technical parameters must be specified by the classification ETIM. On the other hand, the guidelines recommend omitting from the product description some items that are optional in a standard BMEcat and are not used in practice. The BMEcat ETIM guidelines for the format and content of product files standardize and simplify the data exchange between manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers, and installers.
Using BMEcat ETIM Validator you can verify if BMEcat ETIM files are well-formed and valid against the XSD schema and BMEcat ETIM International Guidelines. The country-specific validation variants are supported.
BMEcat files are also called "catalogs". They include technical specifications, textual description, pricing, ordering, and packaging information, and multimedia information, such as photos, drawings, certificates, product cards, security cards, etc.
The uniform guidelines on the format and content of product files simplify the data exchange between manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers, and installers.