ETIM and ECLASS are open product classification standards that assign each technical product a class and a fixed set of typed features, values and units. ETIM dominates electrical, HVAC and installation wholesale in Europe; ECLASS covers a broader industrial scope. As of October 2026 the current releases are ETIM 10.0 and ECLASS 16.0, with ETIM 11.0 planned for 1 December 2026.
ETIM and ECLASS are open classification standards that give every technical product a class code and a fixed set of typed features, so that manufacturers, wholesalers and buyers describe the same product in the same structured way. ETIM is the reference standard in electrical, HVAC, plumbing and building installation trades across Europe. ECLASS covers a wider industrial scope, including automation, chemicals and MRO, and feeds many procurement and engineering systems.
What ETIM and ECLASS are, and how they differ
Their governance and structure differ in ways that affect implementation.
| Aspect | ETIM | ECLASS |
|---|---|---|
| Governance | ETIM International and national ETIM organisations | ECLASS e.V., an association based in Germany |
| Structure | Group, class, feature, value, unit | Four levels: segment, main group, group, commodity class (8-digit code) |
| Identifiers | Codes for classes (EC), features (EF), values (EV) and units (EU) | IRDI identifiers for classes, properties and values |
| Current release (October 2026) | ETIM 10.0, released 5 December 2024 | ECLASS 16.0, published November 2025 |
| Next release | ETIM 11.0, planned for 1 December 2026 | Release 17 announced |
| Exchange formats | ETIM xChange 1.1 (JSON), BMEcat, national formats | ECLASS XML, BMEcat, Asset Administration Shell |
ECLASS 16.0 added 995 classes, 1,253 properties and 985 values, extended material declarations to almost all classes and published around 23,300 class definitions generated with GPT-4o mini, each labelled as machine generated.
Why classification matters for PIM and distribution
Wholesalers in the installation and electrical trades commonly require ETIM-classified data before listing a manufacturer's items. Industrial buyers and e-procurement platforms often request ECLASS codes for spend analysis and catalogue search.
Classification produces three practical outcomes:
- Faceted search and filtering, because every product in a class carries the same features in the same units.
- Lower onboarding cost with trading partners, since one classified dataset serves many distributors.
- Better input for AI shopping assistants and answer engines, which read typed values more reliably than prose.
How to implement ETIM or ECLASS in a PIM
A classification project follows six steps. The PIM data model should be designed with these steps in mind from the start.
- Choose the standard per channel. Many manufacturers maintain both: ETIM for wholesale distribution and ECLASS for industrial customers and engineering tools.
- Map internal families to classes. One internal family often splits into several classes. Store the class code as a versioned attribute on the product in the PIM.
- Import the release as a reference model. Load classes, features, values and units so that editors select from controlled lists. PIM platforms differ in how deeply they support the current release and xChange, which buyers should test during vendor comparison.
- Fill features with typed values. Use predefined value codes for enumerations, numeric values with the prescribed unit, and an explicit "not applicable" where a feature does not apply.
- Validate and export. Check the mandatory features each recipient requires and generate ETIM xChange or BMEcat files.
- Plan release migration. ECLASS supplies machine-readable change files (TUF and CUF) with each release, and ETIM publishes change information that supports mapping from the previous version.
The difference between classified and unclassified data is easiest to see in a single product:
| Feature | Classified value | Typical free-text value |
|---|---|---|
| Colour temperature | 3000 (unit: K) | "warm white" |
| Degree of protection | IP44 (value list) | "splash proof" |
| Lamp base | E27 (value list) | "standard fitting" |
Which KPIs show classification quality
Four KPIs describe a classified assortment. The targets are typical estimates.
- Classification coverage: share of active SKUs with a valid class in the current release (typical target 98% or higher for the distributed assortment).
- Feature fill rate: share of class features filled with a value or an explicit "not applicable" (typical target 90% or higher for priority classes).
- Release lag: months between a new release and full migration (typical target under six months).
- Recipient rejection rate: share of records rejected by distributors or data pools per submission.
These KPIs fit into a wider product data quality framework.
Common pitfalls in classification projects
- Treating classification as a one-off task. ECLASS has issued major releases annually in recent years and ETIM roughly every two years, so migration effort recurs.
- Mixing units, for example millimetres and centimetres within one feature.
- Classifying too late. Requesting class and core features at supplier data onboarding costs far less than enriching them afterwards.
Practical next steps
Start by listing active SKUs, their target classes, and which customers or data pools require ETIM or ECLASS. Prioritise the classes with the highest revenue or the most distributor requests, fill their mandatory features, and measure fill rate per class. Book the ETIM 11.0 release on 1 December 2026 into the data team's plan now, including a test migration on a copy of the catalogue. For independent overviews of PIM platforms that support these standards, see PIM Vendors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ETIM and ECLASS?
ETIM is a feature-based classification focused on electrical, HVAC, plumbing and building installation products. ECLASS is a broader four-level hierarchy with IRDI identifiers covering most industrial and MRO products, and it is widely used in procurement and engineering tools.
What is the current ETIM version?
ETIM 10.0, released on 5 December 2024, is the current version as of October 2026. ETIM International has planned the final release of ETIM 11.0 for 1 December 2026.
Is ETIM free to use?
Yes. The ETIM classification model can be used free of charge. ECLASS offers a free basic version, while advanced content and some services require a licence.