A product is not always an installed work item
Distinguish a commercial reference from an installed item. A material unit price is not an execution price that includes productivity, labour and other resources. Explain what the published price covers so estimators can use it correctly.
Prepare the catalogue data
Assign stable codes and consistent units. Review descriptions, prices and classification. If publishing composite work items, document resources and their quantities. Data may come from an ERP, PIM, database or spreadsheet; define the authoritative source for each field.
- Product references and families
- Technical descriptions and units
- Prices and application conditions
- Resources and productivity assumptions where relevant
Design for the recipient
Organise the catalogue clearly and test searches by code and description. Text should help users distinguish variants, sizes and finishes. For documentation and additional data, agree on the scope supported by receiving applications and test the result in them.
Publish identifiable versions
State the date and scope of each edition. Keep codes stable while the concept remains the same and define how discontinued references will be handled. Changing every identifier at each update makes it harder for customers to compare estimates or update their data.
Validate before distribution
Generate a representative sample, check the format and open it in your customers’ applications. Review units, text, relationships and prices. Recurring publication can be automated from the source with a review step to avoid distributing incomplete data or a price list that has not yet been approved.