Product Information For Website?

[olimits7]

Hi,

I was just wondering what methods do you use to keep your ecommerce website up-to-date with product information (images, descriptions, title, etc...)?

1. Is there a scanning software I can use to capture product images and information in a database format?
2. Are there companies that provide product information data for website use?
3. Develop a program that can extract product information from my wholesaler's website?
4. Or any other options I have...?

Thank you,

olimits7

[sun818]

We connect to our distributor's database server and grab all the relevant fields. For images, we FTP and retrieve the files. One of the database fields states the file name(s) that belong to each SKU. You still need to check for quality (spelling errors, factually incorrect, missing pictures, etc) but its a lot quicker than writing from scratch. The distributor sees us as a partner because we help them keep their product database neat and accurate.

[HugeNerd]

I agree. Check to see if your manufacturer has an FTP site they keep up-to-date. That would have all of the info you need in an easy to grab format.

We grab and upload via XML; makes the whole process very painless. We have also used interns/temps in the past. Usually some college kids looking for some money; temps from a local agency have worked out well for us.

[olimits7]

Yeah, I think that would be the easiest way to retrieve data is to get it directly from manufacturer...

HugeNerd, when you used temps; did they basically just type all the information manually into a database and also took pictures/scanned the products for website images?

Does anyone know if there is a scanning software specifically designed to to help create a product database for your website?

What I mean by this is the software will be able to scan the image, try to get all text information from box, get SKU #, etc...

Thank you,

olimits7

[HugeNerd]

did they basically just type all the information manually into a database and also took pictures/scanned the products for website images?

Yep. Plain old data entry. Show them the fields, how to fill them out, where to get the information and let them loose. If you take this route, expect to spend some time editing...their quality of work, for the most part, is equal to their pay. Depending on how many products/skus you have, you might be better off posting something at a local college. They usually have a job or message board, both electronic and physical. Students tend to take more pride in their work -- they even make more money but cost you less as you don't pay $XX/hr to the temp agency who then pays the temp $X/hr.