Common Language

CiEX uses common language as the cornerstone of its foundation. What is a SKU? Seems like a simple question with a standard answer, but that depends on who you ask.  For example, ask any three retailers, manufacturers or publishers what a SKU is and you’ll likely get three different answers. CiEX solves this problem by allowing its participants to create and agree to a common language for describing data and provides a flexible and dynamic way for storing, retrieving and exchanging data once described in that common language. Each community of participants can define their own common language.

Without common language or a precise understanding of what a SKU is as agreed upon by the participants, all subsequent data exchange is fragile. CiEX does not create a common language, it provides the tools and means for a community of participants to agree upon a common set of properties, items and validation rules, making data exchange very precise, predictable and reliable.

Imagine a scenario where a common product type existed that all eCommerce participants understood and agreed to. This communal type has properties for SKU, regular price and sale price. It also has agreed upon common rules for validating what constitutes a SKU for the participants as well as the product item. Once the common language is in place; it will be up to each participant to make its proprietary systems understand the common language.  Today the inverse is typically true; each sender of data must understand the proprietary system of each recipient it sends data to.

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Interested in becoming a CiEX participant or want more information? Please send an email to CiEXInfo@channelintelligence.com.