What product is this article for?
GDSN Connect
GDSN Connect provides users with access to product specs from GDSN and the ability to export that data electronically into their BOH (back-of-house) software applications.
Setting Up Item Database
Deciding Which Approach to Use
GDSN Connect has multiple methods in which you can setup your Item Database and add new items, and the proper approach depends on where you're starting from and what you're trying to do.
Initial Setup
There are two approaches that can be used to get setup initially. Both of these approaches will setup your item database with multiple items via a guided wizard upload process.
- Software Item Upload - Preferred approach for the initial setup to sync records from your existing back of the house software using the Software Item Upload process.
- Vendor Item Upload - Preferred approach for the initial setup of a district that has not records in your existing back of the house software using the Vendor Item Upload. This will allow you to setup your database and automatically match items using vendor reports that contain GTINs. This can also be used prior to the initial Software item Upload process to quickly setup vendors with products that have GTINs. This will to be repeated for each vendor.
Adding Items After Initial Setup
After you've gotten initially setup, the following approaches can be used to add additional items to your item database.
- Vendor Item Upload - Preferred approach to setup a new vendor and then sync these items into your back of the house software. This can also be used to update prices for those items.
- Search the Nourish to Flourish Database - Recommended approach to search for new items not yet procured.
- Search a Vendor Catalog - Recommended approach to search for new items from a vendor catalog.
Methods to Add Items
Software Item Upload (from BOH Software)
This is the preferred way to get started because it will create a mirror copy of all the items used within a district's existing back of house (BOH) system and then enhance them with data from the manufacturer via GDSN.
Please refer to this article for detailed instructions: Software Item Upload
Vendor Item Upload (from Vendor Reports)
To quickly setup from scratch, you can upload one or more reports from each vendor to setup all the items on that report in local item database. These reports are typically easy to get from each of your distributors, and if they contain GTINs or UPCs, it makes the matching process completely automatic.
Please refer to this article for detailed instructions: Vendor Item Upload
Search the Nourish to Flourish Database (N2F)
Searching N2F Database is like “Shopping” for items from all manufacturers and is useful for finding new items and adding them one at a time to your database. Items can be searched by Brand, Manufacture Product ID, GTIN, or search term. The search will return a list of items will that match the terms that have been searched for.
Please refer to this article for detailed instructions: Searching the Nourish to Flourish Database
Search a Vendor Catalog
The catalog functions as a procurement tool, offering a perspective on acquisitions and facilitating the addition of pre-configured items to your local database. It's crucial to emphasize that its primary utility lies in item "shopping" rather than serving as the primary means for uploading items.
Please refer to this article for detailed instructions: Adding Items from Catalog
Reviewing Data Quality
Data Quality Checks
The Data Quality Checks section highlights items that may have some issues with various aspects of the data and allows a user to easily review and address those issues. After adding items to your local database, we recommend reviewing and addressing these issues prior to exporting them to your other software.
Please refer to this article for detailed instructions: Data Quality Checks
Product Updates
The Product Updates section shows items in which the manufacturer has updated the specifications. You must review these updates and accept (or reject) them before they will updated within your system.
Please refer to this article for detailed instructions: Product Updates
Exporting Enhanced Data into BOH Software
Once the data has been updated, it can be exported from GDSN Connect and imported into your back of house (BOH) software application. Instructions will vary based on which software system is being used.
Please refer to this article for detailed instructions: Data Export