Transfer your TecDoc® data in real-time
The automotive aftermarket is a highly competitive market where not only speed but also the timeliness and accuracy of data is crucial.
Introducing our Instant Data Processing API
Our new API enables TecDoc® data suppliers to update and transfer their catalog data in real time. All data transferred via IDP will be integrated and published instantly in the TecDoc® Catalogue, Web Service and Web Shop.
Besides that data receivers can embed our new API into their systems for a maximum experience of instant data transmission
With IDP we empower the market globally to always work with the latest and most accurate data.
IDP users gain a high degree of flexibility and independence and can accelerate their time to market.
”TecAlliance has proven once again that they are on the right track! In a very difficult time, they developed a highly innovative product to revolutionise the whole market.”
Alexander Hartling, Senior Manager Data Intelligence
Product Management
Boost your product management and become first to market while gaining more flexibility and responsiveness.
Natively integrated into our PIM solutions or available as-a-service to connect to your own proprietary system.
IDP Interface (API)
Save time and resources on your data distribution and work independently of given deadlines and tools.
Edit your catalogue data in real-time and keep your information up-to-date on the fly.
TecDoc® Catalogue
Data integrated in our catalogues, web service or shops are always up-to-date with the latest changes.
Always work with the most up-to-date data in the automotive aftermarket.
Edit your data live & don’t be bound to strict delivery schedules
Currently the release of a new product or update of an existing product is bound to a time limit. This can lead to delays in your release plan, unnecessary data incorrections and missed sales opportunities.
With Instant Data Processing you can enter your product data independently from our weekly data delivery schedule and correct, supplement or delete it on the fly.
General questions
Do I have to use the new Instant Data Processing functionalities or interface?
As a data supplier, you currently deliver a complete data package via DMM or CCU. If you switch to DMM Online, you will take advantage of Instant Data Processing with 24/7 delivery of your changes.
For customers that use their own systems and only use DMM for validation and publishing, you have the choice to continue that way, or you can switch to IDP Data Supplier API (Application Programming Interface).
Also, as a data receiver, it is up to you if you want to work with the most up-to-date data available via IDP. The introduction of data receiver API is scheduled for early 2023.
I am a data supplier; how can I use IDP functionalities?
IDP is a value-adding functionality for all TecDoc data suppliers for whom weekly updates of the complete database are not sufficient or too cumbersome. It is a much faster data transfer to the data receiver. The customers would like to see new information (i.e. new linkages, new articles) or corrections straight away via IDP. IDP is the immediate response to customer needs with accurate, comprehensive, real-time data.
Basically, there are two use cases for data suppliers supported by IDP:
• If you have your own – respectively a 3rd party product data management tool – our Data Supplier API will be the direct interface to update your TecDoc Catalogue data from your system to our database.
• If you use the DMM as a data maintenance tool, you need to migrate to the new DMM-Online tool that includes Instant Data Processing. Please get in touch with Customer Service or your sales contact to learn more.
I am a data receiver; how can I benefit from Instant Data Processing?
There will be a new data receiver API to retrieve data from the instant data processing channel. All interested data receivers will be able to get the most up-to-date product data as soon as data suppliers provide their data. This requires an implementation project on the data receiver side.
The introduction of data receiver API is scheduled for early 2023. TecAlliance Technical Consultants are ready to support you if required.
Webservice customers will get the updates automatically and do not have to take any action on their side.
In which TecAlliance online systems will the user be able to see all updates sent via Instant Data Processing?
Users will see updates sent via the Instant Data Processing channel in TecAlliance webservice-based online solutions like the TecDoc Web Service, Catalogue, White Label Catalogue, Web Shop, and App.
How does a data supplier gain access to the Instant Data Processing channel?
Interested Data Supplier API users will get connected by carrying out an implementation project. The help of our technical consultants is an option.
DMM users will get informed by our DMM Online team and customer newsletters as soon as features are implemented in DMM Online.
We supply more than one brand. Can we do data delivery per brand?
Yes, that will be possible.
Will the product data publication with Instant Data Processing still work with TAF tables?
Full delivery of TAF-based data is not intended as a standard use case for an Instant Data Processing platform ( in DMM Online or the Data Supplier API). Customers who still need to upload TAF files (complete data) of their brands are asked to contact us to discuss future options to speed up and simplify data distribution.
One of the main benefits of Instant Data Processing is that data managers can send data content without creating and exporting a specific format first directly from the systems they use.
Will TecDoc® Reference Data be provided via IDP, too?
For the time being, reference data will be provided separately as it is currently provided – monthly, i.e., TAF tables need to be downloaded from the TecAlliance FTP server.
Is there an option to send weekly/monthly data packages and use IDP just for delta updates in between?
No. There is no hybrid option available.
There is an option to validate and an option to send data updates directly (including validation). What is the idea behind it? Why do you suggest two options?
The idea behind the “validation only” method is to give users the possibility to check first whether the entire article the user wants to send is valid before an official publication.
Can partial changes of an article be published via IDP, too?
Yes, articles, linkages and assets can be delivered separately.
Will an article not be published at all if partial information (e.g., the country code for a price) is not valid?
The behaviour of central validation within the Instant Data processing channel depends on the type and area of error. Validation messages will give information about the status of data (published, rejected, partly published).
Can I validate several articles at once?
As a user of your own product information management system with integrated IDP functionalities, you can send a set of articles for validation to IDP at once. Technically, these requests are queued and will be processed for validation and publication, if applicable, successively, one after the other. Users of the IDP API on the data supplier side need to implement this queue on their side.
“Data Supplier API” for TecDoc data suppliers:
What exactly is provided by TecAlliance, and what needs to be implemented by my company if I want to send data via the Data Supplier API from a 3rd party system?
TecAlliance provides the Data Supplier API for direct usage from the customer’s infrastructure, e.g. a 3rd party PIM-system. TecAlliance provides comprehensive documentation, sample requests for API usage and the full knowledge of our Technical Consultant team. The integration project, including required developments, needs to take place on the customer side.
Will it be ok to collect data changes and send them once a day?
Yes. Changes can be queued (on the customer side) and will be published successively one after the other.
I am asked to support the DQM (Data Quality Management) initiative as a data supplier and to consider, for example, changed mandatory attributes. This will lead to a large number of changes in my data. Will this be an issue?
No, this is possible with the Data Supplier API, too.
Will using the Data Supplier API affect the data supplier evaluation?
No, there will be no change in the data supplier evaluation. Data will be evaluated based on a snapshot taken at well-defined dates. The exact timing will be published in due time via mailings and the TecDoc calendar.
Are there any limitations on the amount of data to be published via IDP?
Generally, the IDP should be used to send only data that has changed. IDP will check incoming data for changes and will not publish unchanged data. Some requests have a limitation, e.g. the linkage/publish endpoint only allows a maximum of linkages for one article in a single message for technical reasons. However, if there are more linkages to be sent, this can be handled by multiple messages.
If I have more questions about IDP – what should you do?
We will be pleased to answer any further queries you might have. Please visit the TecDoc Community platform. If you would like to sign up, please contact us via tecdoc.community@tecalliance.net
IAQs – Instantly Answered Questions
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Set your own pace
Don’t be bound to strict delivery schedules
Connect directly
Update your content live in our data center
No more extra work
No need to create your deltas with each update