PEPPOL Catalogue (BIS)

The Catalogue BIS carries the supplier's structured product catalogue to the buyer.

Definition

The Catalogue BIS covers the product catalogue transaction. The supplier sends the buyer a structured list of its items: references, descriptions, units, prices, classifications and commercial terms. Everything is exchanged over the PEPPOL network in a standard format.

It is the first building block of e-procurement: a clean, up-to-date catalogue conditions the quality of the orders that follow.

Role in e-procurement

The catalogue feeds the buyer's purchasing systems (for example an internal catalogue or marketplace) and ensures that orders reference valid items and prices. It can be:

• Sent in full (a complete catalogue).
• Updated partially (additions, deletions, price changes).
• Subject to validation or approval by the buyer before publication.

Good to know

A catalogue exchange often involves several related messages (for example a catalogue response from the buyer). The exact scope and available profiles depend on the BIS version published by OpenPEPPOL and on the requirements of the community involved.