Properly categorizing your products in Channable is essential when setting up feeds or APIs. This step ensures that your category tree aligns with the platform you are exporting to, which is necessary for most channels.
Category discrepancies
Before you begin categorizing your products, be aware that there may be discrepancies in the categories available in the data model used by the API or feed. If you notice a discrepancy, choose how to take action:
- Regular updates: Channable updates the data model of marketplaces regularly. However, If you notice a discrepancy, please contact our support team for assistance.
- Marketplace restrictions: It is possible that a marketplace may not provide a specific category for all items. In addition to reaching out to us, we recommend contacting the support department of the marketplace to determine the appropriate category for your products.
Methods for categorizing items in Channable
Each export channel has its own unique category structure. For example, a girls' t-shirt might be categorized differently on different channels:
- Google Shopping: "Clothing & Accessories > Clothing > Shirts and tops”
- Amazon: "Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry > Girls > Clothing > Tops, T-shirts & blouses > T-shirts”
After adding a new export feed or API, you start with the Categories step. There are different methods you can use to categorize your items in Channable:
Generate categories
If you import your own product categorization into Channable (often in a field called 'category', 'categories' or 'category_path'), you can generate the category paths using the 'Generate categories' option. You still need to choose the category from the export platform yourself, but you don't have to set the filter rules manually. Find out more about how to generate categories.
Add category
This option allows you to manually add categories using category rules. These category rules contain a field of your choice, a filter, a value, and a category choice. Find out more about how to add categories manually.
Copy categories
If you already have categories set up for the same export channel in another feed or API, you have the option to copy the categorization. This can be useful, for example, if you want to add a second Google Shopping feed for another country. Find out more about how to copy categories.
Skip this step
In some cases, categorization may not be necessary. Find out more about how to determine whether you can skip the categorization step.
Smart categorization
Smart categorization, is made possible by a powerful machine learning algorithm, which suggests the most likely category for selection in some channels.
Channels Supported by Smart Categorization
| Amazon | Kleding.nl |
| Google Shopping (and every channel that makes use of Google categories) | Kieskeurig |
| Bol | Shopalike |
| eBay | Marktplaats |
| Tweedehands | |
| FashionChick | Billiger |
| Fruugo | Go Banana |
| Nextal and FonQ | Spartoo |
| Cdiscount | StyleLight |
| Kleding.nl | Vergelijk |
| Kieskeurig |
Winkelstraat |