BuildPoint Corp., which operates an e-marketplace for contractors in the construction business, is expanding its online catalog to include some 5 million products from more than 1,000 suppliers.
Using automated catalog management software from Santa Clara, Calif.-based Cardonet, BuildPoint is enhancing its e-catalog to further streamline the materials e-procurement process for both buyers and sellers, with the addition of new products and suppliers, user-friendly descriptions, and weekly updates of pricing and availability data.
The expansion effort is currently underway, and BuildPoint customers can expect to benefit from the results throughout the next 12 to 18 months.
BuildPoint selected Cardonet's Content Factory because the software's automated approach will enable BuildPoint to rapidly scale the growth of its B2B e-marketplace, according to Carl Wilson, senior director of integration services at BuildPoint. Content Factory also provides control over ongoing content maintenance without the need to rely on outside services.
Content Factory maps the detailed product descriptions provided by BuildPoint suppliers in different formats and with non-standard categorization schemes into a uniform browsing taxonomy based on the UN/SPSC classification. This eliminates the need for suppliers to provide BuildPoint a custom e-catalog, while still providing the buyer the marketplace with a consistent catalog. BuildPoint's future plans also include the integration of content from other third-party data sources as well.
Redwood City, Calif.-based BuildPoint says that more than 35,000 member companies transact business over its e-marketplace, BuildPoint.com, including more than 75 of Engineering News Record's top 400 general contractors.
Using automated catalog management software from Santa Clara, Calif.-based Cardonet, BuildPoint is enhancing its e-catalog to further streamline the materials e-procurement process for both buyers and sellers, with the addition of new products and suppliers, user-friendly descriptions, and weekly updates of pricing and availability data.
The expansion effort is currently underway, and BuildPoint customers can expect to benefit from the results throughout the next 12 to 18 months.
BuildPoint selected Cardonet's Content Factory because the software's automated approach will enable BuildPoint to rapidly scale the growth of its B2B e-marketplace, according to Carl Wilson, senior director of integration services at BuildPoint. Content Factory also provides control over ongoing content maintenance without the need to rely on outside services.
Content Factory maps the detailed product descriptions provided by BuildPoint suppliers in different formats and with non-standard categorization schemes into a uniform browsing taxonomy based on the UN/SPSC classification. This eliminates the need for suppliers to provide BuildPoint a custom e-catalog, while still providing the buyer the marketplace with a consistent catalog. BuildPoint's future plans also include the integration of content from other third-party data sources as well.
Redwood City, Calif.-based BuildPoint says that more than 35,000 member companies transact business over its e-marketplace, BuildPoint.com, including more than 75 of Engineering News Record's top 400 general contractors.
