When utilizing industry standards in your data model, users typically operate within the confines of a specific release of that standard. However, challenges arise in scenarios where a new version is introduced or a customer requests data in an older version than the one a product has been initially classified in. Additionally, even if a product has been described using one industry standard, there may be instances where it becomes necessary to describe the same product using different industry standards. Industry standards evolve through periodic releases, introducing updates to their reference files.
While STEP provides solutions like Data Onboarding where users can reclassify the product, it still requires Mapper Configuration setup entities to be manually created in the system. An extended automated solution that creates the Mapper Configuration setup entity that addresses challenges associated with those evolving industry standards is the Industry Standard Mapper solution.
This solution supports seamless mapping between different versions of a standard, allowing users to automate reclassification and data transfer tasks. This solution helps in an automated approach to handling standard upgrades.
Every time there is a version upgrade, many industry standards provide a description file that contains an instruction on how to upgrade from one of their versions to their next major version, which Stibo Systems refers to as Industry Standard Mapping files. The Industry Standard Mapper solution interprets those Industry Standard Mapping files to create Mapper Configuration setup entities with necessary mapping instructions. These created Mapper Configuration setup entities later facilitate onboarding of data from one version to another version.
Note: Currently the Industry Standard Mapper solution supports only ECLASS BASIC. For optimal functionality of this solution, it is required that the system utilizes the version-specific object type structure for ECLASS classifications. This can be achieved by selecting the 'Version specific object types' option on the Advanced step of the ECLASS Classification Importer during an import. Users can map between ECLASS Basic versions, benefiting from both automated and manual mapping capabilities.
Important: The Industry Standard Mapper solution works in conjunction with the existing Data Onboarding solution in STEP. Implementation of the Industry Standard Mapper is dependent upon the prior implementation of the Data Onboarding solution.