What is Data Feed
A data feed is a stream of structured information shared from one system to another. Depending on the setup, data feeds can deliver updates in real time or at regular intervals, providing a continuous flow of information in a standardized format like CSV, XML, or JSON.
They’re often used to send updated datasets (like product details, pricing, or inventory levels) to external platforms, tools, or partners. Feeds can be scheduled to run automatically or triggered manually, depending on the needs of the business and the receiving system.
Examples
|
Example |
How it works |
|
Marketplace feed |
A company sends a feed to a marketplace like Amazon, formatted to meet Amazon’s specific field and structure requirements. |
|
Retailer-specific feed |
A business creates individual feeds for each retailer it works with, so each one receives only the relevant products and data fields. |
|
Scheduled sync |
A feed is scheduled to run daily, updating connected systems with the latest inventory and pricing data automatically. |
A brief history
As businesses moved online, they began using more tools and platforms, each with its own data requirements. Sharing accurate, up-to-date information across these systems became a challenge, especially when done manually.
Data feeds were developed as a solution to this. Rather than copying and pasting information between systems, companies could set up automated feeds to push structured data from a source system (like a PIM, ERP, or database) to various endpoints. This allowed for faster, more consistent data distribution, particularly useful for ecommerce, digital advertising, and supply chain operations.
Good to know
Data feeds are typically unidirectional: they send data from a source system to a destination. They often include filters and mapping rules to control which data is included and how it’s formatted.
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