What is Taxonomy Mapping

Taxonomy mapping is the process of matching categories or labels from one classification system to another.

Taxonomy is just a way of organizing or grouping things (like sorting your products into “shoes” and “clothing”). But different companies or platforms have different taxonomies, so the same products might be sorted under “footwear” in one system and “fashion” in another system.

Taxonomy mapping matches up these different categories, making it easier to share and sell products across multiple channels. You’re basically telling your system: “When you see category X in system A, it should match category Y in system B.”

A brief history

Companies traditionally created their own taxonomies to organize products. But because every company’s taxonomy was different, sharing and syncing product data between partners, systems, and marketplaces was tricky.

The term taxonomy mapping started gaining traction as companies looked for ways to automate and standardize how product classifications were translated across systems. It became necessary to “map” or connect different taxonomies so products could be accurately categorized everywhere they appeared.

Today, taxonomy mapping is a key part of Product Information Management (PIM) and feed management workflows. It means businesses can automate product data syndication: once they’ve mapped their taxonomies, the systems can share products automatically, and they know their products will be categorized in the right way.

Good to know

Taxonomy mapping needs ongoing maintenance because product lines and channel taxonomies evolve over time. You should regularly review mappings to make sure they still align.

Know more

Frequently Asked Questions

Is taxonomy mapping only about product categories?
Taxonomy mapping is mostly about product categories, but it can also include attributes like color, size, or brand codes if those differ between systems.
Can taxonomy mapping improve my product visibility online?
Yes, taxonomy mapping can improve your product visibility! Correct mapping helps make sure your products show up in the right categories on marketplaces and search engines, helping customers find them more easily.
How do you actually do taxonomy mapping?
Typically, you start by listing the categories and attributes from each system or channel you sell on. Then you create mappings: rules that connect each category or attribute in your internal system to the corresponding one in the other system. Many PIM or feed management tools have interfaces to help automate and manage this mapping.
Do I need special software for taxonomy mapping?
While you can manage mappings manually, specialized PIM or feed management tools often have built-in taxonomy mapping features to automate and simplify the process.
How does Plytix handle taxonomy mapping?
When you set up a sales channel in Plytix, you can map your internal product attributes and categories to the specific requirements of that channel. This lets you easily adapt your product information to multiple channels whilst still maintaining one central source of truth.