Core PIM Concepts & Terminology
This article defines core Proton PIM concepts and terminology, including products, product IDs, attributes, enrichment, review queues, catalogs, jobs, and CSV imports and exports to help users navigate and use PIM effectively.
Product
A product is a single item in your catalog. Each product represents one sellable item and is identified by a unique Product ID.
Products can be added individually or in bulk and can live in Proton as is in your Products tab or move through the enrichment process.
Product ID
The Product ID is the unique identifier for a product (for example, SKU or ERP ID).
It’s required for all products and is used to:
- Track products across uploads
- Prevent duplicates
- Match enriched data back to your systems
Taxonomy
Taxonomy refers to the hierarchical classification of your products. It’s the "tree" structure that organizes your catalog.
- Categories: The branches of the tree (e.g., Hand Tools > Hammers > Sledgehammers).
- Attributes: The data points that describe the products within those categories (e.g., Weight, Handle Material, Head Weight) - see more below.
Attributes
Attributes are structured fields that describe a product, such as:
- Brand
- Manufacturer part number
- Size, material, or color
- Technical specifications
Not all products share the same attributes. Attribute availability depends on product type, available data, and how your catalog is configured.
Enrichment
Enrichment is the process where Proton PIM enhances your product data by generating standardized, structured information using trusted sources and AI-assisted workflows.
Enrichment may add or improve:
- Product names and descriptions
- Specifications
- Manufacturer and brand details
- Category suggestions
- Keywords and synonyms
Catalog
The Catalog is your system of record for approved products.
Once products are approved, they live in the Catalog and can be:
- Searched and filtered
- Edited (with history tracking)
- Exported or integrated into other systems
Jobs
Jobs represent background processes such as:
- Bulk uploads
- Enrichment runs
The “Recent Jobs” section of your dashboard shows:
- Status (running, completed, failed)
- Progress
- Errors or warnings, if any
CSV Import & Export
- CSV Import allows you to add and/or enrich products in bulk
- CSV Export allows you to download approved product data for use in other systems
Exports maintain the structure defined in your catalog to ensure consistency downstream.