Platform DST recently updated the brand ownership within the DST platform. This gives brand owners more control over the product information displayed about their brand.
The change was implemented because multiple suppliers sometimes offer the same product, which could result in products appearing twice or with conflicting information on the platform. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce this duplicate and conflicting product data, so that the entire chain from supplier to retailer can work with one reliable source of product information.
One source, less noise
Duplicate or conflicting products make it difficult to determine which information is authoritative. This creates extra work to check and correct data, while the bicycle industry specifically benefits from one clear and reliable source for product data. With the adjustment, the brand owner is given the opportunity to set conditions for the way product data is supplied and managed. This includes allowing or restricting products not managed by the brand owner themselves, unmanaged translations, and fields that distributors are permitted to supplement.
Collaborating within fixed agreements
Suppliers and distributors can continue to provide product information after the change. From now on, this will take place within the agreements established by the brand owner. This ensures that cooperation in the chain remains possible, while better guaranteeing that product information remains unified and verifiable. Submitted data is then validated at two levels: based on the DST standard and based on any additional requirements from the brand owner. This provides more clarity regarding ownership, responsibility, and data quality throughout the chain.
"With this adjustment, we are placing the control over product data where it belongs: with the brand owner themselves," says Remco Tekstra, chairman of Platform DST. "In this way, we ensure that everyone in the chain, from supplier to retailer, can rely on correct and current information, and we take another step forward in data quality."
Benefits for the entire chain
- Brand owners gain more control and influence over the quality of the data used by their distributors.
- Distributors have access to reliable product data, coming directly from the brand owner.
- Retailers benefit from greater uniformity in product information across different distributors.