Category Mapping (UNSPSC Codes)

  • Updated

In Unimarket, Category Mapping allows your community to standardize product classifications. By mapping external codes or different UNSPSC versions to the Unimarket UNSPSC standard, you ensure that reporting and spend analysis remain consistent across all suppliers and systems.

 

Why Use Category Mapping?

  • Version Control: If a supplier uses UNSPSC v9 and your system uses v14. You only need to map the codes that have changed between versions.

  • Custom Systems: If your institution uses a proprietary category system. You can map those custom codes back to the UNSPSC standard.

  • Spend Visibility: Ensures that even if a supplier sends a blank or unrecognized category, your data remains clean for auditing.

 

Access and Configuration

Navigation: Administration > Settings > Management > Categories tab.

 

Manually Adding Mappings

  1. Click +Add Category Mapping.

  2. External Category: Enter the code provided by the supplier or external system.

  3. External Domain (Optional): Use this if you have multiple external systems using the same code format and need to distinguish them.

  4. UNSPSC Category: Select the standard Unimarket code. If you aren't sure of the code, use the magnifying glass to browse the library.

  5. Click Add.

 

Bulk Upload via CSV

For large mapping tables, the upload feature is the most efficient method:

  1. Select Download Category Mappings to get the template and click the here hyperlink.

 

  1. Fill out the three mandatory columns:

Column Name Description Mandatory
A External Code The specific category code from the supplier or external system that needs to be translated. Y
B External Domain A label used to identify the source of the external code (e.g., "SupplierA" or "ERP"). This is helpful if different systems use overlapping codes. N
C Unimarket Code The standard Unimarket UNSPSC code that the external code should map to. Y

  1. Save as a CSV, click Browse to select your file, and select Process.

 

Setting a Default Category

To prevent "NA" values in your reporting when a code is missing or unrecognized, you should set a community default:

  1. Go to the Default Category field.

  2. Enter a general UNSPSC code (e.g., a "Catch-all" code). Or select the magnifying glass to search if you don't know the specific code.

 

  1. If this is left blank and a mapping fails, the system will display 'NA' in the category field.

 

Managing Existing Mappings

  • Edit: Locate the mapping in the list and click Edit to update the logic.

  • Delete: Click Delete to remove a mapping rule. The system will no longer translate that specific external code upon the next transaction.