Creation of product models

What is a product model?

Product model — is a group of products. One model can include one or more products. A product model cannot exist without a product.

What is the difference between a product and product models?

A product in Torgsoft is described by a product card and contains all the necessary information to form the product name. This can be Type, Manufacturer, Description, Size, Color, for example Trading Equipment (Type), Torgsoft (Brand), Product 10 Lite (Version), 8/128GB (Description), Red (Color). The presence and order of parts of the description may vary.

How does Torgsoft create product models?

To do this, you need to answer the question: what can be done to find products that can be combined into one group (model)? Often, the first thing that comes to mind is to use the article number. For example, we have 4 products with the same article number, and this means they can be placed into one group (model). But this is not the case. Torgsoft forms such groups by a special product name (the product model name). If the product model name matches other model names, these products can be grouped and a model can be created for them.

Conditions for creating product models

Let's take three products and their names:

- Torgsoft Product 10 Lite 4/64 GB Black
- Torgsoft Product 10 Lite 8/128 GB Red
- Torgsoft Product 10 Lite 12/256 GB Blue

These are three identical products, only with different memory capacities, meaning they can be grouped into one model. Now, let's take a closer look at the names and find the part of the name that can be removed in such a way that all three products have a unique product model name. This is the Description (8/64 GB, 8/128 GB, 8/256 GB) and Color. If you remove the description and color from the name, you get:

- [Torgsoft Product 10 Lite 4/64 GB Black] — [4/64 GB Black] = [Torgsoft Product 10 Lite]
- [Torgsoft Product 10 Lite 8/128 GB Red] — [8/128 GB Red] = [Torgsoft Product 10 Lite]
- [Torgsoft Product 10 Lite 12/256 GB Blue] — [12/256 GB Blue] = [Torgsoft Product 10 Lite]

Thus, we get the name Torgsoft Product 10 Lite for all three products. Torgsoft will be able to find matching names and group the products into models.

Technical execution and preparation for creating models in Torgsoft

• Before creating or updating product models, it is better to make a backup of the database. Each model update involves analyzing the entire product database, so if there are many products, this may take time.

• Go to Settings > Parameters > Product > Naming > Model name formation rule.

• Click Configure. A form will open where you can activate or deactivate parts of the product name with checkboxes. Remember what needs to be removed from the name to get one name for the model; if it's the Description, uncheck the box next to Description, if it's Description and Color, uncheck the boxes next to both.

• Click Create models for all products. After this, Torgsoft will begin creating product models. The product model is formed from the Model name + Products that have the same model name.

 For the changes to take effect, at least two points must be active, in this case, it is Product type and Article number.

How to check if a product model has been created correctly?

• Go to Merchandising > Full list of products and services > Models tab.

• The form has two sections: Product model and below — Model products. In the search field, you can find the desired product by the model name (i.e., the name without one of the characteristics) and see how the product group was formed. A model can include either one product or several products.

 In the context of TOM, after creating models, synchronization needs to be performed so that products are displayed as a single product in the product list on the website, and the general characteristics of the models are displayed on the model's page.

How product models will look in an online store

• General view of the model 

• Embedded product view:

1. Torgsoft Product 10 Lite 8/128 GB Red

2. Torgsoft Product 10 Lite 12/256 GB Blue

3. Torgsoft Product 10 Lite 4/64 GB Black