Types | Product Classifications Explained
Overview
Types is a Platform based Product classification system. Product Types are important as they determine how the products can be used, and significantly improve platform search-ability for all users.
The types are split into 3 distinct categories:
Product Type - this is the core classification that determines how the product can be used
Functionality Type - this reflects what the type of user functionality is set against the product
Production Type - this offers additional information to be captured regarding how the product is produced
For the most part, the system will automatically associate types based on how products are created - for example;
- Fulfillers manually creating new products on the platform will automatically set Blank as the Product Type.
- Retailers using any Virtual Product Creation option will automatically set Virtual as the Product Type.
There are many ways to configure products and it is important that platform users manage their products and classifications to ensure accuracy.
1. Product Types
A Product Type determines how the Product can be configured and used.
Critical: **Only 1 Product Type should be enabled, as each type changes the core product behaviour and available functionality| TYPE | DESCRIPTION |
Blank | A Blank is a Fulfiller Approved Base product. It is set up to the fulfillers own specification which ensures 'Order Ready' status. The Blank product type is enabled automatically when a New Blank Product is created either manually, or from wholesale. |
| Virtual | Virtual products can only be created from Fulfiller approved Blanks. Typically this is done by Retailers / Brands looking to create products featuring a range of designs. Virtuals do not have a Preview or Print Specification - instead they directly inherit fulfiller specified information and production related properties from the Blank Product that they are tied to. This allows design artwork and functionality options to be configured, which then automatically conforms to the Blank products original print specification. It is this Blank > Virtual relationship that ensures the fulfiller can fulfil orders for any created Virtual Products. The Virtual type is enabled automatically whenever a Virtual Product is created, regardless of the method used. |
| Dynamic Design (Legacy) | Although similar, a Dynamic Design (DD) is not the same as a Virtual Product; a Virtual is tied to a single Supplier Blank only, whereas a DD is a completely independent 'design template' that can be applied to multiple Blanks simultaneously. Dynamic Designs cannot be used in isolation - they must be applied to Blanks via a Smartlink. The DD type has to be manually enabled. Click here for more information on DYNAMIC DESIGN Products >> |
| No Preview | A No Preview product does not have a live/interactive preview. Instead, it offers a static product thumbnail, and various configurable options for personalisation. No Preview products do not generate print ready artwork, but instead passes the personalisation details into the Order Management System (OMS) when an order is placed. |
| **Stock | A Stock product has no personalisation options. They are not printed or produced 'on demand' - instead the Supplier already has the items in stock ready for dispatch as soon as the order is placed. As there is no personalisation or preview requirements, Stock Products can be created very quickly via a data import to CPP. **Stock can be used to represent a base stock unit. If enabled, it allows stock management tools to be used in OMS. |
Wholesale Blank | A Wholesale Blank is a pre-configured Blank product on CPP that is available for Fulfillers to use and modify for their own fulfilment requirements. This provides a quick and convenient way for them to kick start or expand their Blank product range. Once a Wholesale Blank is Duplicated, the fulfiller becomes the 'Owner' of a new Blank product on CPP; this allows the product to be reconfigured and for orders to be placed against it. A typical example is a Gildan T-Shirt - this is a generic undecorated item available for fulfillers to take and fulfil orders for. |
Functionality Types
The Functionality Type reflects how the Product has been configured, and how it be interacted with by the end user.
| TYPE | DESCRIPTION |
| Customisable | To Qualify as Customisable, the product must; A) Be either a Blank, Virtual, DD or No Preview B) Offer photo upload and/or text functionality A typical example of a Customisable product is a blank Phone case, that the end user can add their image to. This functionality type may be set automatically in some scenarios. |
| Personalisable | To Qualify as Personalisable, the product must: A) Be either a Virtual B) Have an Artwork design C) Offers User functionality to personalise the design (eg add text) A typical example is a Football Mug, which has a static team design but also offers complimentary user functionality to add their name). This functionality type is not set automatically by the system - if you are creating products that offer design artwork and user functionality then the Personalisable type should be enabled. |
| Print on Demand | To Qualify as Print On Demand, the product must: A) Be a Virtual B) Have a fixed Artwork design This type is enabled automatically when you use the Virtual - Artwork Only Routine. Enabling Print on Demand as the type offers the POD Reference Number. |
Production Types are not compulsory, but rather additional options that can be enabled for specific use cases.
| TYPE | DESCRIPTION |
| Configurable Stock | This is a Stock item that has variants set against it. |
| Self-fulfilment | This is used in scenarios where you get access to a Product that you are not the 'Supplier' of, but can fulfil the order for. |
The following table represents the possible Product & Functionality combinations. Anything not specified is this list is not deemed to be a 'legal' combination, and as such could lead to A) validation errors, B) mis-classification, C) order related issues.
| PRODUCT TYPE | FUNCTIONALITY TYPE | DESCRIPTION |
| No Preview | Customisable | The product can be customised but does not support live previews. |
| Blank | Customisable | Supplier Approved Base Product that can be customised eg photo upload |
| Virtual | Customisable | Virtual Product that offers standard image upload and/or text input |
| Personalisable | Virtual Product that features a static design/artwork element, but also offers user functionality, eg text input and/or image upload that compliments the design. | |
| POD | Virtual Product that has a static design/artwork element and is available to order WITHOUT any personalisation. | |
| Personalisable & POD | A Virtual Product with hybrid functionality - it can be ordered with the fixed design only, or it can be offered as a live preview item with user functionality. | |
| Dynamic Design | Customisable | A DD Product that offers standard image upload and/or text input |
| Personalisable | A DD Product that features a static design/artwork element, but also offers user functionality, eg text input and/or image upload that compliments the design. |
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