Reference data: definition and role in PIM

In PIM practice, reference data keeps attribute values consistent. Instead of free text, a colour attribute points to a list of allowed colours. A unit attribute points to a list of units, and country of origin to ISO country codes. Changes to reference data affect every product that uses it.

Illustrative example: a fashion brand maintains a central colour list with a code, a name per locale and a mapping to each marketplace's colour values. Adding a new colour once makes it available for all products and channels.

In a selection, buyers should list their reference data sets and their owners. Points to test include list management, translations of list values and mapping to channel and standard value lists. Retiring a value that products still use deserves its own test.