Connect to Validoo

Introduction

On this page you can find information about how receivers and or suppliers of product information, can connect to Validoo’s services. You can find information about services, terms, and service descriptions here for recipients and here for suppliers. If you want to send data, you can integrate your system.


Definitions

GLN – a unique GS1 identifier for companies
GTIN – a unique GS1 identifier for trade items
GPC code – A GS1 code for product classification


Available environments and identification

You can connect your company to Validoo’s Production environment and to Validoo’s PreProd test environment. We recommend that you connect to both environments as this will facilitate future testing and verification.

In Validoo, your company is identified by a GLN. If you have multiple communication channels, more GLNs will be needed.

Login

You log in to the two environments via our platform. You log in at:

User name is your email address.


Data communication

General

API is an interface that allows communication between different software, in this case between Validoo and your system. Validoo has several APIs for different information services and protocols, such as web service (REST), AS2, SFTP

The information is transmitted in two ways:

  1. Push – information that matches the recipient’s subscription is sent via a defined communication channel, usually AS2 or SFTP.
  2. Pull – the receiver downloads current information. This is done using a webservice. For example, the receiver can send a query for trade item information, an image with GTIN, a GLN or a GPC code as a search parameter, and receive an immediate answer. There is a limit on the number of queries, and you store information in your own system.

Communication in the ”Push” work flow

Message-based communication. The receiver subscribes to information and messages are created and placed in a queue.

  • AS2 – The receiver sets up an AS2 connector to receive product information. We handle the request and send it back with a receipt. If an error occurs and the information cannot be sent, you can see exactly where in the chain it has been stopped.
  • SFTP – The receiver sets up an invididual SFTP and we send the changes and additions that the receiver subscribes to.
  • Webservice – Subscriptions can be created via REST- API

GS1 AS2 for trade item information and/or image
(preferred when there is a need of two-way communication)

Settings and instructions for setting up AS2 coupling

View technical document

GS1 SFTP for trade item information and/or image
Settings and instructions for setting up SFTP connection

Download technical document

AS2 – How to use it

There are many service providers and applications that help with the setup and integration of AS2 data communication.

If you believe your organisation lacks competence in AS2, we recommend that you get help from an external partner with known expertise in AS2 to set up your company’s data communication.

Certificate

If you have an AS2 connection, you also need to send one certificate per connection. Once your parameters and certificate have been received, GS1 Sweden sends Validoo’s new certificate to your company’s technical contact person.

Guide to creating certificates
Instructions on how to create a certificate for AS2 connections, for example.

Download guide

Script for creating certificates
Download a script to create certificates.

Download script

Manual download of images

You can always use our user interface to search for and download a selection of trade item information and images.


Create subscriptions

A company that wants to receive trade item information and/or images must actively create subscriptions in Validoo’s services. A subscription is created either for the entirety of a provider’s product line (GLN), for selected product classes (GPC codes) or for each individual trade items (GTIN). We recommend that you create subscriptions for entire product lines. Subscriptions are created directly in the user interface, or, to better handle multiple subscriptions, using a web service that you implement in your system. Creating a subscription ensures that you always have up-to-date information.

Instructions on how to create subscriptions via web services:

GS1 REST Validoo Subscription
REST API for subscriptions (recommended for new customers)

Download technical documentation

Suppliers connected to Validoo with GLNs


What we send

Trade Item Information

We always send complete trade item information for a GTIN in GS1 XML format. Partial trade item information is not sent.

Images

Images are published based on the chosen subscriptions. File names are defined in each subscription. You choose whether you want images in TIFF, JPEG, and PNG format (for planogram images). An example of a file name: 08717163583555_D1C1. The file name starts with a GTIN followed by its facing direction, angle, etc. Guidelines and Validoo’s requirements for images are available in the Quality assurance rules.


Preparations in the receiving system

To handle trade item information sent from Validoo, you need to first prepare your system. It is important to map out all steps in the process to handle incoming trade item information.

In the Guideline for Trade Item Information are descriptions of what the various attributes mean. The Guideline will help you get acquainted with the information and attributes you wish to use.

The link above also features documents describing how to handle trade item information, business document specifications, mapping specifications, the Validoo Operations Manual and example files.


Keys to success

  • Read the service description and conditions for Validoo’s services for data receivers and data suppliers to find out what the service includes and how you can use product information.
  • Set aside time to set up communication and create subscriptions. Ensure that there is competence in trade item information, XML, AS2, REST, and image formats at your company. You should also review how the information is to be used.
  • Read about what applies for trade item information in the Swedish market.
  • Read the Validoo Operations Manual.
  • Use GS1 Sweden’s Guideline for Trade Item Information to determine which attributes are relevant for you.
  • Use GS1 Sweden’s Business Document Specifications to learn how specific attributes are used by Swedish-market users (their repeatability, applicability, etc.)
  • Use GS1 Sweden’s mapping specification to learn about connections between attributes, attribute names and xml xpaths.
  • Use the xml schema to work with the global standard. Your system must receive trade item information that features more attributes and code values than those specified in the Swedish subset of trade item information. Use the information that is relevant for you.
  • Make sure to use current code lists.
  • Continually download code values for the Swedish market from gs1.se, where they are available in machine-readable format. We recommend downloading code lists once per day. Note that code lists are adapted to the Swedish market, according to the Swedish subset for trade item information. Providers using a different data pool for trade item information can send code values that are not included in the Swedish subset.
  • Ensure that you receive information on new GDSN releases with updated attributes and codes. There are 2-5 releases per year. Information on new releases is available at gs1.se and is also sent to your technical contact person.

Checklist to get started

– Choose a service

Find out what the Validoo Buyer, Validoo Reciever Validoo Supplier and Validoo GDSN Supplier services entail and choose the service that best suits your needs.

Then fill in this form and we will contact you with a proposal.

– Make sure your company has a GS1 Company Prefix

Check if your company has a GS1 Company Prefix (number series). If you subscribe to GS1 Company Prefix, you will automatically have a Global Location Number (GLN) that identifies you as a buyer in Validoo.

Order a GS1 Company Prefix from GS1 Sweden if you have not already done so.

– Signing an agreement

Once you have Validoo Buyer, Validoo Receiver, Validoo Supplier or Validoo GDSN Supplier, you can navigate, download product information and administer users in the Validoo production environment.

To manage your users in the Pre-prod environment (test environment), we will help you create your first user. After that you can administer users yourself, just as you would in the Production environment.

– Prepare your system

Prepare your system to handle trade item information sent from Validoo.

– Create and verify your data communication solution

Fill in documentation with technical parameters.

– Create subscriptions

Create subscriptions to download the trade item information you are interested in, either in Validoo’s web interface or via your own web service. If you choose Validoo Buyer, you need to inform your business contacts that they should also be connected to Validoo in order to send their trade item information to your GLN. Please contact us first so that we can ensure that we have sufficient resources to answer questions from your suppliers. Validoo Suppliers retrieves trade item information for its GLN, i.e. the GLNs that Validoo Suppliers are information providers for.

– Let us know who your contact people are

Make sure we have the right contacts in your company to receive:
– operational information and technical issues
– new releases
– updates on prices and conditions


Technical documents

GS1 REST Validoo Trade Item Information
REST API for trade item information (recommended for new customers)

Download technical documentation

GS1 REST Validoo Digital Assets
REST API for product images (recommended for new customers)

Download technical documentation

GS1 REST Digital Assets Upload
REST API for uploading product images (recommended for new customers)

Download technical documentation


Frequently asked questions

How does sending masterdata via GDSN work?

Validoo is a data pool and part of the global GS1 Data Synchronisation Network ( GDSN ) that enables sending of master data based on GS1 standards within and between different data pools.


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