Icecat Release Notes 211: Enhancing Performance, Clarity, and Efficiency

In release 211, we have introduced a range of exciting updates designed to improve the functionality, performance, and usability of Icecat’s platform. From enhanced search filters and lightning-fast file coverage to refined metrics and editor tools, this release focuses on empowering our users with clarity, efficiency, and robust functionality. For additional details, please refer to the previous Icecat Release Notes.

Catalog Object Cloud: Now Available in JSON Format

In a continuous effort to enhance our service offerings, we’re excited to announce the expansion of the Catalog Object Cloud service. Previously accessible through XML files, this powerful feature is now available in JSON format.

This update introduces a new section in our JSON files, titled “CatalogObjectCloud”, which provides crucial information for product page accessibility and engagement.

The CatalogObjectCloud section now includes the following key attributes:

• QRCodeURL Attribute: Provides a scannable QR code link that redirects users to the product’s page. This feature is perfect for enhancing product packaging and marketing materials by offering a quick, user-friendly way to access detailed product information.
  
• URL Attribute: Offers a direct and permanent link to the product page, ensuring consistent accessibility.

The “CatalogObjectCloud” section can be retrieved via a granular API call, using the following endpoint:
https://live.icecat.biz/api?shopname=<user_login>&lang=<language_code>&content=catalogobjectcloud&icecat_id=<product_id>

Key Parameters:

• shopname: Your Icecat login credentials.
• lang: The language code for the requested content.
• icecat_id: The unique identifier for the product.

The accessibility of the CatalogObjectCloud section in JSON follows the same rules as in XML files. If a product is subject to any restrictions – such as brand/product restrictions, release dates or if the product belongs to Full Icecat brands – the section will not be available. This ensures that users will access only those product permalinks, which can display valuable information.

The inclusion of QRCodeURL in the JSON format opens up significant opportunities for product marketing and user engagement. By embedding QR codes on product packaging, manuals, or promotional materials, you can:

• Enhance Customer Experience: Simplify access to detailed product information without the need for extensive searches.
• Boost Engagement: Encourage interaction with your digital ecosystem by bridging offline and online experiences.
• Modernize Branding: Adopt a sleek, tech-forward approach that aligns with today’s consumer expectations.

We encourage all users to take advantage of the new Catalog Object Cloud service today and deliver unparalleled product experiences to the final customers.

Introducing the New Super-Fast Coverage from File Functionality

We’re thrilled to announce the release of our enhanced Coverage from File functionality, designed to streamline the product matching process while providing greater accuracy, flexibility, and user control. This sprint marks a significant leap forward in usability, speed, and reliability with a revamped user interface and enhanced back-end processing.

Updated List of Supported File Formats

The system now supports feeds in the following formats:

• TXT (if structured like CSV)
• CSV
• XLS
• XLSX

Note: Older Excel file formats are no longer supported.

Seamless File Upload and Detection

The workflow remains user-friendly, with the ability to upload files from your PC or via a URL. Our enhanced system automatically detects:

• File format
• Delimiter
• Escape and enclosure characters (for CSV files)

If the automatic detection isn’t perfect, you can easily adjust these settings manually to ensure optimal results.

Enhanced User Interface for Export Settings

We’ve redesigned the Coverage from File Export Settings for maximum usability:

• Logical Grouping: Settings are now organized into intuitive groups for easier navigation.
• Selection Flexibility: Choose all settings, a specific group, or individual settings based on your needs.

Simplified Column Matching

The system now automatically detects columns that should be matched with:

• Product Codes
• Brands
• GTINs

This automation significantly reduces manual effort and ensures a smoother workflow.

Flexible Coverage Prioritization

Users can now define how the system prioritizes product matching. The default priority order is:

1. Product Code + Brand Match: Most accurate.
2. GTIN Match: High accuracy for unique product identification.
3. Product Code Match Only: Less accurate since product codes may belong to multiple brands.

Optional Step: You can disable the Product Code Match Only step to avoid inaccuracies, ensuring the system doesn’t match products from different brands with identical product codes.

Intelligent GTIN Handling

To address common issues with GTIN column mapping, the system provides:

• A soft warning when multiple GTIN columns are selected.
• Clear logic that matches products based on the first GTIN found in each row.

This prevents mismatches caused by rows containing GTINs for multiple products, empowering users to refine their feeds for more precise results.

Detailed Matching Statistics

The new interface introduces extended result statistics, showing how products were matched:

• By Product Code + Brand
• By GTINs
• By Product Codes Only

This transparency allows users to understand the matching logic and adjust their files to maximize accuracy.

The revamped system offers:

• Greater Speed: Faster processing for large datasets.
• Improved Accuracy: Automated and flexible matching priorities ensure reliable results.
• Enhanced Usability: A modern, intuitive interface with logically grouped settings.
• Actionable Insights: Detailed statistics provide clarity and confidence in the matching process.

The updated Coverage from File functionality is designed to simplify and enhance users workflow, providing higher performance and flexibility.

Editor Journal: Enhanced Filters and Dashboard on the First Page

The Editor Journal functionality just got a significant upgrade! In this sprint, we’re proud to announce the release of the finalized filters on the first page of the Editor Journal. These filters are designed to provide users with powerful tools to analyze and manage editorial contributions more effectively.

The first page of the Editor Journal now includes a suite of advanced filters that cater to various use cases, providing detailed insights into editorial activities:

1. Brand Filter: This filter enables users to narrow down the list of editors who have worked on products associated with a specific brand. It’s perfect for monitoring brand-focused editorial efforts or evaluating team performance by brand.

2. Distributor Filter: Users can now review the list of editors who have described or modified products originating from distributor feeds. This is particularly useful for tracking contributions tied to distributor-provided product data.

3. Change Type Filter: This filter provides granular insights into the types of changes editors have made. It categorizes contributions under:

• Described Products
• Modified Products
• GTIN Codes
• Descriptions
• Product Names
• Features
• Images
• Videos

This allows users to focus on specific types of editorial activities, ensuring comprehensive oversight and tracking of asset enrichment.

The Change Type Filter doubles as a dashboard, offering a visual summary of:

• The number of products edited
• The number of assets added

These metrics are displayed for the selected time period, combined with other applied filters. This feature delivers actionable insights at a glance, empowering users to monitor productivity and target areas for improvement.

Our journey doesn’t stop here. The next step in the Editor Journal functionality is the development of the second page, which will provide detailed, per-product insights for each editor. This enhancement will offer a more granular view of contributions, allowing for in-depth analysis and reporting.

Product Page: Enhanced Lighthouse Metrics for Optimal Performance

We’re excited to announce significant improvements to the Lighthouse metrics of our product page, marking a milestone in our commitment to delivering faster, more accessible, and SEO-friendly web experiences. Following the recent release of the product page on Server-Side Rendering (SSR), this sprint was dedicated to refining the page’s performance across key Lighthouse criteria.

Lighthouse Metrics: Before vs. After

Here’s a comparison of the metrics before and after the latest optimization efforts:

1. Performance – New Score: 98
The product page now loads even faster, thanks to SSR and additional optimizations.

2. Accessibility – New Score: 96
Accessibility enhancements ensure our product page is more inclusive and compliant with modern standards.

3. Best Practices – Score Maintained: 100
Our product page continues to adhere to the highest standards of web development, ensuring security, modern coding practices, and user safety.

4. SEO – New Score: 100
We’ve achieved a perfect SEO score by improving structured data, and ensuring our product page meets all search engine guidelines for discoverability.

The improved Lighthouse metrics reflect our dedication to delivering a top-tier user experience. These enhancements offer tangible benefits:

• Faster Load Times: Reducing bounce rates and improving user satisfaction.
• Inclusive Design: Ensuring our product page is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
• Improved SEO: Boosting search rankings and driving more traffic to your products.
• Trustworthy Practices: Upholding the best development and security practices.

We’ll continue to monitor and optimize icecat.biz to ensure sustained excellence in performance and usability.

Icecat Cloud Search Filter: Enhanced Date Filters for Clarity

In this sprint, we introduced a small yet impactful enhancement to the Icecat Cloud Search functionality. The naming of filter values related to dates has been refined to bring greater clarity and precision, making it easier for users to find exactly what they need.

New Date Filter Values

1. Creation Date: The date when the product was first added to the Icecat database. Products added automatically are classified as Undescribed and have the lowest quality. Products created and described by users will have the same Creation Date as their “First modification date”.
2. Release Date: The International Release Date of the product, added to its record. Ideal for filtering products based on when they were officially launched.
3. End-of-Life Date: The International End-of-Life Date for the product, indicating when it was discontinued. Helps users focus on active or retired products as needed.
4. First Modification Date: The date when the product transitioned from Undescribed to a better quality status, or when the editor created and described it for the first time. Useful when the Creation Date doesn’t suit the context, offering an alternative milestone for product tracking.
5. Last Modification Date: The date when the product record was most recently modified. Perfect for identifying recently updated products or monitoring ongoing changes.
6. Review Date: A date for editors to schedule or track product reviews within the system. Enhances editorial planning and communication between editors and the system.

The updated naming conventions make the purpose of each date filter more transparent. These refined date filters are now live in the Icecat Cloud Search interface. 

Release 211 underscores our commitment to innovation and user-centric design. Each enhancement reflects feedback from our users and a dedication to continuous improvement.

Olena Vasylynenko