Icecat Release Notes 212: Enhancements for Localization, Editor Tools, Compliance, and User Experience

In the 212 release, we’re excited to bring you a variety of updates designed to streamline workflows, enhance compliance capabilities, and improve user experience. From localization tools for brand partners to expanded document categorization for GPSR compliance, and from refined editor tracking to saving table sorting preferences, this release is packed with features driven by your feedback. For additional details, please refer to the previous Icecat Release Notes.

Introducing New Documents for GPSR Compliance

In this release, we’re excited to announce the introduction of new default short descriptions for the multimedia object type “other digital assets”. These updates enable us to meet the demands of the new General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), ensuring compliance while enhancing our ability to categorize essential documents.

To align with GPSR requirements, we’ve expanded our document categorization capabilities by adding the following document types:

1. Safety Information: Comprehensive details about the safe use and handling of products.
2. EU Declaration of Conformity: A formal declaration that products meet EU safety, health, and environmental protection standards.
3. UK Declaration of Conformity: Similar to its EU counterpart, this document ensures compliance with UK regulations.
4. Quick Start Guide: A simplified guide to help users set up and use the product efficiently.

The addition of these document types is a critical step toward ensuring compliance with the GPSR. Furthermore, this regulation emphasizes consumer safety by mandating greater transparency and access to product documentation. 

Introducing Editor Journal Version 2: Second Page

We’re thrilled to announce a significant enhancement for our editorial team: the release of the Editor Journal Version 2 – Second Page. The second page of the Editor Journal is designed to focus on the work of a specific editor. For instance, it provides a detailed view of all products they have described or modified within a given period. While it inherits many functionalities from the first page, some filters have been adapted to meet the unique requirements of tracking individual contributions.

Available Filters:

• Period Filter: Specify a range with the “From” and “To” fields.
• Distributor: Narrow down the product list by distribution channels.
• Category: Focus on specific product categories.
• Brand: Filter contributions by specified brand.
• Part Code: Target individual products using part codes.
• Change Type: Filter contributions by specified types.

Disabled Filters:

Certain filters, such as Editor, Managed By, and User Type, are unavailable as they are not applicable when focusing on a single editor’s work.

This page delivers a comprehensive overview of an editor’s contributions, offering:

1. Products Handled: A list of all products (with part codes and brands) described or modified by the editor during the specified time frame.
2. Action Breakdown: A clear distinction between products that were described versus modified.
3. GTIN Contributions: The number of GTINs added per product.
4. Descriptions Added: Details of description locales provided by the editor for each product.
5. Product Model Names Added: The count of product model names contributed.
6. Features/Specifications Added: A number of features or specifications added per product.
7. Media Enhancements:
   • The number of images added.
   • Number of videos uploaded as files.
   • Number of videos uploaded as links.
8. Health Score: The current health score of each product, offering insights into overall product quality.

The second page is built to ensure usability and flexibility:

• Page Jumper: Quickly navigate between pages.
• Row Customization: Adjust the number of rows displayed per page.
• Column Settings: Choose which columns the user wants to see, tailoring the display to user needs.

With this release, editors can now easily track their contributions, measure their impact, and identify areas for improvement.

Introducing Table Sorting Settings Saving: Personalized and Persistent Sorting

In this sprint, we’re excited to announce a new feature requested by our brand partners: Search Results Table Sorting Preferences Saving.

With this update, your table sorting preferences are now saved directly in the user browser, ensuring a more personalized and seamless experience. Here’s how it works:

1. Persistent Sorting:
   • When the user sorts the search results table, the preferences will now be remembered automatically.
   • The next time the user utilizes the platform on the same device and browser, the previous sorting settings will be retained.
2. Where Preferences Are Stored:
   • Sorting preferences are saved locally in the user browser’s storage. This ensures they persist even if you close the tab or exit the browser.
3. Resetting Preferences:
   • If you wish to start fresh, you can easily reset your preferences by clicking the “Reset search filter” button.
   • Alternatively, clearing your browser’s local storage will also reset your saved sorting settings.

Additionally, this enhancement streamlines the search process, making it more efficient for our users. For instance, key benefits include:

• Time-Saving: No need to repeatedly set your sorting preferences during every session.
• Personalized Experience: Tailor the search results table to match user workflow.
• User-Friendly: Sorting settings are retained without requiring manual configuration each time.

This feature is a direct result of our collaboration with brand partners who requested an easier way to maintain their preferred sorting settings. Above all, we value your input and remain committed to delivering solutions that make your experience with Icecat as smooth as possible.

Enhancing Brand Partner Localization in Icecat

At Icecat, we continuously strive to empower our Brand Partners with tools and features that enhance their connection to local markets. Consequently, we’re excited to announce the development of a new feature – Brand User Attachment to Multiple Locales.

This enhancement will provide our Brand Partners with unparalleled control and precision in managing their operations across different locales. Here’s a closer look at what’s coming and the benefits it will bring.

For a brand operating in multiple markets, aligning content and operations with the unique demands of each locale is crucial. Therefore, this new feature will:

1. Streamline Push-API Assignments: Brand Partners will be able to restrict their Push-API activities strictly to their assigned locales. For instance, this ensures that content updates, product launches, and other pushes are narrowed according to brand partner preferences.
2. Improve Product Management in the Icecat Cloud: Products related to specific locales can now be better organized and managed within the Icecat Cloud. This leads to more efficient workflows.

Initial steps were taken towards realizing this functionality:

• Automatic Locale Assignment for New Brand Partners: When a new Brand Partner registers in Icecat, they are now automatically assigned to locales related to their country. This ensures they immediately start with the most relevant settings for their operations.
• Backfilled Locale Assignments for Existing Partners: To ensure consistency, all already-registered Brand Partners have been assigned to locales associated with their countries. This update bridges the gap for existing users and sets the stage for smooth future integrations.

These enhancements not only simplify the onboarding process for new partners but also bring existing partners up to speed with the new localization framework.

In conclusion, this release marks just the first step. In the upcoming sprints, we will further refine this functionality by seamlessly integrating locale settings with existing features.

We look forward to hearing how these updates improve user workflows and enhance their experience with Icecat.