Domain: Automotive Parts Distribution / Trading
Technology Landscape: SAP S/4HANA / ECC, PIM, MDM, eCommerce and Enterprise Data Platforms
Experience: 8 12+ years overall, including 3+ years in product taxonomy, classification, or product data management
Engagement Type: Consulting / Project-Based
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Product Data Taxonomy & Classification Consultant to lead the assessment, design, and standardization of enterprise product taxonomies for an automotive parts trading and distribution organization.
The consultant will work with business stakeholders, product specialists, supply chain teams, and IT teams to establish a standardized product classification framework across SAP and non-SAP applications.
The role requires strong expertise in product hierarchies, automotive parts classification, attribute standardization, product information management, and enterprise data governance.
Key Responsibilities
1. Taxonomy Assessment & Discovery
* Assess existing product classifications, hierarchies, attributes, and product master data.
* Conduct workshops with procurement, sales, supply chain, product management, and IT.
* Identify inconsistencies, duplicate classifications, missing attributes, and gaps across enterprise systems.
* Evaluate relevant industry classification standards.
2. Taxonomy Design & Standardization
* Design standardized product category hierarchies and classification structures.
* Define product families, subcategories, attribute dictionaries, and classification rules.
* Establish naming conventions, mandatory attributes, and product data standards.
* Develop product taxonomy and classification blueprints.
* Define relationships between product categories, vehicle fitment, OEM references, and aftermarket equivalents.
3. SAP & Enterprise Application Alignment
* Map the proposed taxonomy to SAP ECC/S/4HANA material master structures.
* Evaluate SAP classification, characteristics, material groups, and product hierarchies.
* Align the taxonomy with PIM, MDM, eCommerce, and supplier catalog systems.
* Define cross-system mapping and integration requirements.
4. Data Quality & Classification
* Profile existing product data and assess classification accuracy.
* Define cleansing, enrichment, deduplication, and normalization requirements.
* Develop classification and attribute-mapping rules.
* Support representative SKU classification pilots and business validation.
5. Data Governance & Operating Model
* Define taxonomy ownership, stewardship responsibilities, and approval workflows.
* Establish processes for new category creation, attribute changes, and product onboarding.
* Define governance KPIs and ongoing taxonomy maintenance procedures.
6. Project Delivery
* Prepare assessment findings, taxonomy blueprints, mapping specifications, and implementation roadmaps.
* Facilitate business validation workshops.
* Coordinate with SAP functional consultants, PIM specialists, data engineers, and business SMEs.
* Support testing, deployment planning, and knowledge transfer.
Required Qualifications
* 8+ years of experience in enterprise product data management, master data management, or data governance.
* Hands-on experience designing product taxonomies and classification frameworks.
* Experience with SAP material master, product hierarchy, and classification functionality.
* Strong understanding of automotive parts distribution, aftermarket catalogs, or complex industrial product catalogs.
* Experience working with PIM or MDM platforms.
* Proficiency in SQL, Excel, data profiling, and data mapping.
* Strong business consulting, workshop facilitation, and documentation skills.
Preferred Qualifications
* Knowledge of automotive aftermarket standards, including ACES, PIES, VCdb, and PCdb.
* SAP MDG-M experience.
* Experience with SAP Commerce Cloud, Stibo STEP, Informatica PIM, Akeneo, or comparable solutions.
* Familiarity with AI-assisted product classification and attribute enrichment.
* Experience supporting SAP S/4HANA transformation or enterprise data harmonization programs.
* DAMA CDMP or relevant data management certification.
Expected Deliverables
1. Current-State Product Taxonomy Assessment
2. Product Classification Gap Analysis
3. Standardized Taxonomy & Attribute Blueprint
4. Product Classification Rules and Data Dictionary
5. SAP/PIM/MDM Mapping Specifications
6. Representative SKU Classification Pilot
7. Taxonomy Governance & Stewardship Framework
8. Implementation Roadmap and Effort Estimates
Success Measures
* Approved enterprise product taxonomy blueprint.
* Improved product classification consistency.
* Reduced duplicate and ambiguous classifications.
* Improved completeness of critical product attributes.
* Successful classification of representative pilot SKUs.
* Business approval of taxonomy ownership and governance processes.
