Industrial data standards exist for a reason — but applying them correctly is harder than it looks

The right standard, applied consistently, unlocks interoperability, automation, and compliance. The wrong standard — or an inconsistently applied one — creates problems that compound over time. Does any of this sound familiar?

Your data handover requirements specify UNSPSC or CFIHOS — but your team isn't confident in how to apply them correctly.

Different parts of your organisation use different classification schemes — and cross-site reporting is unreliable.

You're receiving data from suppliers and contractors in inconsistent formats with no common classification.

You've heard about eClass, CFIHOS, or ISO 8000, but you're not sure which one applies to your operations, or how they differ.

A system migration or asset handover requires a standards-aligned dataset, and you don't currently have one.

Industrial data standards are the language that makes interoperability possible

UNSPSC, eClass, CFIHOS, ISO 8000, and other industrial classification standards determine how equipment and materials data is described, exchanged, and understood across organisations and systems. Sharecat has deep expertise in the standards that govern heavy industry, and delivers standards implementation as a practical, operational outcome — applied correctly at scale, with full documentation.

From experience: organisations that implement standards correctly in their first data project avoid years of costly rework, integration failures, and compliance gaps that follow inconsistent or incorrectly applied classification.

WHATS INCLUDED

The service includes:

Standards selection advisory — which standard applies to your operations and why

ISO 8000 alignment — international standard for master data and data quality

UNSPSC classification — UN Standard Products and Services Code for procurement and supply chain

ISO 14224 — equipment taxonomy standard for oil & gas and process industries

eClass classification — cross-industry product and service classification standard

Custom and company-specific class library definition, alignment, and implementation

CFIHOS implementation — Capital Facilities Information HandOver Specification for energy and process industries

Standards gap assessment — where your current data deviates from the required standard

Our 5-step standards implementation process

1

Standards assessment

We review your current data and identify which standards apply and where gaps exist — quantifying deviation from the target standard across your full dataset.

2

Standard selection

We advise on the right standard — or combination of standards — for your operations, systems, customers, and regulatory environment.

3

Mapping

We map your existing data structures and descriptions to the target standard, identifying what needs to change and what can be carried forward.

4

Application

Our specialists apply the standard consistently across all records, using proprietary tooling and reference data to ensure accuracy at scale.

5

Validation and Delivery

We validate standards compliance before delivery and provide a full mapping report — showing every record, its classification, and the source used.

WHAT YOU GET

Data that speaks the same language — across systems, organisations, and borders

Compliance with industry and regulatory requirements

Data that meets UNSPSC, eClass, CFIHOS, or ISO 8000 requirements — documented, traceable, and ready for audit or handover.

A consistent classification foundation

The same language used across your organisation, your supply chain, and your systems — eliminating translation overhead and reporting inconsistencies.

Interoperability with customers, contractors, and systems

Data that can be exchanged without manual rework because both sides use the same standard — reducing integration costs and handover failures.

A foundation for every data initiative that follows

Standards-aligned data produces better results from cleansing, enrichment, migration, and AI — because everything is built on a consistent structural base.

FAQ