Frequently Asked Questions

Supplier catalog management software organizes and standardizes the product, pricing, and parts data that suppliers send in inconsistent formats, such as spreadsheets, PDFs, or EDI feeds, into one clean, structured catalog.

Quidi uses AI to read supplier catalogs in whatever format they arrive, PDF, spreadsheet, or EDI, and automatically extracts SKUs, pricing, and part attributes into a standardized structure, without manual re-keying.

Timeframes vary by catalog size and complexity. Quidi's AI extraction significantly reduces the manual review time typically required, though exact timelines depend on the number of suppliers and SKUs involved.

In general, no. Quidi is designed to ingest supplier catalogs in common formats, including PDF and Excel, and normalize them into a consistent, structured view so you are not dependent on a single “perfect” source format.⁠⁠ In some implementations we may start with one primary format first (often PDF) to simplify onboarding, then expand supported inputs based on your vendor mix and integration goals.⁠

Quidi can start with a small set of “must-have” fields and expand over time. At a minimum, we typically look for enough information to uniquely identify the item and apply pricing updates, such as vendor identifier, SKU or part number, price, and effective date.⁠⁠ From there, additional fields like description, unit of measure, product category, MOQ, lead time, and packaging details can be captured when available to improve purchasing accuracy and downstream matching.⁠⁠ If a catalog is not 100 percent complete, Quidi can still deliver value by structuring what is present, flagging gaps, and continuously improving the “golden record” as new updates arrive.⁠

Quidi supports both API and EDI integration outputs, depending on your environment and systems. Via API, Quidi can synchronize validated catalog updates into your system of record, such as updating pricing and creating or updating items as needed.⁠⁠ For organizations that prefer EDI, Quidi can also normalize catalog data into standard X12 transaction formats (for example, the 832 Price/Sales Catalog) for broader compatibility.⁠