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Unspsc Guide

The document provides guidance on how to use United Nations Standard Products and Services Codes (UNSPSC) for classifying goods and services when registering with the United Nations Global Marketplace database. It explains the 8-digit hierarchical coding structure and provides tips for searching for codes and selecting the most accurate codes to describe a company's offerings. It also describes how to convert from the previous UNCCS coding system to the new UNSPSC system and how to request changes to existing codes or addition of new codes.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
763 views5 pages

Unspsc Guide

The document provides guidance on how to use United Nations Standard Products and Services Codes (UNSPSC) for classifying goods and services when registering with the United Nations Global Marketplace database. It explains the 8-digit hierarchical coding structure and provides tips for searching for codes and selecting the most accurate codes to describe a company's offerings. It also describes how to convert from the previous UNCCS coding system to the new UNSPSC system and how to request changes to existing codes or addition of new codes.

Uploaded by

dixyxyxy
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UNSPSC Guidelines Tips on how to use UNSPSC Codes

The United Nations Standard Products and Services Codes (UNSPSC)


Product coding is used to classify your companys goods and services when registering with the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM), the common UN supplier database. The UNSPSC coding system replaces the UNCCS coding system from 5 November 2012 onwards. All business opportunities posted on www.ungm.org after this date will be displayed according to UNSPSC codes. UN Procurement Officers select one or more UNSPSC codes to indicate the product or service their agency needs to procure. In the same manner, UN Procurement Officers use the UNSPSC codes as search criteria for finding potential suppliers registered and accepted by one or more UN agency from the UNGM database. Therefore, it is vitally important that you select the most accurate UNSPSC codes to describe your goods/services. Furthermore, the selection of UNSPSC codes is crucial if you decide to subscribe to the Tender Alert Service. You will receive tenders alerts corresponding to the UNSPSC codes you have selected during your UNGM registration. This guide will: explain how the UNSPSC codes are structured, provide guidance on how to search for the most relevant UNSPSC codes, and the procedure for updating codes for new products and services.

The UNSPSC code structure


UNSPSC provides an eight-digit numerical code representing a four-level hierarchy with each level represented by two digits. The structure is hierarchical and the coding purely numeric. The hierarchy consists of Segments (2 significant digits followed by 6 zeros), Families (4 significant digits followed by 4 zeros), Classes (6 significant digits followed by 2 zeros), Commodities (8 significant digits). The codes take the following format: XX000000 the first pair of digits identifies the relevant Segment XXXX0000 the first and second pair of digits, combined, indicate the Family XXXXXX00 the first three pairs of digits identify the Class XXXXXXXX combined the four pairs of digits indicate the Commodity The full code set includes over 50,000 codes to categorise goods and services. In order to represent the specific needs of UN agencies, as well as to simplify the selection process for potential suppliers a subset of 3 345 codes has been selected. UNSPSC covers both goods and services: UNSPSC Segments from: And from: 10000000-69000000 and 95000000 are for GOODS 70000000-94000000 are for SERVICES

Please visit https://www.ungm.org/Info/UNSPSC.aspx and get familiar with the UNSPSC codes. To look at UNSPSC codes in UNGM you dont have to log in, just go to: https://www.ungm.org/Info/UNSPSC.aspx Under the main menu, click on the hyperlink UNSPSC Codes.

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Search for UNSPSC Codes


Go to www.ungm.org and choose UNSPSC Codes. The following will be displayed:

In the tree structure shown above, note that UNGM has created 10 high-level Sections (from A. Raw Materials, Chemicals, Paper, Fuel to J. Services) above the UNSPSC Segments to simplify navigation of the UNSPSC hierarchy. These high-level Sections are indicative only, and cannot be selected. You can search for codes either by: 1) Entering one or several search words in the Search box. A list of UNSPSC codes containing the keyword(s) will appear. To view each of the codes listed in the tree structure, click on the magnifying glass . In the tree, you will be able to see the structure of the Segment and sub-codes related to the description to help you to select the most accurate code. An additional section provides you with a list of suggested related UNSPSC codes containing matching keyword(s). For example, when typing the keyword quality control the following is displayed:

Other related UNSPSC codes:

-32) Clicking your way down the hierarchical structure. Expand to the branches and leaves by clicking on the expansion + sign. For example, when looking for quality control in the tree, the following is displayed:

Selecting the proper UNSPSC codes


Here are a few basic principles and considerations to keep in mind when selecting codes: a) Is the predominant characteristic that of a good/product or of a service? b) Does the selected code make sense when viewed in context of the overall code ? That is, if a code to the Class or Commodity level is selected, does the item naturally fit within the encompassing Family and Segment? c) The items procured should be considered by nature of the product. Items are classified based on what they are, so a battery for a laptop is located in the same branch of the tree as a container load of batteries for storing output from photovoltaic generating system. If you consider yourself as a provider of batteries, you would enter a code specifically for batteries. If you provide equipment-specific batteries for maintenance and support of your primary product, you likely will not specifically used the code for batteries.

d) Services can be more difficult to classify than goods. It can be useful to focus on the type of your company. For example, if your company would be contracted primarily on account of your expertise in a certain subject matter or sector (e.g., consulting, training, management or study with respect to a governance project), then you should use the code related to that particular subject matter (in this case: 93150000, Public administration and finance services). If, on the other hand, you are be contracted for a certain professional expertise without respect to any particular expertise in the specific project sector (e.g., auditing services which only coincidentally relate to a governance project), then you should use the code related to that particular professional expertise (in this case: 84111600, Audit services). e) We do encourage you to select more than one UNSPSC code to ensure that your core business is covered.

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f)

Provide the most detailed coding possible by selecting from the leaves in the hierarchy tree. This is particularly important when subscribing to the Tender Alert Service in order to target as accurately as possible the tender notices for the goods or services that you intend to supply to the UN organisations.

g) The most effective coding should be at the lowest level (leaf) provided in the trimmed tree. Only select higher level codes when the good or service is not properly represented in any of the leaves on the appropriate branch of the tree. Example: 83000000 = Public Utilities and Public Sector Related Services is not an appropriate code. 83101500 = Water and sewer utilities is an appropriate code. However, if you provide steam utility service, UNSPSC does not have a branch for steam utility so you would use 83100000 = Utilities.

Converting UNCCS to UNSPSC Codes


During the transition period, you can use the UNCCS Tree View enabling you to browse codes from the former UNCCS coding system used in UNGM. When you right click on the earlier UNCCS code, you will be able to find the corresponding UNSPSC code.

The UNCCS UNSPSC matching table will automatically open and show the corresponding UNSPCS code. Using the magnifying glass you will be able to scroll and find the code within the tree. It is advisable to review suggested codes to ensure your goods and services are classified as accurately as possible.

-5From the Search tab, you can also enter a UNCCS Code to obtain the corresponding UNSPSC Code. To proceed, select the option UNCCS - UNSPSC Matching Table and enter a UNCCS Code as per the screenshot below:

Reviewing UNSPSC codes using UNCCS codes


During the transition period, you may also want to review the new UNSPCS codes by comparing them to the earlier UNCCS codes. You can access the UNSPSC - UNCCS Matching Table under the Search functionality enabling you to browse codes from the former UNCCS coding system. From the Search tab, you can also enter the UNSPSC Code to obtain the corresponding UNCCS Code. To proceed, select the option UNSPSC - UNCCS Matching Table and enter a UNSPSC Code as per the screenshot below:

Cannot find a code which describes your goods or services?


If you are unable to locate a code that classifies the goods or service needed, it is a simple process to request a change by submitting your request in writing via email to the UNGM registry at [email protected]. On a quarterly basis, UNGM will submit requests for changes on behalf of UN agency users and potential suppliers to UNSPSC to add or edit the classifications in the UNSPSC code. A change to the code can include an addition, deletion, moving, or editing of a code. Requests will be reviewed and voted upon by UNSPSC Segment Technical Advisers (voting members who have been elected to become actively involved in the update of the UNSPSC by contributing their specific expertise). We will revert with the outcome to the respective requestors. Need more information or assistance? Please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. Please include your UNGM number and username in all correspondence.

Common questions

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When converting from the UNCCS to the UNSPSC coding system, it is important to ensure that the classification remains as accurate as possible. This can be achieved by using the UNSPSC-UNCCS Matching Table, which helps identify the corresponding UNSPSC codes. Users should thoroughly review suggested codes to validate their appropriateness for the goods and services offered. Accurate conversion is crucial to maintain relevance in searches and tenders, which can impact business opportunities with the UN .

Alignment of a good or service within the appropriate UNSPSC hierarchy ensures that it logically fits within its Segment, Family, Class, and Commodity categories. Such alignment is crucial for procurement processes as it allows UN Procurement Officers to accurately match suppliers with the agency's needs. Misaligned codes can lead to irrelevant or missed tenders, affecting a supplier's visibility and participation in procurement opportunities. Accurate alignment helps streamline the procurement process, increasing efficiency and efficacy for both suppliers and procurement officers .

Selecting UNSPSC codes for services can be challenging due to the abstract nature of services compared to tangible goods. This challenge can be addressed by focusing on the core expertise of the company. For instance, if contracted for expertise in a specific field, the code relevant to that sector should be chosen; however, if the service is the expertise itself, such as auditing, then the professional expertise code should be applied (e.g., 84111600 for Audit services). It's recommended to choose multiple relevant codes to cover all aspects of the company's services and ensure that the lowest level of detail (leaf) is used for precise targeting of tenders .

Selecting the most detailed code possible is recommended when subscribing to the Tender Alert Service to precisely target the tender notices that align with the specific goods or services a supplier intends to provide. Detailed coding at the 'leaf' level ensures suppliers are matched with the most relevant tenders, minimizing extraneous alerts and maximizing the chances of responding to opportunities truly suited to their offerings. This enhances strategic targeting and efficient business interactions with UN organizations .

To initiate a change request for a new UNSPSC code, suppliers or agency users must submit a written request via email to the UNGM registry. This request should detail the change needed, which could be an addition, deletion, or modification of a code. These requests are then evaluated and voted on by UNSPSC Segment Technical Advisers during quarterly review sessions. This collaborative process ensures that the coding structure remains up-to-date and reflective of current market needs, allowing suppliers to have a say in maintaining relevance within the UNSPSC system .

For goods primarily categorized as products, it is recommended to select UNSPSC codes based on the predominant characteristic of the good itself, rather than its usage context. Suppliers should consider the nature of the product to determine if it is classified under the broader segment and family, and then refine to the class and commodity level. For instance, a generic battery would be classified the same as specialized ones if they are fundamentally the same product, regardless of their specific application. This ensures suppliers are accurately categorized within the segment that procurement officers might search for their products .

The hierarchical structure of the UNSPSC codes comprises four levels: segments, families, classes, and commodities, with each level adding specificity from the broad category down to particular items. This structure aids in accurately classifying goods and services by allowing users to select the most precise level of detail that corresponds to their products or services. By navigating from segments to commodities, suppliers can ensure they are aligned with how UN Procurement Officers search for products within the UNGM database, impacting both registration accuracy and notification of relevant tenders .

The UNSPSC system accommodates updates to its coding structure through a process where requests for changes, such as additions, deletions, or edits, can be submitted by suppliers or UN agency users. These requests are reviewed quarterly and are subject to approval by the UNSPSC Segment Technical Advisers, who apply their expertise to ensure the coding remains relevant and comprehensive. Suppliers can directly influence the system by participating in this process, ensuring that new goods or services are accurately represented, thereby keeping the coding framework current and aligned with emerging market demands .

UNSPSC codes impact a supplier's engagement with the UNGM by determining the visibility of their offerings to UN procurement officers. Accurate coding ensures suppliers are matched with relevant business opportunities and receive appropriate tender alerts through the Tender Alert Service. A properly selected UNSPSC code allows procurement officers to efficiently find potential suppliers in the UNGM database, facilitating better chances for suppliers to participate in UN tenders and minimizing the risk of missing out on opportunities relevant to their goods or services .

The high-level sections created by UNGM serve as a navigational aid within the UNSPSC hierarchy, simplifying the browsing process for users. Although these sections, such as "A. Raw Materials, Chemicals, Paper, Fuel," are indicative and not selectable, they provide a logical starting point for drilling down into specific segments and sub-codes. This structure assists users in quickly orienting themselves within the broad categories, enhancing their ability to locate and select the most appropriate codes for their goods or services .

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