Akeneo Connector for SFCC overview

Summary

Connector overview

Akeneo Connector for SFCC is an add-on for Salesforce Commerce Cloud. This add-on named "cartridge" is installed on SFCC side and communicates with Akeneo PIM via its API.

The connector is an unidirectional system: it exports PIM data to SFCC. No SFCC data is sent back to the PIM.

The PIM is considered as the master tool for product data, it should not be handled in SFCC.

Process overview

The connector is composed by 12 jobs:

  • 1- Akeneo-Import-Attributes
  • 2-1-1 Akeneo-DIFFERENTIAL-Import-Assets
  • 2-1-2 Akeneo-DIFFERENTIAL-Import-Pricebook
  • 2-2-1 Akeneo-FULL-Import-Media-Assets
  • 2-2-2 Akeneo-FULL-Import-Pricebook
  • 3-1-1 Akeneo-DIFFERENTIAL-Import-Master
  • 3-1-2 Akeneo-DIFFERENTIAL-Import-Storefront
  • 3-2-1 Akeneo-FULL-Import-Master
  • 3-2-2 Akeneo-FULL-Import-Master-Variation
  • 3-2-3 Akeneo-FULL-Master-Image
  • 3-2-4-Akeneo-FULL-Import-Storefront
  • 4- Akeneo-Entity-Import
  • 5- Akeneo-Entity-Record-Grouping
  • 6-Akeneo-Save-Catalog-Refinements

Two New jobs have been introduced to support the new asset system since the SFCC v20.2.0. o 2-1-Akeneo-Differential-Import-Assets o 2-2-Akeneo-Full-Import-Media-Assets-Pricebook

 

The 2-Akeneo-Import-Media-Assets-Pricebook job (the old one) has do be deleted manually.

 

Each job can be triggered manually or automatically on its own.

Each job is responsible for importing PIM architecture and data into Salesforce Commerce Cloud. The order above should be observed to build your catalog properly.

 

1- Akeneo-Import-Attributes job

1- Akeneo-Import-Attributes job imports:

  • PIM attributes
  • PIM attribute options (from simple and multi select attribute type)

Depending on your connector configuration, some attributes can be mapped with default SFCC product attributes.

 

2- Assets, images and Pricebook

2-1-1 Akeneo-DIFFERENTIAL-Import-Assets job

2-1-1 Akeneo-Differential-Import-Assets job imports the changes in assets. That will copy the PIM data into the cartridge. However, to see the changes applied to the products, you have to run the 3-1-1 Akeneo-Differential-Import-Master. As differential imports are the most common jobs to be running, these are displayed before the FULL. 

2-2-1 Akeneo-FULL- Import-Media-Assets 

2-2-1 Akeneo-FULL-Import-Media-Assets job imports:

2-1-2  Akeneo-DIFFERENTIAL-Import-Pricebook 

2-1-2 Akeneo-Differential-Import-Assets job imports the changes in Pricebook.However, to see the changes applied to the products, you have to run the 3-1-1 Akeneo-Differential-Import-Master.

2-2-2  Akeneo-FULL-Import-Pricebook jobs

2-2-2 Akeneo-FULL-Import-Pricebook job imports:

  • PIM currencies (to create a Pricebook in SFCC)

Under 22.2.1 versions

Before 22.2.1, the job is 2-2 Akeneo-Import-Media-Assets-Pricebook. Jobs have been split to improve performances.  

 

 

3- Akeneo-Full-Import & Akeneo-Differential-Import jobs

"Full" import and "Differential" import jobs are quite similar and should not be used at the same time: they both import products from Akeneo PIM.

  • 3-2.x Akeneo-Full-Import-xxx jobs import all products from Akeneo PIM.
  • 3-1.x Akeneo-Differential-Import-xxx jobs import only new products since the last "successful" import made.

These jobs import:

  • PIM categories
  • PIM products and product models
  • PIM product associations
  • Relation between products and images

Depending on your connector configuration, you can create some filters to run partial imports on products that match with your defined criteria.

 

4- Akeneo-Entity-Import

4- Akeneo-Entity-Import job imports:

  • PIM Reference Entities
  • PIM Reference Entity Records

This is useless to run this job with a Growth Edition nor a Community Edition PIM.

 

5- Akeneo-Entity-Record-Grouping

5- Akeneo-Entity-Import job enables you to choose and group PIM reference entities in SFCC "Content Assets".

Depending on your connector configuration, you can manage how your reference entities will be mapped into SFCC.

 

This is useless to run this job with a Growth Edition nor a Community Edition PIM.

 

6-Akeneo-Save-Catalog-Refinements

6-Akeneo-Save-Catalog-Refinements job will save the manually contributed catalog refinements to custom cache so that they are not overwritten every time the catalog is reimported in merge mode. This job needs to be run every time some change is made in the catalog refinements.