Use the SDM Staging Catalog to collect supplier data without immediately pushing it to your PIM catalog, called the Primary Catalog. Assign products, compare the supplier’s changes with your current data, and merge the changes you approve.

Understand the SDM Staging Catalog

The SDM Staging Catalog is a review area for product data before it enters the Primary Catalog. Products held here are called Staged Products. Your PIM team uses the Staging Catalog to review incoming data, while suppliers use the Supplier Portal to enrich the products you share with them.

For example, you can ask a supplier to update the dimensions of an existing chair. The supplier edits thier assigned version in the Supplier Portal. Your team compares the proposed dimensions with the current product and merges the approved changes into the Primary Catalog.

Distinguish the two enrichment flows

• Direct supplier enrichment: Assign existing PIM products to a Supplier Organization. Suppliers edit those products in the Supplier Portal’s Product Edit Form, then submit them for your review.
• SDM file processing: Your team or suppliers upload files to Supplier Data Manager (SDM). SDM processes the data, and your merge settings determine whether it enters the Primary Catalog automatically or waits for manual review in the Staging Catalog.

These flows are separate. Assigning a product does not restrict an SDM workflow to that product, and processing an SDM file does not automatically share the resulting products with the supplier.

Limitations

• Suppliers can enrich simple products and product variants via the Portal's Product Edit Form, but cannot review or enrich Product Models.
• Suppliers cannot create or delete products in their Staging Catalog.
• Asset enrichment is not supported in the supplier Product Edit Form. Its is supported via SDM workflows, which can be linked to a Supplier Portal.
• Products assigned directly from the PIM require manual review before merging. SDM automatic merge settings do not apply to this flow.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use legacy SDM access links and the Supplier Portal at the same time?

Yes, but not for the same supplier. Suppliers with dedicated accounts use authenticated Supplier Portal access instead of a legacy access link.

You can disable legacy access links per supplier. Creating a Supplier Organization does not disable those links automatically, so disable them yourself if you want to enforce authenticated access.

Does assigning products restrict what a supplier can work on in an SDM workflow?

No. Staging Catalog assignments and SDM workflows are separate. Suppliers can enrich the assigned products in the Product Edit Form or use SDM bulk upload according to the workflow’s existing configuration.

Do the supplier’s Channel and Locale settings apply to SDM workflows?

No. The Channel and Locale settings configured in the PIM apply to direct enrichment in the Supplier Portal UI. SDM workflows retain their own configuration.

Can suppliers see an SDM job’s output in their Staging Catalog?

No. Creating or completing an SDM job through the Supplier Portal does not automatically make its output visible in the supplier’s Staging Catalog. This remains separate from whether the processed data is held for review or merged into the PIM.

Why do merged Staged Products remain in the PIM Staging Catalog?

The staged records remain available to support a persistent supplier catalog, so suppliers can return to assigned products for later updates. The PIM Staging Catalog provides your team with an overview of those records.

Merged staged products are hidden from the grid by default, not deleted. Adjust the merged-product filter to show them, or create a saved view that focuses on products still awaiting review. Deleting a staged record means you must assign the main product again to restore it to the supplier’s catalog.

Can suppliers enrich Product Models or Assets in the Product Edit Form?

No. Supplier UI enrichment supports simple products and product variants, not Product Models or Assets. Suppliers also cannot create or delete products from their Staging Catalog.