Overview
The GDSN Data Syndication Consulting-Led Implementation approach is designed for organizations that want to work directly with Innovit’s implementation consultants to plan, configure, integrate, and deploy their GDSN Connectors using a structured implementation methodology and proven delivery practices.
This approach is intended for Advanced and Premium package customers with more advanced business, integration, or data syndication requirements. Innovit’s consultants work alongside project teams to configure the solution, integrate enterprise systems, establish data governance processes, and prepare the organization for reliable and scalable product data syndication via the selected GDSN data pool(s).
Successful GDSN implementations require more than software deployment. They depend on well-defined business processes, high-quality product data, effective stakeholder collaboration, and a structured implementation approach. By following Innovit’s proven GDSN implementation methodology, organizations can reduce implementation risk, improve data quality, and establish sustainable processes for ongoing product data synchronization with trading partners.
Implementation Phases
The following phases outline a recommended implementation sequence for organizations adopting Innovit’s GDSN Connectors using the Consulting-Led Implementation approach. Depending on the selected GDSN data pool, implementation scope, and organizational processes, additional activities may be required.
Project Initiation
Objective
Establish project governance, align stakeholders, confirm scope, and prepare the organization for implementation activities.
Key Activities
Project Governance
- Execute project agreements
- Identify project stakeholders and roles
- Establish communication and escalation procedures
- Define project governance structure
Project Planning
- Confirm project scope, objectives, target markets, trading partners, and applicable GDSN data pools
- Define project success criteria
- Develop project schedule and resource plan
- Identify project risks and dependencies
Project Kickoff
- Conduct project kickoff meeting
- Review implementation approach and timeline
- Align stakeholders on responsibilities and expectations
Deliverables
Project charter, governance & communication plan, project schedule, risk & dependency register
Requirements Discovery
Objective
Understand GDSN data synchronization requirements, assess current business processes and product data sources, and define the future-state operating model to support accurate and efficient product data syndication via GDSN.
Key Activities
Business & Trading Partner Requirements Assessment
- Review trading partner and internal business requirements for product data synchronization
- Conduct stakeholder workshops to document current-state processes
- Identify key pain-points and challenges to be prioritized and addressed
- Define future-state business processes for product data management, approval, and synchronization
Data Discovery & Governance
- Identify authoritative source systems for item data and, where applicable, pricing attributes (e.g., NPC).
- Assess data ownership, stewardship, approval workflows, and accountability
- Evaluate data quality, completeness, and readiness for GDSN data syndication
- Identify gaps requiring remediation
Integration & Architecture Assessment
- Identify source systems and integration requirements
- Identify target GDSN data pools and trading partner destinations
- Identify high-level data flows and system interactions
- Identify data validation, exception handling, and monitoring needs
Requirements & Solution Blueprint
- Document business, functional and any technical requirements identified
- Establish traceability between business requirements and solution design
- Develop high-level blueprint for future-state solution
Deliverables
Functional Requirements Specification (FRS), Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM), high-level solution blueprint
Solution Design
Objective
Define the technical architecture, data model, integrations, and operational controls required to support product data management and synchronization via GDSN.
Key Activities
Solution Architecture
- Define solution architecture and deployment approach
- Define source-to-target data flows
- Define integration framework and required interfaces
Product Data Management Processes
- Define data model for source system data aggregation and harmonization
- Define data mapping and transformation rules between source systems and GDSN data pool attributes
- Define product data management and approval workflows
Data Governance Processes
- Establish data security and access control framework
- Define audit and change tracking controls
- Define publication monitoring, exception management, and operational support procedures
Deliverables
Technical Design Specification (TDS), Solution Architecture Diagram, Integration Design Document, Updated Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM), Test Strategy and Test Scripts
Environment and Connectivity Setup
Objective
Prepare environments and establish connectivity between source systems, Innovt’s solution, and relevant GDSN data pools.
Key Activities
- Provision Development, Test, and Production environments
- Configure infrastructure and security controls
- Configure authentication mechanisms
- Establish connectivity with GDSN-certified data pools
- Validate end-to-end connectivity
Deliverables
Environment readiness confirmation, data pool connectivity confirmation
Configuration & Build
Objective
Configure the solution to support product data management, validation, and synchronization processes.
Key Activities
Solution Configuration
- Configure connectors and integrations
- Configure users and roles
- Configure workflow routing and approval gates
- Configure data maintenance and synchronization processes
- Configure monitoring and exception handling
Data Preparation
- Prepare migration and validation datasets
- Configure transformation and mapping logic
- Load test data
Unit Testing
- Validate system configuration
- Validate business rules
- Validate integrations and data flows
Deliverables
Configured solution, data migration plan, unit test results, configuration documentation
User Acceptance Testing
Objective
Validate that the solution meets business, data pool, trading partner, and operational requirements prior to production deployment.
Key Activities
UAT Preparation
- Deploy solution to test (UAT) environment
- Prepare test data and test scenarios
- Conduct user training
UAT Execution
- Execute business, data pool and trading partner test scenarios
- Validate upload, publication and synchronization processes
- Validate exception handling and reconciliation procedures
- Support issue resolution and retesting
Approval
- Review test results
- Obtain stakeholder approval
- Confirm production readiness
Deliverables
UAT test results, defect resolution log, UAT sign-off
Production Deployment
Objective
Deploy the solution into production and establish operational GDSN data synchronization processes.
Key Activities
Production Preparation
- Configure production environment
- Execute data migration
- Perform data validation and reconciliation
- Execute cutover activities
Go-Live
- Enable production integrations
- Execute initial product upload and publications
- Validate successful synchronization and acknowledgements
Stabilization
- Monitor production activity
- Address deployment issues (if any)
Deliverables
Production deployment report, data migration validation report, go-live approval
Hypercare and Transition
Objective
Ensure operational stability and transition ownership to business and support teams.
Key Activities
Hypercare Support
- Monitor system performance
- Resolve post-go-live issues
- Support business users and data governance teams
Knowledge Transfer
- Conduct operational handover sessions
- Transfer documentation, relevant Knowledge Base resources, and support procedures
- Transition operational procedures to business users & support teams
Project Closure
- Review project objectives and outcomes
- Document lessons learned
- Complete project closure activities
Deliverables
Operational support procedures, knowledge transfer materials, project closure report & transition to support sign-off
