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ADIB-Portals

ADIB-Portals

Imagine that you can not only transfer data between your applications - but even visualize your data on an easy-to-use web-application. This is exactly what ADIB-portals does. You surely see the use cases of such a functionality

  • Create portal for your product data - directly integrated into your website
  • Create customer-specific web-catalogs which always contain the latest data - to be used on your B2B-portal or directly by the customer
  • Create a portal where your agencies can add data - without giving them a VPN token or direct access to your internal network
  • Let your supplier update your product data - and integrate them seamlessly afterwards into your PIM-system

These are only few examples of what is possible with ADIB-portals. On our website we have some use cases of our customers In the following sections, we will focus on the two types of ADIB portals that make these use cases possible: the Search Portal and the Edit Portal.

Search-portal

This is the classic use of ADIB-portal. You update your data in your local applications (i.e. a PIM system, your SAP system,...) and want to publish data into your website - to be seen (or bought) by your customers.

Without ADIB you surely know how much effort this means:

  • Develop an export interface on your source system (i.e. ERP-system or PIM)
  • Develop an import interface on your destination system (i.e. content-management-system or eshop-system)
  • Schedule the exchange i.e. on a daily basis

From our experience we know that this is a challenge and will not be done within several days. But even worse - you need to monitor the data exchange to make sure that data is up-to-date. And often this needs to be done on both systems!

ADIB integrates all those tasks in one step

  • Export interface from your source
  • Import interface to your destination
  • Creation of the portal

When selecting the fields to be transferred - you can just define if the field will serve as a search-facet, if it should be displayed in the different views, if it should in the compare list, ... And then you decide whether the update of data should be on daily basis or more frequently. Beside this easy and flexible configuration all the rest will be done by ADIB!

Edit-portal

This is the next step use of ADIB-portal. You can even change the data directly in the edit-portal. The changes you do are stored and automatically written back to the source on the selectable time intervall. This brings a lot of additional use-cases such as :

  • Centralizing all the excel sheets that are updated by different people and exchanged by email - and you never know if you have the latest version.
  • Updating data in an easy-to-use front-end - which can even be used outside your company network.
    • This can be used to integration translation agencies and make sure you will not have problems when importing the translations.
    • Integrate web-agencies or SEO agencies and restrict them to the data they should change
    • Integrate your suppliers so that they update their product data - or even prices and conditions

You can even get rid of old applications (based on Microsoft Access or old web applications) and centralize all of them on a central database with ADIB-portal as frontend.

Features of the Edit-Portal

The ADIB Edit Portal provides a powerful yet simple way to create, update, and manage product and business data through a modern, web-based interface. It is designed to eliminate scattered files, redundant imports/exports, and outdated tools by centralizing all data management in one place. Key features include:

  • Centralized Data Storage – All information is stored and maintained in one location, ensuring consistency and eliminating version conflicts.
  • Automatic Synchronization – Changes made in the portal are written back to your source systems (e.g., PIM, ERP, or databases) on a selectable schedule.
  • Role-Based Access Control – Define fine-grained permissions so each user or partner can only view and edit the fields relevant to them.
  • External Collaboration – Allow suppliers, agencies, or translators to update information securely without VPN access or direct entry into your internal network.
  • Modern Frontend – Replace outdated Excel sheets, Access databases, or legacy web apps with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
  • Scalable Use Cases – Start small with targeted portals for translations or supplier updates, or extend it into a full-fledged PIM system with advanced modules.
  • Process Efficiency – Streamline data collection and maintenance by avoiding error-prone manual transfers and ensuring all systems remain up to date.

The basic structure of ADIB-Portal:

The basic structure of an ADIB portal is shown in the following figure.

ADIB-Portal

The following explanations refer to the individual elements introduced in this figure:

  • (1) Logo
    • This is an image file (jpg or png) that can be stored via the Central Station.
  • (2) Free Text Search
    • Used to search for elements (e.g., products) available within the current portal.
    • The search can be configured flexibly, e.g.:
      • whether search suggestions should appear
      • in which fields the search is performed
      • whether the search looks for whole words or partial matches
  • (3) Search Fields
    • Used to restrict the search to a specific search field
    • The user can define that the search should only be performed in a specific field
    • When clicking, a list opens. The entries in this list are defined in Central Station (by setting the “SEARCH” property on the step positions – details further below)
  • (4) User Menu
    • Allows the user to select the language (if configured for the portal) and access (among others):
      • Share table (only if configured)
      • Shopping cart (only if configured)
      • Comparison list
      • Download table
      • Excel import (only for an Edit Portal and if configured)
      • Logging data (“Edit Logs”) – only for an Edit Portal and if configured
      • Template Designer – templates for dynamically generated PDF files
      • Settings – e.g., language selection and user login (if the portal is configured accordingly)
  • (5) Filter Menu via Facets
    • Facets are automatically generated for fields that have been assigned the property “FACET” in the step positions (details further below)
    • Users can hide the entire filter area or collapse individual facets via the icons
  • (6) Search Result View
    • The user can choose how the results of the free text search or filter facets should be displayed.
    • In Central Station you define which views are available and which one is the default. The following views are available:
      • Grid View (“GRID”) – products are displayed as tiles (this is selected in the screenshot)
      • List View (“LIST”) – products are displayed as list items
      • Table View (“TABLE”) – products are displayed in a table
      • Flexible View (“FLEXIBLE”) – products are displayed in a table, and the user can choose which columns are visible
    • For every field shown in the portal you can define in which views it should appear
  • (7) Pagination (top) and (8) Pagination (bottom)
    • In the portal configuration you define whether pagination appears at the top, the bottom, or in both locations
  • (9) Activation of Edit Mode
    • If it is an Edit Portal, the user can switch into edit mode using this button
      • Changes are automatically logged and can be viewed in the “Edit Logs” in the user menu
      • Changes are also automatically written back to the source system (e.g., Contentserv PIM), provided that the portal has been configured accordingly
  • (10) Function Buttons
    • You can configure which buttons will appear here
      • [i] opens the product detail view
      • [PDF] generates a data sheet for the selected product (structure defined by a template)
      • [Download] adds the selected product to the download table (viewable via the user menu)
      • [Comparison List] adds the selected product to the comparison list (viewable via the user menu)
      • Additional function buttons are explained further below
  • (11) Flip Function
    • Clicking this button flips the tile and displays key fields immediately
    • The fields shown on the back side of the tile are defined via the “FACET” property on the step positions
  • (12) Number of Elements / Products and Definition of Which Elements Are Displayed
    • Indicates the total number of products and allows the user to define how many products should be displayed.

Further elements of the ADIB portals become visible after the user clicks on a product and the detail view opens. The facets on the left have been collapsed and the user menu in the top right has been opened. This results in the following view. Elements (3), (4), and (5) correspond to those shown above, with appropriate selections.

ADIB-Portal2

  • (13)
    • Displays the opened products in the detail view. These are displayed as clickable elements so that the user can easily switch between products without performing another search.
  • (14)
    • Tabs in the product detail view
    • The fields (“Step Positions”) that are transferred from the source into the portal can be grouped into Tabs and Sections, allowing logical structuring of fields.
  • (15)
    • Sections in the product detail view
  • (16)
    • Information about when the portal content (e.g., products) was last fully updated.
    • Typically, ADIB is configured to regenerate the content once or several times a day automatically.
  • (17)
    • Information about the current portal version and creation date
    • Allows users to verify whether the portal is technically up-to-date and when it was last configured.

Flexible display of the search results using the “FLEXIBLE” view (including filtering):

ADIB-Portal3

  • (18)
    • Selection or creation of a template for the display
    • The user can create templates defining which fields should be displayed. The user switches between templates to view the fields relevant to them.
  • (19)
    • Field names in the header row act as filters
    • In the “FLEXIBLE” view (see (6)), clicking on a field name (e.g., “Manufacturer”) opens all available values together with the respective hit count, allowing easy filtering similar to Microsoft Excel.

Intuitive creation of templates via Drag & Drop

ADIB-Portal4

  • (20)
    • The user creates or edits templates via simple drag & drop between selected fields and all available fields.
  • (21), (22)
    • Afterward, the template name is defined and saved.

Share Table & Creating Shares

The Share Table enables users to share specific products (or other data objects) with external recipients without the need to set up a separate portal. It provides a simple and secure way to create curated, time-limited product selections and distribute them via a dedicated link. For full step by step guide with images please see documentation section ADIB-Portals > General Structure and Function > Creating Shares. Key Characteristics

  • Fixed URL: Each Share is accessible via a unique link generated when the Share is created.
  • Flexible Views: Shares inherit the display configuration from the source portal but can also use templates to override which attributes are shown.
  • Selective Sharing: Users choose which products to include; recipients only see these filtered products.
  • Time-Limited Validity: Shares can be restricted to a defined period, which is configured when creating the share (placing a start date, and leaving the end date empty will make the share link valid indefinitely).
  • Template Selection
    • Choose an existing template to define which attributes are shown.
    • Create or edit a custom template, including attribute order and visibility.
  • Portal Types: Shares can appear in different formats:
    • Default: Mirrors the source portal.
    • Default (without facet): Ignores preselected facet settings.
    • List: Simple list view, ideal for small product selections.
    • Single without header: Displays product without the header.

Access & Permissions

  • Recipients must authenticate with their portal credentials (username and role-based access).
  • Shares are tied to the portal station and related portals from which the products originate.
  • If a Share is expired or not yet valid, the recipient will see a Not Valid Share message on the share link page.
  • If the Share references an editable portal, and the recipient has the appropriate permissions, the shared products remain editable.

Comparison View

In the Comparison table, products are displayed side by side, with their attributes aligned for direct comparison. Attributes shown are based on the portal configuration but can be customized further. For full step by step guide with images please see documentation section ADIB-Portals > General Structure and Function > Comparison View. Available functions include:

  • Hide identical attributes
    • Removes attributes that are the same across all compared products.
    • Helps highlight only the actual differences.
  • Remove / Remove All
    • Remove a single product or clear the entire Comparison List.
  • Template Selection
    • Choose an existing template to define which attributes are shown.
    • Create or edit a custom template, including attribute order and visibility.
  • Download as PDF
    • Export the Comparison List in PDF format, using a document template configured in the Template Designer.
    • Supports different PDF styles (e.g., default, detailed, with/without header).

Best Practices

  • The Comparison List is most effective with a small number of products (up to 10).
  • Adding too many products makes comparison less practical, as the table widens significantly.
  • Custom templates can improve clarity by focusing only on attributes relevant to your use case (e.g., technical specs, commercial attributes).

Download Table

With this function you can download a table containing information about the products. The Download List allows users to export selected products from the ADIB Portal into various file formats. This function is particularly useful for reporting, further processing in external tools, or bulk editing (in the case of Edit Portals). Using the “Template” setting, you can select a template that defines which fields are displayed in the table. The “Format” button allows you to specify the desired file format for the download. The “Export for Import” button is used to re-upload the table after editing and is only valid for the Excel format. For full step by step guide with images please see documentation section ADIB-Portals > General Structure and Function > Download List. Key Characteristics :

  • Products are first selected from the search results and added to the Download List.
  • Products can be added in several ways:
    • Individually, by clicking the Download icon.
    • In bulk, by checking multiple products in the TABLE or FLEXIBLE view and adding them via the burger menu.
  • A confirmation message appears in the top-right corner when products are successfully added.
  • The Download List is accessible via the User Menu.

Managing the Download List Within the Download List view, users can:

  • Review all selected products before exporting.
  • Define which fields/attributes should be included in the export using templates.
  • Edit templates using a drag-and-drop interface:
  • Move fields between available (right side) and selected (left side).
  • Adjust field order (respected in the exported file).
  • Search, select all, or deselect fields as needed.
  • Save custom templates for reuse.

Template Designer

The Template Designer allows you to generate product documents (e.g., PDF or Word) directly from the ADIB Edit Portal. This feature provides a convenient way to create standardized outputs for internal use, customer communication, or catalog production without relying on external tools.

  • Please note:
    • Availability may depend on your specific configuration.
    • For more details on current capabilities and planned functionality, please contact your ADIB consultant.
    • See also the ADIB-Portals > General structure and function > Generation of documents for more details.

Excel Upload

The Excel export–import feature in the Edit Portal makes it easy to maintain large volumes of product data efficiently. Instead of updating items one by one, you can export selected products into Excel, edit or create new entries, and then re-import them back into the portal. The system highlights your changes before import, giving you full control over which updates are applied. With customizable templates, drag-and-drop field selection, and built-in checks for product IDs, attributes, and references, this feature ensures accuracy and flexibility in bulk data management. More details, including step-by-step procedures and full documentation, are available in the ADIB Edit Portal > Maintaining Data via the Export-Import.

Edit Logs

The Change Logs in the Edit Portal provide full transparency over all modifications, whether made directly in the interface or through Excel export/import. Every change is permanently recorded, while the portal displays weekly logs for optimal performance.

Users can access these records anytime via the Edit-Logs menu, where changes are tracked by product, user, status, and type (e.g., update, create, delete). Detailed views show timestamps, transmission results, and even the option to revert changes (if enabled). For broader reporting needs, ADIB allows you to build a dedicated “changes portal,” where you can filter and analyze all changes across time, users, and fields. More details and full documentation are available in the ADIB Edit Portal > Overview of Changes Made (Change Logs).

Different Field Types for Editing

ADIB Portals support multiple field types for product data editing:

  • SimpleText – Basic text (no formatting options).
  • Static Selection – Single or multiple selection fields with predefined options from configuration or ElasticSearch.
  • Selection – Single or multiple selection fields (from Contentserv or other sources).
  • Html – Rich text with HTML formatting (bold, italics, lists, etc.).
  • Workflow – Used to change product workflow states (workflow configuration can be completed in the Central Station).
  • Date – Date selection with locale-specific formatting by language (e.g., DD/MM/YYYY for English language).
  • Checkbox – Boolean option (checked/unchecked).
  • Currency – Replaced by Number Float, displays currency with values can be defined in Central Station.
  • Number And Measure – Numbers with associated units can be defined in Central Station.
  • Number Float – Decimal numbers without currency or units attached can be defined in Central Station.

Class Mapping

Class Mapping in ADIB Portals provides a way to structure product data by assigning classes to products. A class acts as a container for attributes that belong to a certain product type. This ensures that products of the same type share a consistent set of attributes and data structure.

Purpose of Class Mapping

  • Consistency: Products within the same class follow the same attribute model.
  • Data Modeling: Classes define which attributes are relevant for each product type.
  • Inheritance: Attributes defined on the class level can be inherited by all products mapped to that class.
  • Integration: Classes are configured ADIB Central Station, Contentserv, or other PIM / DAM systems and then synchronized into ADIB Portals. Classes are only displayed in the portal, and not editable.

Benefits of Class Mapping

  • Search Optimization: Classes make it easier to configure search facets (e.g., filtering only “Battery Capacity” within the Smartphone class).
  • Data Quality: Standardizes attribute sets and prevents missing or inconsistent data.
  • Portal Flexibility: Facilitates building specialized portals (e.g., only certain classes are exposed in a B2B catalog).