Commodity codes

Tip 1Familiarize yourself with the list 

As the number of codes available to you is limited, we recommend you take the time to go through the list to get to know the taxonomy of the codes. Make note of any class or commodity that would be of interest to you. Once you have a list of items to refer to, it will be easier for you to locate the proper codes while publishing a tender opportunity. 

Tip 2Try to limit the number of words in your search 

If you do a search that produces zero results, try using more general terms. Being more specific may seem like a good idea, but using more words in your search can limit the range of the search. For example, the code for office chairs is 56101720, while the description is “Office or work chair.” So searching for “office chair” would produce zero results. Whereas if you search for “chair,” 12 results will appear. 

Tip 3Use the class (level 3) for more relevant search results 

By using the class of a UNSPSC, you will find a more relevant list of related products. As an example, searching for “pen” will bring up a number of unrelated results, such as, “Dispensing tools.” The list is in sequential order by code, so pens will not appear until halfway down the list. By searching instead for “writing instruments” you will be presented with a more concise list of pens, pencils and more. It will sort the list by number, so the items appear together. 

Tip 4Use the GSIN to UNSPSC mapping tool

If you have the GSIN codes you used to use in your tender notices, you can use the mapping tool below to search for the matching UNSPSC.