A consistent catalogue without manual effort.
Import a supplier catalogue and IBIOS AI assigns consistent categories to every product automatically. Preview all proposed changes before committing a single one.
Dry-run mode by default. Your taxonomy, not the AI’s. Batch runs with live progress. Unclassifiable items flagged for manual review.
The supplier catalogue that arrives with endless ways to spell “Baths”
A new supplier sends their product list. Column F is “Category.” Some products have “Bath,” others “Baths,” some “Free Standing Bath,” a few “Bathtub,” one entry “FS Bath,” and plenty of products have no category at all.
If you import this as-is, your IBIOS catalogue becomes unsearchable by category. Cleaning it manually means opening every record, reading each one, and typing a consistent label, product by product.
IBIOS AI categorisation runs across the imported products, reads the name and description of each, and assigns a category from your configured taxonomy. You preview the assignments, correct any that need it, and commit. Nothing is written until you confirm.
Preview before you commit
AI categorisation is designed for confidence. You always see what will change before anything changes.
Dry-run preview by default
The categorisation pipeline always runs in preview mode first. You see every proposed change — product name, current category, proposed category — before a single database record is updated. Approve all, approve selected, or start again.
Your taxonomy, not AI’s
IBIOS categorises into the category list you define. The AI does not invent categories. If a product cannot be confidently assigned to one of your configured categories, it is flagged as unclassified for manual assignment rather than forced into an incorrect category.
Batch processing with live progress
Run a batch across the products you select. The IBIOS admin panel shows live progress — products categorised, remaining, and any flagged as unclassifiable. You can cancel the batch at any point before committing; no changes are made until you confirm.
What does the categorisation preview look like?
The preview table shows every proposed change. Confirm all, select individual products to update, or discard.
Product
Current
Proposed
Carron Quantum 1700 LH
FS Bath
Baths
Scudo Easy 800 Tray
—
Shower Trays
Casabano Cube Enclosure 900
Shower Enc.
Shower Enclosures
Carron Delta 1500
Baths
Baths
Who is AI product categorisation for?
Any business where catalogue inconsistency creates search and reporting problems.
Businesses importing new supplier catalogues
A new supplier sends you a long product list in a spreadsheet with their own category system, or no categories at all. AI categorisation maps them to your IBIOS taxonomy in one batch run rather than manually assigning each product.
Showrooms with inconsistent legacy categories
Over time, product categories drift as different staff members add products. AI categorisation runs across your entire catalogue and normalises everything to your current taxonomy in a controlled, reviewable batch.
Operations teams doing periodic catalogue audits
Schedule a quarterly AI categorisation run to catch products that have been miscategorised since the last audit. Dry-run mode lets you review the proposed changes before applying any.
Multi-brand businesses with merged catalogues
When two supplier catalogues with different category conventions are merged into IBIOS, AI categorisation normalises both into a single consistent taxonomy without manual mapping.
Technical specifications
Batch pipeline
AI batch categorisation — accepts product selection and mode (dry-run or commit).
AI model
High-capability language model. Assigns from your configured category list only.
Dry-run mode
Default. Full pipeline runs and preview returned. No database writes until staff confirm.
Batch size
Runs across the products you select. Progress shown live in IBIOS admin panel.
Category scope
Your IBIOS taxonomy only. Unclassifiable products flagged, not forced into incorrect categories.
Fields affected
Category field only. Pricing, SKU, MPN, specification, and supplier links are not modified.
Questions about AI product categorisation
What is AI product categorisation?
AI product categorisation is the process of automatically assigning consistent category labels to products in your IBIOS catalogue using an AI batch pipeline. It is used primarily when importing a new supplier catalogue where product categories are missing, inconsistent, or use the supplier’s own naming system rather than your IBIOS taxonomy. The batch pipeline runs across selected products and assigns categories from your configured category list.
How does dry-run mode work?
Dry-run mode is the default when you call the categorisation endpoint. In dry-run mode, IBIOS runs the full AI categorisation pipeline and returns a preview of every proposed category change — which product, current category, proposed category — without writing anything to the database. Staff review the preview in the IBIOS catalogue admin panel and either approve all, approve selected, or discard. Only confirmed changes are committed to the catalogue.
How are large catalogues categorised?
The batch endpoint processes a selected set of products in each run. For larger catalogue imports, the batch can be run in multiple passes or split by supplier or brand. Processing time depends on how many products are selected and how long their descriptions are. Progress is shown in the IBIOS admin panel with a live count of products processed.
Can I define my own categories?
Yes. IBIOS uses your configured category taxonomy as the target set. You define which categories are valid in IBIOS catalogue settings and the AI assigns only from that list. This prevents the AI from inventing categories that do not fit your system. Common IBIOS categories for bathroom trade include: Baths, Shower Enclosures, Shower Trays, Taps, Tiles, Bathroom Furniture, Accessories, and Whirlpool.
What happens to existing categories?
In dry-run mode, existing categories are shown alongside the proposed new category so you can see what would change. In commit mode, only products selected for update are modified. Products with existing categories that the AI agrees with are shown as “no change” in the preview and left untouched. You do not need to re-categorise products that are already correctly categorised.
Does categorisation affect product pricing?
No. Categorisation only updates the category field on the product record. Pricing, SKU, MPN, specification, availability status, and supplier links are not touched by the categorisation pipeline. If you need to update pricing after a catalogue import, that is a separate process in IBIOS.
Which IBIOS product line includes AI product categorisation?
AI product categorisation is part of the IBIOS Inventory Control product line. It is built for wholesale and trade suppliers and tile showrooms. See also: AI categorising imported products.
IBIOS (Integrated Business Intelligence & Operations System) is made by IBIOS Limited (NI743167), Northern Ireland. Access is by waiting list; there is no free trial.
Import any supplier catalogue. Get a consistent result.
AI batch categorisation with dry-run preview. Early access by waiting list.