GDSN Connect Data Export Specifications

GDSN Connect is a powerful tool for K-12 operators to access products and recipes from the Nourish to Flourish Database, making it easy to find and download product specifications, prepare for administrative reviews, and produce bid specification reports. However, one of the most important functions is exporting these items and recipes into an operator’s other software applications via a standardized format to extend the benefits of accurate and up-to-date product data throughout their operations.

Items and Recipes that are setup by a user within GDSN Connect are exported as comma-separated value (CSV) files, which is a format that is widely used for other data transfer applications. These exported files adhere to the industry-wide Nourish to Flourish Open Data Standards, with additional information added by the user in GDSN Connect to enable the proper relationships with Items and Recipes within the operator’s other software applications.

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The CSV file format used by GDSN Connect is highly flexible and allows an operator to setup their entire export/import process in a way that works best for their situation. Many K-12 software applications include a user interface to import pre-configured data files from other systems (e.g., student roster data from the Student Information System) or even tools to allow the user to define their own data imports and the associated business rules for updating each field (e.g., IGNORE, REFORMAT, OVERWRITE, or CONDITIONALLY OVERWRITE).

GDSN Connect Export to K-12 Software

Cloud-Hosted Software

If the software is hosted on the cloud by your software vendor, and it does not yet contain the functionality to import the GDSN Connect files, then the vendor needs to update their software to include support the GDSN Connect Data Export. There is a good chance that they are already prioritizing this update, but this update may be accelerated when more of their customers request support for these files.

District-Hosted Software

If the software is hosted on the operator’s own servers and the IT department manages the database directly, then the operator’s IT department has more control over importing the files and can configure the process to align with their own internal security standards.

inTEAM has created a set of tools the IT department can use to easily configure the database to accept the import data. inTEAM will work with the IT department to setup this process, or refer the operator to a third-party specialist who can help set this process up.