
13 Jan UNSPSC vs NATO (NCS)
The UNSPSC (United Nations Standard Products and Services Code) and NCS (NATO Codification System) are the coding systems used for cataloguing, but they serve varied purposes and have specific characteristics.
UNSPSC:
Developed by the United Nations (UNDP), the UNSPSC is a global classification system for products and services. The United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC) was initially created by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Dun & Bradstreet Corporation (D&B) in 1998. Since 2003, this classification standard was managed by GS1 US, currently it is under the preview of UNDP from January 2025.
The UNSPSC is an international standard that accurately and efficiently classifies products and services that are bought and/or sold. This segmentation follows a logical order to reflect how the products move through the supply or value chain. It uses an 8-digit numeric code to identify categories and subcategories of items.
The system is widely recognized by suppliers and customers around the world, helping in spend classification and increase efficiency in the supply chain.
By implementing this standardised classification within ERP systems, organization can analyse the processing and data collection related to spending, starting from PO’s, Vendor/supplier accounts, Item details, etc.
NATO (NCS):
The NCS, developed by NATO, is a uniform system for the identification, classification, and stock numbering of items of supply for NATO members and their international partners. It uses a 13-digit numeric code to identify each item in the catalogue, including information such as the user’s country, product group, and other specific attributes.
The NCS ensures uniformity in coding, reduces the possibility of data duplication, and facilitates the efficient exchange of information specifically in the supply chain.
Both systems aim to improve accuracy, efficiency, and effectiveness in supply cataloguing, but they are tailored to different contexts and user groups. The UNSPSC is more globally oriented, while the NCS is specifically designed for defence.
Grihasoft has pioneered cataloguing and Classification to global client partners and providers across US, India and Middle east region. Grihasoft has done more than 10 million+ item classification across Engineering and Healthcare vertical in last 21+ years. For more information about our service offerings visit www.grihasoft.com