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UPC Aggregation
Staples
Staples Canada is a privately-held retail enterprise established in 1991, operating over 300 locations nationwide. In 2019, following nearly three decades of operations, the company executed a comprehensive brand repositioning and digital platform overhaul, redefining itself as "The Working and Learning Company." This strategic pivot expanded Staples' value proposition beyond traditional office supplies—printer paper, ink, toner, and consumables—toward becoming a solutions provider offering small business resources, educational content, and professional services.
THE CHALLENGE:
Following a complete eCommerce platform redesign and migration, Staples Canada faced a critical data integrity issue within its expanding product catalog. The company required validation that top-performing SKUs were correctly identified by their corresponding Universal Product Codes (UPCs)—a fundamental requirement for inventory management, point-of-sale accuracy, and marketplace integrations.
The engagement scope required third-party verification to source accurate UPC data and ensure one-to-one mapping between individual SKUs and unique product identifiers across priority catalog segments.
THE SOLUTION:
Our team executed a targeted data aggregation initiative focused on UPC identification and validation for Staples' highest-velocity SKUs.
• Process framework development: Establishing clear data sourcing protocols and validation criteria, subject to Staples stakeholder approval
• Primary research execution: Conducting systematic product research across authoritative sources to identify and verify UPC assignments for requested catalog items
• Data quality assurance: Implementing validation controls to ensure SKU-to-UPC accuracy and uniqueness
THE OUTCOME:
The aggregation program delivered a 64% improvement in UPC coverage across the target catalog scope. This data enhancement established proper product identification infrastructure supporting Staples' post-migration eCommerce operations and ensuring accurate product tracking across sales channels.