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Product Taxonomy
BEES
BEES is a B2B eCommerce platform launched in 2019 by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the global beverage conglomerate. Operating across 20+ countries, BEES provides retail partners with integrated solutions for order management and delivery tracking, enabling business growth through digital infrastructure. The platform's strategic approach emphasizes data-driven decision-making and collaborative problem-solving, with a mission to accelerate digital transformation through systematic innovation and knowledge-sharing across its partner ecosystem.
THE CHALLENGE:
BEES confronted a fundamental scalability challenge: inconsistent product categorization and taxonomic standards across its multinational operations. The platform's expanding catalog, coupled with the operational complexity of serving diverse regional markets, created fragmentation in product classification and information architecture.
The strategic imperative required development of a unified, globally scalable taxonomy framework capable of accommodating continued growth while maintaining classification consistency. Additionally, BEES required formal governance protocols to manage ongoing taxonomy evolution and ensure standardized application across all marketplace touchpoints.
THE SOLUTION:
Our team executed a comprehensive taxonomy transformation program spanning diagnostic assessment, global architecture development, and governance framework establishment.
• Assessed current category structures, attribute schemas, and classification methodologies
• Analyzed stakeholder requirements across regional operations and functional teams
• Reviewed product classification data to identify inconsistencies and structural inefficiencies
• Documented gaps between current-state taxonomy and business requirements for global scalability
Phase 2: Global Taxonomy Architecture Development
• Global product hierarchy: Finalized an English-language master taxonomy establishing standardized category structures and browse-node relationships for the BEES marketplace
• Collection taxonomy templates: Created comprehensive attribute schemas and controlled value lists for each product category, defining data collection standards
• Frontend display logic: Developed customer-facing attribute configurations optimized for each browse node, balancing information density with user experience
• Product classification: Executed systematic reclassification of existing catalog items to ensure accurate mapping to new taxonomy nodes
Phase 3: Governance Framework Documentation
• Developed comprehensive governance documentation defining decision rights, change management processes, and maintenance standards
• Provided BEES with scalable frameworks for taxonomy evolution as the product catalog and market footprint expand
Phase 4: Localization and Regional Adaptation
To support BEES' multinational operations, we adapted the global taxonomy framework for regional market requirements, ensuring consistent classification logic while accommodating local market nuances.
THE OUTCOME
The unified taxonomy architecture established a scalable foundation for BEES' global marketplace operations. Standardized product categorization and attribute structures improved operational efficiency in catalog management while enhancing product discoverability and customer experience consistency across regional platforms. The governance framework positioned BEES to maintain taxonomic integrity as the business scales across additional markets and product categories.