Simplify standards data management through one harmonized service

Managing standards data is complex. National Standards Bodies (NSBs) often rely on multiple data sources from different Standards Development Organizations (SDOs), each with its own structure, format, update frequency, and quality considerations. Over time, this can create a heavy operational burden: multiple integrations to maintain, data issues to resolve, and manual processes to ensure that catalogues, stores, and internal systems remain accurate and up to date. SD Import is designed to remove much of that complexity.

As a one-stop subscription service for harmonized, high-quality standards data, SD Import gives NSBs access to subscribed data sources through a single, secure API. Instead of managing several separate data feeds, customers can receive standards data in a consistent format that is easier to integrate into existing systems and digital services.

One API for harmonized standards data

At the core of SD Import is a simple idea: customers should not have to manage the full complexity of standards data integration themselves.

SD Import provides access to Projects, publications, and their related release item binary file data from multiple SDOs, including ISO, IEC, CEN, CENELEC and other providers, subject to commercial agreements. The service delivers data through a harmonized API format, reducing the need for customers to maintain several different integrations, endpoints, and data models.

This makes it easier for NSBs to populate national catalogues, support online stores, enrich internal systems, and power downstream digital services with reliable and structured standards metadata.

Built to handle real-world data complexity

Standards data is rarely simple. Even when data is provided in a harmonized format, there can still be differences in how the data is structured, how fields are used, how frequently the data changes, and how well it supports the customer’s own processes. SD Import is built to manage this reality.

The service receives data from different sources, validates it, stores both valid and invalid records, and makes the relevant data available to customers through the API. This gives customers access to a more consistent and reliable data stream, while Standards Digital handles the complexity of ingestion, validation, mapping, and ongoing monitoring.

Visibility through the SD Import UI

In addition to API access, SD Import includes a user interface that gives customers visibility into their data feeds.

The UI is designed to support monitoring and troubleshooting. Customers can view imports over time, search for projects and publications, filter by source, status, date, and time, and inspect metadata to understand why a specific import item may have failed.  

For example, if a metadata record contains an invalid language value or if there is an issue connecting to a vendor API, the UI can help identify the problem quickly. This allows customers and the Standards Digital team to understand what has happened, correct the data where needed, and re-import once the issue has been resolved.

This level of transparency is particularly valuable when dealing with large data volumes or frequent updates. Rather than relying on manual investigation or separate technical systems, customers can monitor the status of incoming and outgoing feeds in a dedicated environment.

Supporting both incoming and outgoing data flows

SD Import is not limited to one type of data flow. Customers can use it to receive data from external providers, provide their own national metadata, or support data exchange between systems.

For example, a NSB may use international data as a foundation, enrich it with national metadata, and then make the national catalogue available through another downstream service. SD Import supports this type of flexible data flow by acting as a unified data hub.

This makes the service relevant not only for organizations that need to consume external data, but also for those that need to distribute structured standards data to their own digital platforms, partners, or customers.

Reducing operational workload

One of the main benefits of SD Import is the reduction of operational effort for customers.

Data feeds need ongoing attention. They change, fail, contain errors, or require clarification with the source provider. Standards Digital monitors data quality and escalates issues directly to source providers where needed, helping customers reduce the internal workload associated with data maintenance.

This is especially important for organizations that want to scale their digital services without increasing the manual effort required to maintain their standards data. With SD Import, customers can rely on a dedicated service that is built to manage data complexity over time.

Designed for NSBs

SD Import has been developed specifically for the standards community. It understands the relationship between projects, publications, and release items, and it supports the data structures NSBs depend on.

A project represents the metadata related to standards development work, while publications are specific outputs or snapshots from that project. A publication may also contain multiple release items, such as files or other related publication assets. This structure allows SD Import to support the full standards data lifecycle in a way that aligns with how standards organizations work.

A simpler way to manage standards data

SD Import gives NSBs a simpler, more scalable way to manage standards data.

SD Import helps organizations reduce complexity, improve data quality, and focus on their core business — providing a practical and reliable foundation for modernising standards data management.

Interested in learning more? Explore SD Import or get in touch to discuss how the service can support your organization’s data needs.