When managing thousands or even millions of products, each item has its own detailed descriptions, prices, color, texture, and many other various attributes that need to be cleaned and optimized for better performance across sales channels. The to-do list for making these adjustments is endless, and in some cases, quite technical.
Of course, there are some coding shortcuts, but that would require programming knowledge. Any business trying to manage a global online presence knows that relying on IT and manual processes is unrealistic if you want to keep up with the pace set by modern commerce.
So, what are marketers and ecommerce professionals to do? Luckily, today’s AI tools for managing product content provide smart solutions to some of the most complex tasks. Let’s look at two of the more daunting, yet powerful use cases: regular expressions and Twigs.
The complexity behind regular expressions and Twig templates
Understanding regular expressions
Regular expressions are sequences of characters that define a search pattern. These patterns are used in various functions to find, extract and/or replace text, numbers, or defined elements. Regular expressions are widely used in data processing, web development, and content management. They allow users to perform complex text searches and manipulations quickly and efficiently. Ecommerce users can leverage regular expressions for various purposes, such as optimizing product descriptions, standardizing price formats, and categorizing products based on attributes.
But for someone who isn’t well-versed in coding, crafting the correct regular expression pattern can feel like deciphering a foreign language. Regular expressions involve complex syntax and require a deep understanding of pattern matching. Even small mistakes in a regular expression pattern can lead to incorrect data processing, which might go unnoticed until greater problems emerge as a result.
Understanding Twig
Twig is a flexible, fast, and secure template engine that allows users to integrate dynamic content into their templates, making it an essential tool for web development and content management. Twig templates are used when you need to generate dynamic content based on specific conditions or input data. For example, you can use Twig to display different content for different user groups or to format data consistently across multiple products.
However, Twig requires knowledge of PHP and template logic. Crafting a template that dynamically changes content based on certain conditions involves a good understanding of both the template engine and the data it manipulates. Not only is this time-consuming, but it also requires precision to avoid errors that could disrupt the entire content display.
To summarize, the common challenges of creating regular expressions and Twig templates are:
- Complex syntax and pattern matching: The intricate syntax of regular expression patterns can be difficult to master, leading to errors and inefficiencies.
- Dependency on IT support: Non-technical users often require help from IT teams, creating bottlenecks and slowing down workflows.
- Time-consuming processes: Crafting and testing regular expression patterns and Twig templates manually takes considerable time and effort.
- Potential for errors: Manual workflows are prone to error and even minor mistakes can cause significant disruptions in data processing and content display.
- Limited accessibility: The steep learning curve restricts non-technical team members from leveraging these tools, reducing overall flexibility and responsiveness.
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- Overview of all AI features within the Productsup platform
- [Guide] The state of smart commerce: AI’s impact on buying and selling
- [Training course] Working with regular expressions (Regex)
- [Training course] Introduction to Twig
To address these challenges, Productsup developed a Regex Generator and Twig Generator tool within its platform as part of its Advertising PX and Distribution PX offerings. These AI-powered tools simplify the creation of regular expressions and Twig templates, making them accessible to all users, regardless of technical expertise.
How Productsup simplifies regular expressions
Productsup’s Regex Generator tool can be found in all rule boxes using regular expressions in the platform. Each box dedicated to regular expressions now includes a built-in assistant that allows users to outline their objectives and expected outcomes. The AI then generates the precise regular expression needed for seamless integration into data processing workflows.
Let's say you want to update the prices in your product listings to ensure they all follow the same format. Some prices are listed as "$10.99", others as "10.99 dollars", and some as "USD 10.99". Manually finding and updating each instance would be a nightmare. However, with the Productsup Regex Generator, you can describe your required output and the AI will create a pattern automatically, like so:
/\$?(\d+.\d{2})\s?(dollars|USD)?/
This regular expression can then be used to find all relevant pricing variations and update them to a single, consistent format, like "$10.99".
“Using the Regex Generator in the Productsup platform, I can work as if I have the skills of an experienced programmer. The tool translates the technical parts of regular expressions into language anyone can understand. It has an incredibly intuitive interface, so now I don’t have to jump back and forth between different websites to generate regex patterns. Thanks to the AI, I can sort through all of our product data to find information and make changes as needed without relying on any IT support.” – José Antonio Díaz, Digital Consultant at Jumbodiset Group
How regular expressions help scale your ecommerce
Here are some more examples of how the Regex Generator can add value to your business:
Product title optimization: If a product description contains "beach", "sun", and "vacation", a regular expression can add “holiday deal” before the product title automatically. This enhances the product’s appeal for customers looking for vacation-related items.
Size replacement: Replace size indicators in product titles, such as “M” or "XL", with “Medium” or "Extra Large”.
Gender attributes: Set the gender attribute based on terms like "men's", "women's", or "unisex" in product descriptions.
Promotional tags: Add “Best Seller” to products that have more than 100 reviews and an average rating of four stars or higher.
Category tagging: Tag products automatically based on specific keywords in the product description. For example, if a product description contains "running shoes", "sneakers", or "athletic footwear", add the tag "Sportswear".
Email extraction: Extract all email addresses from customer reviews or feedback. This can be useful for creating a customer mailing list or for follow-up marketing.
How Productsup simplifies Twig
Consider a scenario where you want to display a special offer for all products over $100. Instead of editing each product description manually, you can utilize the Productsup Twig Generator to define your criteria. This tool generates the necessary code (as shown below), enabling the automatic insertion of a "Special Offer" tag for products meeting the specified price threshold.
How Twig helps scale your ecommerce
The Twig Generator is embedded in every rule box that works with Twig. Here are some examples of how the AI tool can enhance your workflows:
Text replacement: Replace specific phrases in product descriptions, such as changing "budget-friendly" to "cost-effective".
Conditional values: Change the current value to "out of stock" if the original value is empty.
Dynamic prepend: Prepend text to product titles based on specific conditions, such as adding "luxury" before the title if the price is $500.
Default values: If a product description is empty, set it to "description coming soon".
Conditional formatting: Format the price to show "discount available" for products priced over $100.
By leveraging these AI-driven tools, businesses can automate repetitive tasks, reduce errors, and ensure consistency across their product listings. This not only saves time and resources but also enhances the accuracy and appeal of your digital shelf, ultimately leading to better customer experiences and higher conversion rates.
Productsup's Regex Generator and Twig Generator are designed to simplify ecommerce automation processes. Say goodbye to the complexities of regular expressions and Twig templates, and say hello to a smarter, more efficient way to manage your product content.
Or, keep learning about AI-powered product content and Productsup’s full suite of AI features: