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      How to use SKU-based product detection to make your catalog shoppable

      Easily turn your static PDF catalog into a shoppable experience by auto-detecting and linking SKUs to the product feed.

      Table of contents

      Overview

      Step-by-step guide

      Link your product CSV feed

      Let Flipsnack detect your SKUs

      Review and adjust interactions in Design Studio

      Frequently asked questions

      Next steps

       

      Overview

      The SKU-based product detection lets you quickly transform print-ready catalogs into interactive, shoppable digital experiences. By uploading a PDF with visible SKUs and connecting your product feed, Flipsnack automatically detects SKU numbers and overlays interactive shopping areas with enriched product information.

      This is especially useful when you want to enhance an existing print catalog without redesigning it from scratch. Once enriched, users can click directly on products to learn more or take action, streamlining the digital shopping journey.

      Key benefits

      • Time-saving automation: No need to manually add product links for every item

      • Easy integration: Connect your existing CSV feed in seconds

      • Improved interactivity: Auto-generated shopping areas directly over SKU placements

      • Print-to-digital upgrade: Modernize existing catalogs without redoing the layout

      Requirements

      Plan: Enterprise. 

      Flipbook type: Works with uploaded PDFs only. 

      Step-by-step guide

      1. Upload your PDF catalog

      Go to your My dashboard in Flipsnack. In the upper-right corner, click the Create button and select Upload PDF. 

      Then choose your print-ready catalog with visible SKUs and wait for the upload to complete. 

      Then choose your print-ready catalog with visible SKUs and wait for the upload to complete. 

      2. Link your product CSV feed

      You are now on the Customize page of your flipbook. On the left side tab, navigate to Product Detection and then click on the Link feed. 

      navigate to Product Detection and then click on the Link feed. 

      Then,  a pop-up will appear where you can either upload your CSV file from your device or connect it via Google Drive

      A pop-up will appear where you can import a new feed, either upload your CSV file from your device or connect it via Google Drive.

      mport a new feed, either upload your CSV file from your device or connect it via Google Drive.

      Tip: If you've uploaded product feeds to Flipsnack before, you'll see a list of them by scrolling down.

      Then, select the appropriate product feed you want to use. If this is your first time linking a feed to this flipbook, the mapping modal will pop up, and the mapping will be applied automatically.

      Double-check to ensure you're using the correct product feed for accurate SKU detection. 

      Note: If a feed already exists, a pop-up will appear asking if you want to overwrite it. Regardless of choice, the new feed will not apply until you reselect it manually.

      Then, you wait for your product feed to be imported. 

      3. Let Flipsnack detect your SKUs

      Flipsnack will automatically map SKU numbers found in your PDF to the entries in your feed. Then, interactive product hotspots will be placed directly over the matching SKUs in the flipbook.mapping and linking the products

      4. Review and adjust interactions in Design Studio

      Open your flipbook in Design Studio. Review the auto-generated shopping areas, and you can add other interactions if needed. 

      If you’ve made changes to your CSV feed, you can trigger a sync in Design Studio to update the products and everything to be up to date. Learn more in this guide on using synchronization.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      What happens if a product is not detected?

      Unmatched SKUs will be skipped, and a notification will appear telling you the number of products that couldn't be linked and giving you details of each one. Double-check that the product exists both in your catalog and in the CSV file, and make sure the SKUs match exactly.

      If you add the SKU manually from the Design Studio, it will not work for product linking.

      linking error SKUs

      Can I use this on image-based flipbooks?
      No, the feature works only with PDFs, and the SKUs need to be visible. 

      Is the mapping case-sensitive?
      Yes. Ensure your SKUs in the PDF and feed match exactly. Also, if the SKU is added manually from the Design Studio, it will not work for product linking.

      Next steps

      Learn more about improving your digital catalogs:

      Need expert support?

      Our team is here to help. Connect with our team experts or message us via the in-app chat for personalized assistance.