The use of standards plays a critical role in e-procurement. Objects to be standardized are catalogs, data and processes. If the catalog data were not organized according to an ordered structure, they would be virtually unusable. For example, Bayer structured and stored its items using the eCl@ss standard (Table III). Like UN/SPSC, eCl@ss is a product classification system. In addition, it is possible to cover various characteristics of a product with the aid of the list of attributes. Some products differ only marginally in their characteristics. A set of weighing scales, for example, may have a scale from 20-200 g or 10-1,000 g and show different graduations. However, UN/SPSC does not allow characteristics of this kind to be included.