An Electronic Catalogue is a repository of data where trading partners can obtain, maintain or exchange information about any product, services or party/location in a standard format using electronic means. This principle may be used directly, between two parties, or indirectly, with multiple trading partners connected to a central data repository. 

Electronic Catalogues permit trading partners to use exactly the same master data in their databases in order to increase the efficiency of their entire supply chain. This data is known as Master Data Alignment and involves the maintenance of accurate and synchronised databases for products, prices, promotions and locations. 

GS1 has established Electronic Catalogues Project Team which is establishing a minimum set of common data required in all Electronic Catalogues. This will encourage inter-operability of Electronic Catalogues world-wide.