FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost?
The standard and the software are free. If you host it yourself you pay only for your hosting. A provider charges its own prices, which you find on its own website.
Do we need a developer?
Not for the basics. You can install a portal with one click, and a scheduled import from a web address, SFTP server or bucket needs no code. A developer helps if you want to connect your PIM or ERP directly.
Is this another platform we have to join?
No. Every brand runs its own portal, on its own domain if it likes. There is no central platform that holds your content.
Who decides which retailer gets access?
You do. Retailers request access, and you approve or reject each request. You can also choose which brands a retailer sees and whether originals may be downloaded.
What do retailers need?
A browser. Retailers with software that fetches images by itself can request an API key for that software.
Which image formats are there?
The original, exactly as you uploaded it, plus a web version (at most 2000 px), a square version and a small preview. Retailers choose what they need.
Does it keep information about AI and rights in the images?
Yes. Usage rights, the embargo date and whether AI was involved are part of every image. Originals are stored and delivered unchanged, including any embedded content credentials.
Can we switch providers later?
Yes. Every portal speaks the same standard and every provider listed here lets you export all your content. Your own domain stays the same.
Is it ready?
Yes, version 0.1: the specification, the three portals, the obx command and the conformance check are released and free to use. It is early days: the first brands are joining now.
Who is behind it?
Open Brand Exchange is being handed over to the Open Brand Exchange Foundation (in formation), a Dutch non-profit foundation (stichting), so that the standard belongs to the brands, retailers and software vendors who use it, not to one company. Questions go to [email protected].