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UNSPSC Classifications

 With the implementation of the Kuali Financial System (KFS), Cornell is adopting the use of the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code® (UNSPSC) to classify goods and services. These codes are being used in place of commodity codes and sub-codes.

What is a UNSPSC?

The UNSPSC is a global classification structure for products and services designed to address the diverse needs of businesses and groups involved in buying, selling, analyzing, and regulating goods and services worldwide.

UNSPSCs consist of eight digits representing the following four hierarchical classifications, which consist of two-digits each:

  • Segment: The logical aggregation of families for analytical purposes
  • Family: A commonly recognized group of inter-related commodity categories
  • Class: A group of commodities sharing a common use or function
  • Commodity: A group of sustainable products or services

For example, for the UNSPSC of 44121706:

Hierarchy Category Number
 Name
Segment 44000000 Office Equipment and Accessories and Supplies
Family 44120000 Office Supplies
Class 44121700 Writing Instruments
Commodity 44121706 Wooden Pencils

Finding UNSPSC Classifications and Saving a Cheat Sheet

"My Cheat Sheet" was designed to make it significantly easier to navigate and use UNSPSC. Cornell departments are using the UNSPSC to classify their purchases when entering data into KFS.

The concept behind My Cheat Sheet is simple, yet powerful. Using the provided Microsoft® Excel® worksheets, identify the UNSPSC most commonly used for your purchases, and create a custom list, or "cheat sheet." The list can be created for a department, unit, or buyer. It is as simple as placing an “X” next to the code you want on your list and pressing a button.