OpenBOM Adds Numeric Level Support for BOM Imports

At OpenBOM, we’re committed to reducing friction when it comes to managing your product data. With our latest enhancement, we’re addressing one of the most common challenges customers face when importing multi-level Bills of Materials (BOMs) from spreadsheets—format compatibility.

The Problem: Not All BOMs Speak the Same Language

If you’ve ever tried to import a multi-level BOM into a system, you know there’s more than one way to define hierarchy. While OpenBOM traditionally supported the Decimal Level format—such as 1, 1.1, 1.2, 2, 2.1—many users work with software (especially ERP systems) that define BOM structures using Numeric Level Depth indicators like 1, 2, 3, where the number simply represents the indentation or level in the hierarchy.

This mismatch often forced users to reformat spreadsheets manually or build workarounds—adding time, risk of errors, and frustration.

The Solution: OpenBOM Supports Both Formats—Automatically

With our May 2025 release, OpenBOM now automatically recognizes and supports both Decimal and Numeric Level formats during spreadsheet import. You no longer need to worry about what format your file is in—OpenBOM does the work for you.

A reference chart is now available in the user interface to help you understand how the conversion works and what your imported structure will look like. Whether your BOM looks like this:

Or like this:

OpenBOM will interpret and build the correct multi-level structure in your BOM automatically.

The Benefit: Faster Onboarding, Cleaner Workflows

This enhancement has a clear and immediate benefit—no need to reformat files before importing them into OpenBOM. If you’re receiving BOMs from suppliers, exporting data from an ERP system, or maintaining legacy Excel files, OpenBOM can now interpret them natively.

That means smoother integration with other tools in your workflow, less manual labor, and more confidence that your BOM structure is correct.

A Step Toward Smarter Data Operations

This improvement is not just a one-off fix—it’s a foundational upgrade that plays directly into OpenBOM’s broader strategy of seamless data onboarding. It’s part of a growing set of AI-powered tools that will help users transform, clean, and understand product data with minimal effort.

As we move toward a world where AI agents can manage procurement, detect inconsistencies, and analyze cost structures, having a robust and flexible import engine is essential.

Conclusion: Import Simplicity, Built for the Future

The new support for Numeric Level Depth is another step toward a smarter, more flexible OpenBOM. By removing format constraints and simplifying the onboarding of data, we help you focus on what matters—building great products, not battling spreadsheets.

Stay tuned for more AI-driven import and data management enhancements coming soon.

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Best, Oleg