Data Sources
Where product facts and market observations come from, and how contributor data is distinguished from public sources.
Sources MSI may use
- Contributor-submitted inventory files, price sheets, or feeds
- Public reseller and distributor catalogs
- Publicly available product listings and secondary marketplaces
- Manufacturer specifications and documentation
- Manual research used to normalize part numbers, categories, and specifications
Contributors
Contributors are market participants who choose to be represented in MSI and may provide inventory, pricing, availability, or other market information directly. Early contributor submissions are handled manually so MSI can learn the formats companies already use rather than forcing everyone into a portal.
A public contributor profile describes the company and the markets it participates in. A profile does not by itself mean that every MSI observation associated with that company was submitted directly by it. Directly supplied data is treated as such only after MSI has received and processed it.
Browse participating companies in the Contributor directory.
Observed public sources
MSI may also use public product and asking-price observations from seller websites, reseller catalogs, and secondary market channels. A company appearing as an observed source does not imply endorsement, partnership, or participation in the contributor program.
Public observations represent what was visible at the time of collection. They may be incomplete and are not confirmed transaction prices.
Product and specification data
Part numbers, manufacturer names, capacities, speeds, interfaces, and other specifications can come from manufacturer documentation, seller catalogs, or normalized reference data. MSI does not claim ownership of third-party trademarks or manufacturer product identifiers.
Important limitations
- Data may be delayed, partial, or subject to change.
- Not all sellers, private transactions, quantities, conditions, or regions are represented.
- Observed asking prices do not necessarily equal completed transaction prices.
- Contributor coverage is still early and will expand as more companies participate.
For calculation details, see the Methodology page.