The item_id must always match the values used in your Product Catalog and defined in your system rules to preserve Eureka’s functionality, data quality, and analytics accuracy. Any mismatch in item_id values can cause critical issues that negatively affect reporting, recommendation performance, and business outcomes.
Because product analytics are generated using the item_id collected through system rules and passed within hits, a mismatch prevents proper attribution. When the item_id in your XML feed does not align with the system rules, the result is “ghost products” in the catalog — products successfully updated via XML but not associated with any behavioral or purchase analytics.
To prevent this and ensure accurate tracking, update your XML feed so that the item_id values are fully aligned with Insider system rules. Once alignment is restored, analytics will be correctly attributed to the products in your XML feed, enabling reliable reporting and actionable insight generation.