Matching
Query component providers for pricing, stock, and distributor data.
Running Matching
Click Run Matching above the BOM table. BOMExplorer queries each provider in the configured fallback order:
- OEMSecrets — free aggregator with broad distributor coverage (default)
- DigiKey — direct API with accurate pricing
- Mouser — direct API with accurate pricing
- Nexar — premium GraphQL source with lifecycle and spec data
- FindChips — premium aggregator
- NextPCB — PCB assembly service with integrated component sourcing
Each line is searched using a four-stage fallback chain:
- Exact MPN match — search using the precise manufacturer part number from your CSV.
- Distributor PN match — if your CSV contained a distributor part number.
- Parametric match — for lines without an MPN, searches by value, footprint, and description.
- Keyword match — last resort; searches by description text.
Results are ranked by distributor preference (from your settings), price, and stock sufficiency. The best result is automatically set as the selected part for each line.
Understanding Confidence
Exact MPN match. High confidence that this is the correct part.
Parametric or best-available match. Review before finalising.
Keyword match or no match found. Manual review required.
Caching
Provider responses are cached in Redis — 6 hours for pricing and stock data, 24 hours for specifications. Each provider's cache is namespaced separately, so switching between providers does not serve stale data from another source.
Monitoring and Alerts
A nightly background job re-queries all matched parts and compares current data against the last stored snapshot. When it detects a significant change, it creates a flag on the affected BOM line.
out_of_stock Stock has dropped to zero low_stock Stock has fallen below a threshold price_spike Unit price has increased significantly eol Part is approaching or has reached end-of-life lead_time_increase Distributor lead time has extended Flags appear as ⚠ indicators in the Alerts column of the BOM table. A digest email summarising new flags is sent each morning.