A data management system propagates changes in product information. The
product information is stored in a central data base for transfer to
remote systems having disparate formats and protocols. The system
includes an administration module to validate product data stored in the
data base. This ensures that the data is accessible by the system. The
system also includes a product change module configured to determine
whether a change has been made to data related to a product. When changes
are discovered, a data management server is alerted to the change. In
response to the alert, the data server extracts, formats and transmits
the changes in product data from the central data base to an appropriate
user system. An application adapter communicating with the user system
then receives the changed data from the data server and formats the data
according to the user system platform.