WooCommerce’s built-in product importer accepts CSV, leaving supplier catalogs published as XML dependent on a dedicated import plugin. XML can represent product details, galleries, categories and variations as nested elements, but suppliers structure those records differently: variations may appear as separate entries linked by a parent SKU or as child elements within a product. Marketplace feeds may also use namespace-prefixed fields.

Before importing, inspect the feed in an XML-aware editor. Confirm it has a single root element, identify the repeating product node, and establish how variations relate to parent products. WP All Import parses XML directly, uses a parent-node selector to define each record and XPath 1.0 to reach nested fields. Its Automatic Setup proposes mappings, while the template editor allows them to be reviewed and corrected.

The workflow supports feeds from uploads, URLs, server files and FTP/SFTP, with scheduled execution available through cron or WP-CLI. Before running an import, check that the record count matches the expected product count and verify mappings for SKU, product type, price and title. A preview of both a simple product and a variable product can expose misplaced galleries or variations before they reach the catalog.

Author of the original text: Ahmed Chougle (Oxygen)