(Nov. 1, 2007) Data standards, including acronyms like PIES, ACES, XML and EDI, have been bandied about in technical circles for years, but what about the non-technical personnel? Yesterday's seminar "ACES, PIES—What's It All Mean?" was geared toward manufacturers and their distribution partners and focused on those who may not fully understand what's behind this terminology. Scott Luckett, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) vice president, technology standards & solutions, left the "techno babble" out of the discussion, aiming to help sales and merchandising managers and executives understand why industry data standards should even be on their radar. "We recognize that a seminar about data, fields and formats can be somewhat dry — so we're leaving the techno-babble out," says Luckett, when asked about the necessity of this seminar. "The most important thing for most people to take away about industry data standards is that they will help them make more money." ACES, which is the AAIA electronic catalog content standard, and PIES, the industry's agreed upon product information standard, can help all parties in the supply chain cut down on returns and other ordering problems, giving everyone one version of the truth, say those who champion using data standards. "We believe that if more business decision-makers understand the financial ROI and strategic advantages of aftermarket data standards, they will help make investment and adoption of the standards a priority," says Luckett when contacted after the seminar. Attendees were given information on how adherence to standardized electronic catalog content reduces time to market and adds to a part's sales, as well as improving customer satisfaction, he adds. Enriching and standardizing product attribute information has a positive impact on operational efficiency for both suppliers and distributors, so all links the supply chain should be interested in using standardized data, according to Luckett. Why more aftermarket suppliers and distributors don't use these standards has been a conundrum for those who do "cleanse" their data to comply with ACES, PIES and other data standards. Attendees were also taught how purchase order and invoicing errors almost disappear completely when basic e-commerce data is in sync between trading partners Additionally, customers prefer to do business with vendors who have accurate and dependable data and business systems, Luckett adds. "Excellent catalog and product data and the ability to share that data with channel partners is a key point of differentiation and serves as the glue to strengthen the business relationship." |