Emerging Trend: Standards in Product Data
By Amanda Gubbins
Good, clean product data is important on every level of the supply chain. Accurate data ensures that everyone in the chain can do their job and that the consumer gets the best product possible. The challenge comes in the variance of formats that are used by different organizations to organize and store their own product data.
Patty Putcharkan, Data Intelligence Manager at MagnaFlow explains that historically automotive product data has not adhered to any kind of industry standard, creating issues for organizations that need to exchange information. In recent months, Putcharkan has noticed this beginning to change. "Now that AAIA Legacy dataset has evolved from being a flat file to AAIA Catalog Enhanced Standard (ACES) and Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES) format, it's allowed easier mapping and conversions of the vehicle attributes into a relational database," she says.
The data quality from manufacturers impacts wholesale distributors and other receivers as they prepare products for sale. Dave Ziozios, Chief Executive Officer of Motovicity Distribution is thrilled about this new trend of standardization. He understands how complicated the issue can be. "Data is a very ambiguous and expansive subject. I think that oftentimes as a concept it's overwhelming to all members of the vertical chain of distributors, from the manufacturers down."