Aftermarket Insider Issue 78 - (Page 16)

T EC H N o l o G Y U P DAT E PerFecT MaTches Aftermarket Match – A Dating Service for E-Commerce Trading Partners A new service is available to the aftermarket that takes a lot of the time and anxiety out of creating e-commerce relationships with trading partners. AftermarketMatch.com is a collaborative effort by AASA and AAIA to help suppliers and their distribution partners quickly discover the e-commerce and data standards capabilities and requirements of one another. Using this free industry service will accelerate adoption of the industry standards and remove cost from the time-consuming task of learning the version and field requirements of those with whom you want to communicate. Just as a dating service helps pair individuals with similar interests, Aftermarket Match can pair you with the business partners that use the same EDI documents, for example. Or, if your customer requires PIES (industry standard product information), Aftermarket Match will list the versions of PIES and the specific data elements that the customer requires. Green check marks indicate a match between the supplier’s capabilities and the customer’s requirements. Red X marks indicate a customer requirement that the supplier does not currently support. In any case, Aftermarket Match saves valuable time and gets electronic documents and files moving faster. Those concerned about who will view their specific information can breathe easy. Aftermarket Match uses the same principal as “friending” someone on Facebook. Suppliers data service companies wanted to “ask” to see the detailed learn the capabilities of the suppliers information of their customers or as much as the suppliers wanted to other data receivers. Only after the understand the detailed requirements request is accepted will the details of their trading partners. When these of receivers’ data requirements be requirements and capabilities are available to their suppliers. When aligned, standards-based e-commerce no relationship exists, only top-level, is possible. An industry-wide initiaaggregated information is presented. tive driven by both associations was For example, a supplier could see that the only thing that made sense. 27 receivers accept ACES version 3.0 electronic catalog data files. But, the AftermarketMatch.com is a complispecific names and details are not mentary service to the industry revealed unless they have a relationship. powered by Pricedex Software under the direction of AASA and AAIA. As If this concept sounds familiar, that’s with any directory, the more compabecause it was originally developed nies that use it the more valuable it by the Technology Council of AASA becomes. If you send or receive elecand called the E-Commerce Customer tronic documents and files of any kind, Matrix. Discussions between AAIA signup at www.AftermarketMatch. and AASA representatives made it com. You just may find the perfect clear that retailers, wholesalers and partner for fun and profit. 16 | AFTERMARKET INSIDER | VOLUME 78 http://www.aftermarketmatch.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Aftermarket Insider Issue 78

Aftermarket Insider Issue 78
Contents
President’s Message
Association News
AAPEX 2012
Company Profile
Member Profile
Toolbox
Government Affairs
Technology Update
Executive Perspective
Association News
Market Intelligence

Aftermarket Insider Issue 78