ST. LOUIS, MO -- Winsby Group has introduced what it claims is "the aftermarket's first automated Web-based service to help manufacturers deliver more timely, accurate and complete vehicle application data to electronic catalog companies."

Established in 2001, Winsby Group, LLC is a supplier of application-specific data solutions for automotive aftermarket businesses. With its new automated Web-based service, catalog files coded in the ACES (AAIA Catalog Enhanced Standard) format can now be uploaded to Winsby Group's new AceAudit.com web site for extensive validity checks and advanced data analysis.

"One of the biggest challenges facing our industry is the timely delivery of accurate catalog data to the sales counter," said Doug Winsby, president of Winsby Group and chief architect of the ACES delivery format. "Many of the electronic catalog companies now accept ACES files, but because of the complexity of the standard, these files are often rejected due to problems found in the data. These rejection cycles can add weeks to the data loading process and result in lost sales opportunities."

AceAudit.com enables manufacturers to audit data conversion (or "mapping") projects before the files are released to electronic catalog companies. Data mapping projects commonly involve thousands of manual decisions to determine which part number is displayed during a vehicle lookup at the parts counter. ACES solved many lookup problems by forcing catalog applications to be more clearly defined. This greater clarity, however, places a burden on the manufacturer to carefully describe product applications according to complex rules in the ACES specification, said Winsby.

"We've been working with ACES for more than a year, and over that time have identified data mapping mistakes that are made over and over again," Winsby said. "Whether a manufacturer did the mapping themselves or hired an outside supplier, we consistently heard there was a need for a service that could quickly and easily audit ACES files. AceAudit.com provides that service."

There are no registration fees and pricing is based on the number of applications in the file. For more information on the program, go to: www.AceAudit.com.

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