FORT WAYNE, IN — AAM USA Inc., a member-based marketing co-op made up of 18 warehouse distributor members has announced its participation in the Advantage Automotive Group’s not-for-profit data repository, the Advantage Data Center.
The Advantage Data Center is an industry standards compliant product data repository for the automotive aftermarket. Populated with product data from the accessory, performance and replacement markets, the data center promises to be the most comprehensive single source of PIES and ACES compliant product data for the aftermarket.
Commenting on the project Tim Odom, president of AAM USA stated, “This initiative will establish a data library for the specialty automotive aftermarket that will meet the industry’s need for product application data and images in a flexible format that can be utilized for aftermarket distributors needs. It will accelerate AAM’s sales growth by providing a broad base of accurate information, in a timely manner to our individual distributors. This program is all about AAM selling more products now with our vendor partners. We believe that this program with Advantage Data Center gives us a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
”We will leverage this combined data repository to provide data to phone desks, B2B catalogs, customer’s point of sale systems and to enhance our support for our retailers. The AAM Group is committed to this program, and has already made significant investments. We are requesting that all our vendors participate,” he further stated.
Derrek Kiker, president of the Advantage Data Center Division of Advantage Automotive Group said, “We are excited to be working with AAM USA and its 18 warehouse distributors on this evolutionary project. AAM USA members have nearly a thousand vendors representing both the replacement side of the market as well as the performance and accessories side of the market. We currently have product data for 224 aftermarket manufacturers in our system. When we have completed adding the product data for the majority of AAM’s manufacturer customers, there will finally be a single location where manufacturer-approved trading partners can access most of the aftermarket’s product information.
The AAM Group is headquartered in Johnson City, TN. The AAM Group is comprised of two separate marketing entities, Parts Pro and Trux Stuff.
Advantage Automotive Group, founded in 2003 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been focused on standards compliant product and catalog information for the automotive aftermarket since its inception. Backed by private funding and technology from OPN Systems, a provider of information management solutions for companies that include Anheuser Busch, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and North American Van Lines, AAG is focused on delivery of business critical information, data and web services to its clients.
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