BETESDA, MD — The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) announced the publication of an industry best practices guide for the production, management and distribution of product images in the aftermarket supply chain. With widespread support of major retailers, distributors and electronic content providers, the imaging standard will lower costs by simplifying the decisions suppliers have to make in meeting customer demands for product images.
Automotive Aftermarket: Imaging Best Practices addresses all of the major topics associated with image capture, including format, resolution, views, shadows and background color. In addition, the specification describes the best practices for naming convention, image data delivery and image file distribution. To support the data communication needs associated with product images, the aftermarket Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES) has been updated with a new “image” segment, and closely coordinated with the Imaging Best Practices.
“Each of these mandates can require capturing and managing thousands of product images, all at a great expense,” said Scott Luckett, AAIA vice president, technology standards and solutions. “We are pleased to have published a single industry best practice that all of the major resellers have agreed to follow.”
The AAIA Imaging Standards Workgroup recognized the increased role of visual data in cataloging and e-commerce today. Suppliers find themselves responding to an increasing volume of requests for product images.
“The Imaging Best Practices guidelines was created by a diverse group of imaging experts from all segments of the industry and we feel strongly that the recommendations contained in the guideline will address the major image management and distribution issues that face the automotive aftermarket,” said Pat Weilmeier, vice president of operations, Solenium Group, Inc., and chair of the Imaging Standards Workgroup.
The Automotive Aftermarket: Imaging Best Practices document is available by visiting the “Standards & Technology” link at aftermarket.org.
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