BETHESDA, MD — The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) has released a free open-source, software utility that converts part number interchange data into the Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES) format. The PIES Interchange Transformation Utility accepts interchange data in a flat file (spreadsheet) format and converts it to the latest version of (PIES) XML.

AAIA developed the transformation utility software to help manufacturers supply retailers and program groups with interchange data in the standard format. The major automotive chains have agreed to accept data in the industry-standard PIES version 6.1 XML format.

Competitive interchange information is an important tool for increasing sales at the retail and wholesale point of service, according to AAIA. The transformation utility can help speed and simplify the process of distributing interchange data to partners in the aftermarket chain.

"It’s an unusual step for the association to commission the development of software in support of one of our standards." said Scott Luckett, AAIA vice president, technology standards and solutions. "But we wanted to accelerate the adoption of PIES and remove obstacles to the distribution of valuable product data."

AAIA chose to distribute the utility at no cost and in an open-source manner so that software developers throughout the industry could springboard off this tool to develop more robust PIES mapping and conversion tools. No further upgrades or functionality are planned by AAIA for the utility, but the source code is freely available under the GNU Open-Source license agreement.

The PIES Interchange Transformation Utility is available from the PIES page of the association website — http://www.aftermarket.org/eCommerce/Pies/Pies.asp.