RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Nearly 100 automotive aftermarket supplier technology professionals participated in discussions of technology, data management and e-commerce issues and gained valuable industry insights at the MEMA Technology Council (MTC) Fall Conference, held Oct. 10 – 12 in Marco Island, Fla.
“The MTC Fall Conference is the only [live] event that focuses on the needs of technology professionals in the aftermarket supplier industry,” said Chris Gardner, MTC group executive and vice president, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA). “This year’s theme, Deploying Customer-Focused Technology, specifically addressed the issues that are important to council members and their channel partners.”
During the suppliers-only session, aftermarket manufacturers discussed recent accomplishments and going-forward strategies for the Customer Matrix, Special Ordering, the eCommerce Directory, OptiCat and the Online Member Profile, according to MTC.
In addition to the suppliers-only session, other conference highlights included:
• “Future Vehicle Technologies and Their Affect on the Aftermarket,” Bill Haas, vice president of the Automotive Service Association (ASA);
• Customer Roundtables featuring representatives of Auto-Wares, National Pronto, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Uni-Select;
• “Digital Defense: Monitoring Your Products, Brands and Part Numbers on the Web,” Weber Shandwick;
• “The Four ‘Cs’ of Enablement — Content, Convergence, Conveyance and Catalog,” Pricedex Software;
• How to establish a data management services department within a manufacturer’s operations, Gates;
• Current state and demonstration of OptiCat;
• Current state of the repair professional, repair shop and use of e-commerce technology, Bill Haas; and
• Member Spotlight: Tenneco.
Pricedex Software was the premier event sponsor and sponsor of the annual “Banquet on the Beach.” Experian Automotive was the Welcome Reception sponsor. JNPSoftware was the lanyard sponsor. Other sponsors included Autologue, Axway, Edgenet, GCommerce, Illumaware, InterTrade, MAM Software, OptiCat, R.L. Polk, ShowMeTheParts, TecCom and WHI Solutions.
MTC also announced the dates of its 2011 meetings. The MTC Spring Meeting will take place Thursday, March 31 in Chicago, Ill. The MTC Fall Conference will be held Sunday, Oct. 16 through Tuesday, Oct. 18 in Marco Island, Fla.
To learn more, visit the MEMA Technology Council website.
