SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — OptiCat announced today that it has enhanced its OptiCat Technology Suite to embrace the newly announced Common Product Data Requirements developed by the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA).

On Sept. 9, AWDA announced a new Minimum Common Requirement for product information that will satisfy the product data needs of most of its members. The AWDA Minimum Common Requirement is based upon the Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES) published by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and promises to simplify and lower the cost of complying with product data requirements in the automotive aftermarket, according to AWDA.

“It is important that OptiCat respond quickly to the needs of North American data receivers,” said Brad Duncan, OptiCat president following the AWDA statement. “AWDA’s Minimum Common Data Requirement will help the aftermarket suppliers focus on the most important PIES data first and gradually fulfill the entire promise of this important standard. That is why OptiCat immediately began the work to bring its technology in line with AWDA’s requirement,” he commented.

Duncan also explained OptiCat’s efforts to provide a seamless data exchange between North American data and its shareholder TecDoc’s European standard, “There is some confusion regarding the efforts OptiCat is undertaking to provide a world-wide vehicle exchange database. It is a well-known fact that there are two major standards in use today. North America has embraced the ACES/PIES standards, and Europe has embraced the TecDoc standards,” he noted.

“One of OptiCat’s objectives is to build the necessary links so that our ‘do-it-once’ philosophy can become a reality for our North American supplier partners that are presently operating in both geographies. This activity should not be construed as OptiCat’s attempt to create a new standard. OptiCat fully supports to ACES and PIES standards, and our technology suite is fully compliant with these standards,” Duncan continued.

“Rather, this effort is being undertaken to find a solution where the two standards can interact with each other in the most efficient manner possible. OptiCat has always been a strong supporter of industry standards and is doing everything in its power to help the aftermarket deliver on those standards. We will continue our effort until a satisfactory solution for global data interaction between European standards (TecDoc) and North American standards is achieved,” he concluded.

OptiCat is an industry-supported, manufacturer-centric technology company focused exclusively on delivering consolidated product information and associated software technologies to all segments of the automotive aftermarket. OptiCat’s Do-it-Once, Do-it-Right technology suite provides an interactive experience between data producers (manufacturers) and data users (retailers, distributors, service professionals) for the purpose of offering real-time, robust product data necessary for selling auto parts. OptiCat is majority-owned by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and TecDoc Informations System, Gmbh.

OptiCat will demonstrate its OptiCat Technology Suite at its display, Sands #3801, during the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 2 through Thursday, Nov. 4, at the Sands Expo Center, Las Vegas.

For more information visit www.opticat.net.