Association Roundtable Reports

MEMA

• Supplier Enablement Project. Distributors and Program Groups are now participating. The application is Web based, and an extension of the solution is Web-based reconciliation (of transactions). This is powered by CTS.
• Direct-Connect is now IPO enabled and available as a hosted solution for distributors and suppliers.
• Deloitte-Touche is conducting an automotive supplier IT survey.

SEMA

• The Business Technology Committee is producing a seminar and panel discussion at the Show.
• JD Powers is conducting a three-day automotive e-commerce conference.
• SEMA is doing an IT survey of members.
• eBay Motors has ignored Aftermarket Industry standards. Scott should follow-up to explain ACES, PIES and Imaging Guideline.

AAIA

• Scott reported that an industry best practice guideline for Imaging was published in October 2005.
• PIES version 5.0 would be released in January 2006 and will include support for Imaging Standards.
• ACES 2006 will be released in January and will feature Full Validation for 1985 and later and the introduction of the Qualifier database.

Discussion

• There was a discussion about IP protection relative to eBay, Yahoo and Amazon. The Council agreed that the matter should be addressed collectively by the ACEC.
• Nile and Mark presented the data warehouse solution developed by DCi on behalf of PWA. There appeared to be a question about whether the database included only information submitted by suppliers or if it was derived from other DCi sources.
• Dan Jondron presented a satellite broadband proposal from Hughes that the associations could offer as a member benefit for remote locations that do not have access to DSL, Cable or other high-speed Internet connections. Each association agreed to review the agreement and pass savings on to members.