The 4 C’s of Enablement
A Product Information Discussion
Presented by:
Jeffrey Marshall,
Pricedex Software Inc.
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
What we will cover
•General overview of what we need to
gather to support Customer requirements
•Approaches and ideas for bringing the data
together
•Leveraging industry standards and new
technologies for transmission of product
information
•Redefining ‘The Catalog’
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Definition:
Content is information that provides value for
an end-user in specific context
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
•Challenge – despite industry standards for
conveyance of data, each trading partner in
sell chain needs different data sets.
•Collection of individual requirements is a burden.
•Maintenance of each Trading Partner data set a laborintensive process.
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
•Solution – Customer e-Commerce Matrix
•Identifies the customer ‘Superset’ of required data
elements for internal data management
•Identifies the format in which the data is to be conveyed
•Establishes a base architecture for PIM System
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Customer e-Commerce Matrix
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Customer e-Commerce Matrix
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Customer e-Commerce Matrix
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Superset of Product Information
Attributes not required in Superset
Attributes required in Superset
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
The MTC Customer e-Matrix
For more information
http://www.mematechnology.com/
Contact: Chris Gardner, AASA cgardner@mema.org
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
•Additional Challenges
•Customer-specific Attributes
•Customer-specific Applications
•Customer Cross-Reference Data
•Examples in the Industry:
•Customer Specific PIES Attributes (‘ZZ’ attributes)
•Customer Part Types
•Customer Part Nos.
•Non-VCdb Vehicle Applications
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
EXAMPLE: Customer Part Number Cross-Reference
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
EXAMPLE: Customer Part Type Cross-Reference
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
EXAMPLE: Customer Part Number Mapping
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
EXAMPLE: Custom Application Management
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Definition:
Convergence is the act of bringing together
multiple objects as to form a single, new
whole object.
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
•Issue –
•With the myriad data elements that make up ‘Content’
in our industry, what is our convergence strategy to
create repeatable, sustainable processes to support our
Customers?
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Convergence
•Solution:
•A system in which to converge, consolidate
and manage all data requirements (PIM)
•Integrates data mastered in business systems
•Converges data maintained on spreadsheets and
individual databases
•Stores and maintains critical reference data
•Manages processes to ensure complete and valid
data
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Convergence
•Issue –
•With the number of additional reference data points
within the enterprise, how do we ensure our users have
real-time data with which to work?
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Convergence
•Solution(s):
•Scheduled loads from business systems
•Read tables from business systems
•Leverage concepts of Cloud Computing and establish
internal Web Services for ‘on-demand’ data
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Convergence
MTU Engines – Global Parts Logistics
Web Service Messages
Region 1
(ID Cust)
<Customer # >
Region 2/3
Region 1
Business Process
Look up Customer
Determine Region of Origin
Determine locally-negotiated
Price
Invoice Customer @ correct
price
<Return CustomerSpecific Pricing>
Region 1
(Create Inv)
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Convergence
Dorman – Converge Information to PIM
Web Service
Business Process
<Refresh Report Database>
AutoPIM Pro
External
System
AutoPIM Pro
External
System
<Refresh is Done>
Start Interchange Process
Get a refresh of Reporting Database
Run interchange process and report
on all part changes since last
interchange run
Validate Changes
Accept or Reject changes
Update PIM System with accepted
changes
Complete Interchange Process
AutoPIM Pro
(Process)
AutoPIM Pro
(Notify User)
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Definition:
Conveyance is, simply put; the transmission of information.
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Conveyance
•Standards Established as ‘conveyors’ of
information within the aftermarket
•Underutilized for their value today
•Most efforts have been solely focused at creating
standards-compliant data
•Applying Content and Convergence techniques provide
framework for conveyance via Web Services
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Conveyance
IPO
Web Service to check Price and Availability, and place orders
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Conveyance
Custom Web Service
Commercial Truck Center Estimating System
Web Service Messages
Identify Shop
Manufacturer
Service Shop
Grant
Access
Send Engine Ser. #
Service Shop
Business Process
Inspect Engine
Determine Parts Requirements
Check availability (in/out)
Check service procedures
Build Estimate
Deliver Estimate to Customer
Manufacturer
Return Diagrams,
Notes, Service BOM
Service Shop
($ & avail.)
Check for Availability
(if) out of stock
Manufacturer
Return Availability /
PDC location
Service Shop
(Prep Est)
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Conveyance
AAIA SOA / Web Services Committee
Charter - to develop and share ‘standard’ web services
Contact: Steve Gould
sgould@autowares.com
Ray Nicholas
ray.nicholas@4s.com
Services To Come?
Content on Demand (PIES)
Net Changes (ACES and PIES)
AAIA Updates (ACES)
AAIA Vehicle Submission (ACES)
Others?
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Definition:
?
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Catalog
•New Definition: A catalog is a collection of datasets,
supporting the information requirements of all
aspects of the Selling Chain
•Part Determination
•Part Pricing
•Logistics & P.O.P.
•Marketing
•Catalog Managers must become
‘Product Data Content Managers’
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Summary
A) Identify and maintain Customer (data) Superset
B) Identify additional ‘custom’ Customer requirements
C) Determine data integration strategy with PIM system
D) Consider internal Web Services for updates
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
Summary
E) Adopt and Embrace the industry standards
F) Consider using, and helping the industry develop
Web Services standards.
G) Adopt the new mantra for ‘Catalog’. Ensure your
Product Data Content Manager gets mandate and
resources.
H) The Catalog is the tool for Convergence of Content
to support the Conveyance of product information to
Customers.
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010
THANK YOU
For further information:
Pricedex Software Inc.
www.pricedex.com
Jeffrey Marshall
jeff.marshall@pricedex.com
Fall Conference – Marco Island, FL.
October 12, 2010