This Week in IDEA | December 13, 2006
This Week in IDEA is a bi-monthly eNewsletter created to keep the supply network informed about new IDEA happenings and other helpful resources regarding eBusiness trends and industry news. Become an eBiz expert and subscribe today!
Contents
- New IDEA Customer: Mathes ES
- New IDEA Customer: Samson ES
- New IRD CERICOMX® Customers
- IDW2 Business Information Certified
- IDW2 Business Information Certified
- Seeking Volunteers to Complete UNSPSC Committees
- Competition Looming From Private Label Products
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New IDEA Customer: Mathes ES
Mathes Electric Supply Company, an electrical distributor from Pensacola, FL, became an IDEA customer on December 12, 2006. Mathes ES was established in 1972 and currently has six locations that span Florida and Alabama. They will be using the Industry Data Warehouse (IDW2) to obtain their suppliers' product and pricing information. They will also be taking advantage of the cost saving features and reliability of the Industry Data Exchange (IDX2). Mathes ES is a member of IMARK. To learn more about Mathes Electric Supply Company, please visit them here. Welcome aboard!
New IDEA Customer: Samson ES
Samson Electrical Supply, an electrical distributor from South Plainfield, NJ, became an IDEA customer on December 13, 2006. Samson ES has been serving NJ and the surrounding marketplace for over 50 years. They will be using the Industry Data Warehouse (IDW2) to obtain their suppliers' product and pricing information. They will also be taking advantage of the cost saving features and reliability of the Industry Data Exchange (IDX2). Samson ES is a member of both NAED and IMARK. To learn more about Samson Electrical Supply, please visit them here. Welcome aboard!
New IRD CERICOMX® Customers
IDEA, a 1SYNC Data Pool On-Board Solution (OBS) partner, implements suppliers that subscribe to the 1SYNC data pool using IDEA's IRD CERICOMX application. IDEA was recently assigned the following suppliers:
- DSE Healthcare Solutions, LLC
- Nelson Manufacturing Co.
- Holmberg Farms, Inc.
- DEX Products, Inc.
These companies will be trained to use IRD CERICOMX®, an IDEA branded product for supporting and uploading supplier product information into the GS1 Registry® and GDSN via the 1SYNC Data Pool.
If you would like to learn more about the CERICOMX® product, please contact John Etrie, IDEA IRD Product Manager, here or at (703) 562-4624; or Tony Gaffney, IDEA CERICOMX® Implementation Manager, here or at (508) 386-0261.
IDW2 Business Information Certified
Cooper Bussman, a provider of productivity through protection to the electrical, electronic
and automotive industries worldwide. has met all requirements for the IDW2 Data Audit Certification program. Congratulations to Cooper Bussman!New validation rules and criteria were added as part of the IDW2 Data Validation Engine when IDW2 became operational in 2005. All IDW2 manufacturers should follow in Cooper Bussman's exemplary footsteps. It is important to supply distributors with the highest quality data.
IDW2 Business Information Certified
Rockwell Automation, a leading global provider of automation, power, control, and information solutions, has met all requirements for the IDW2 Data Audit Certification program. Congratulations to Rockwell Automation!
New validation rules and criteria were added as part of the IDW2 Data Validation Engine when IDW2 became operational in 2005. All IDW2 manufacturers should follow in Rockwell Automation exemplary footsteps. It is important to supply distributors with the highest quality data.
Seeking Volunteers to Complete UNSPSC Committees
IDEA will be resuming the bi-weekly UNSPSC meetings this December. There are 10 UNSPSC product team committees that IDEA would like fill with an even balance of distributors and manufacturers. The meetings will be held via webinar, requiring no travel.
If you are interested in participating please go to the Zoomerang.com survey to sign up. For further information, please contact David Frenkel at 703-562-4610.
Competition Looming From Private Label Products
What Manufacturers Can Do To Differentiate Their Products
According to an article authored by Jim Lucy in the December 8th issue of Electrical Marketing eNewsletter, the next big issue to hit the electrical market will be a debate over product branding. While manufacturers have sourced products from low cost manufacturers for years, the debate over product labels is just beginning to percolate. Wholesale distributors and manufacturer representative companies are signing global manufacturer contracts and private labeling the products under their own brand name.
Lucy points out that it will not be the first time a global importer took this approach. To protect their brands, manufacturers need to do more to differentiate their products from new competitors.
One way to address the challenge is to provide enriched business information about your products to your trading partners via the Industry Data Warehouse (IDW2). Enriched product information, which is based on a hierarchy or level of detail, is a schema or format for delivering product attributes that describe the product in more detail. Often misunderstood as a way products are commoditized, the enriched data schema actually enables manufacturers to provide very unique and specific information for that product allowing them to differentiate their product from their competitors.
Additionally, product images and technical information be it material safety data sheets (MSDS), line drawings, warranties, etc. may also be included as part of the IDW2 enriched product information portfolio. All and all, providing more information about your products will help them stand out. To learn more how providing enriched data, product images and catalog data to the IDW2 can help separate you from the others and increase your sales, please contact Bob Whitehouse at 703-562-4608.
