This Week in IDEA | May 16, 2007

New IRD/CERICOMX® Customer

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 supplier:

- Arctic Paws, LLC

This company 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 Isabel DuPont, Manager Manufacturer Accounts, here or at (847)720-4106.

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IDW2 Business Information Certified

Arlington Industries, a leading manufacturer of traditional metallic and non-metallic fittings and connectors, has met all requirements for the IDW2 Data Audit Certification program. Congratulations to Arlington Industries!

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 Arlington Industries exemplary footsteps. It is important to supply distributors with the highest quality data.

Form more information about the Data Audit Certification Program contact Beth Badrakhan at (703)562-4602.

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Arlington Industries Completes IDW2 Update Quality Maintenance Training

Arlington Industries completed their IDW2 Update Data Quality Maintenance Training through the attendance of three training sessions. These training sessions covered topics such as the product change management lifecycle, IDW2 data requirements, and how to load, download, and maintain data. Arlington has taken the extra time to get this training so that changes initiated in their business system can be immediately available for downloading by their IDW2 customers.

“In today’s market place it is critical for us to get our new price and production released to our customers as quickly as possible. IDW2 offers all of these advantages for the mutual benefit of Arlington & IDEA,” said Marion Bishop, Pricing Analyst, Arlington Industries.

Find out more about Arlington Industries at www.aifittings.com.

For more information about the IDW2 Update Data Quality Maintenance Training contact Beth Badrakhan at (703)562-4602.

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Agenda Released for Electro E-Biz Forum 2007: “The Power of Information”

View the Schedule at a Glance

IDEA recently released the agenda for the Electro E-Biz Forum 2007, September 18-20, at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The theme will focus on the services, applications, businesses, and technologies that are reshaping the industry and creating opportunities for channel partners to reshape the way they conduct business. The Forum is co-hosted by IDEA; the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED); the Electro-Federation Canada (EFC); the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA); and the National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association (NEMRA).

“The next few years will see significant changes in eCommerce, cutting across technology, corporate organizational structures and customer demand and interactivity. It won’t be business as usual, as those companies that perform at the speed of information will be the winners,” said Mike Rioux, President, IDEA. “This year’s conference will provide one stop access to learn what tools and technologies will impact your business in the next 2-5 years.”

The conference features a broader general session program with industry experts and insiders providing their perspective on key influencers. The educational seminars will explore tactics and best practices that companies need to compete effectively, such as POS data, Master Data Management (MDM), Product Information Management (PIM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Data Synchronization.

The Electro E-Biz Forum 2007 includes the following Keynote presentations:

• “Facing The Forces Of Change®: Lead The Way In The Supply Chain” - Adam Fein, Founder and President, Pembroke Consulting, Inc.
• Panel: “The Power of Information” - Moderator: Gene Randall, former CNN Anchor and Correspondent; Panelists: Bernie Westapher, Group VP Marketing & Sales, Panduit Corporation; Art Cook, President, Buckles & Smith, TBA, SuperValu
• “A Satirical Look at the Business World” - Bob Hirschfeld, Cybersatirist
• Media Panel: “Interpreting Influential Information” - Moderator: Ed Orlet, NAED; Panelists: Tom Gale, Publisher, Modern Distribution Management; Jim Lucy, Chief Editor, Electrical Wholesaling; Joe Salimando, freelancer and contributing writer, TED Magazine
• “What's Wrong With this Data? What Distributors Expect from Suppliers” – Moderator: Ed Orlet, NAED; Panel: Bob Wittig, Independent Electric; Ken Greenberg, Mid-Island Electrical Supply; David Starr, McNaughton & McKay

Some of the issues, topics and challenges that will be directly addressed at the E-Biz Forum will focus on the theory that strategic business decisions are only as good as the data that drives them.

Some breakout sessions will include:

• Garbage in, Garbage out: Managing Data Quality
• Make the Most of Your Data Through PIM and MDM
• Building a Business Case to Help get Executive Buy-in
• The Importance of POS Data: How and Why?
• Asset Management through Unique Identification: How to Identify Assets Using the GS1 System
• Business Information as a Competitive Advantage

The Tech Center will allow attendees to get a first hand look at applications and solutions that will help companies attain a streamlined work flow and increased sales. One of three Garmin GPS navigation systems will be awarded to attendees with the most booth visits.

The E-Biz Forum kicks off with its fourth annual “Golf Shamble” at the Furry Creek Golf and Country Club followed by the opening reception and Tech Fair. Other evening networking events include “Can You Dig It?” Salmon Bake at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel and “Mystery and Mirth! Murder Mystery Cruise” along the Harbor Howe Sound.

In celebration of IDEA’s 10th Anniversary, The Electro E-Biz Forum 2008 will be held in its headquarter city, Washington, D.C., September 14-16, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.

More information can be found on the Electro E-Biz Website or by contacting Mary Dempsey at (703) 562-4632.

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More Reasons to Attend the Electro E-Biz Forum 2007

Come hear influential keynotes and general sessions at the Electro E-Biz Forum.

“Facing The Forces Of Change®: Lead The Way In The Supply Chain” - Adam Fein, Founder and President, Pembroke Consulting, Inc.

This year’s Opening Session will prove to be one of the most groundbreaking hours in Forum history. Adam Fein, Founder and President of Philadelphia-based Pembroke Consulting, Inc., will provide attendees with strategic insights into the key business and economic trends affecting the wholesale distribution supply chain through 2012. Catch a glimpse of some innovative strategies and tactics that you can use in response to these trends.

Panel: “The Power of Information” - Moderator: Gene Randall, former CNN Anchor and Correspondent; Panelists: Bernie Westapher, Group VP Marketing & Sales, Panduit Corporation; Art Cook, President, Buckles & Smith, TBA, SuperValu

Does your organization place a high value on information? As businesses become increasingly more competitive, the need for accurate, secure, immediate information on a business’ operations, products, customers and partners becomes critical to making necessary decisions to keep an information edge. This top notch panel of industry experts, moderated by award winning journalist, Gene Randall, will provide their perspectives on the meaning of ‘The Power of Information’ and how technology’s rapid developments are shaping the way they conduct business.

“A Satirical Look at the Business World” - Bob Hirschfeld, Cybersatirist

Satirist Bob Hirschfeld starts the day off with some comic relief for all as he lampoons some of the most trite business practices and provides unique and comical observations on some of the newest technology.

Media Panel: “Interpreting Influential Information” - Moderator: Ed Orlet, NAED; Panelists: Tom Gale, Publisher, Modern Distribution Management; Jim Lucy, Chief Editor, Electrical Wholesaling; Joe Salimando, freelancer and contributing writer, TED Magazine

The way in which the media portrays new technology can radically affect the success of its implementation. People receive information from many channels of communication, for example the internet, informal networks or the trade press. Is ‘unbiased journalism’ merely an oxymoron nowadays? We’ll hear the thoughts of three panelists who will discuss how the information they report can influence your business decisions.

“What's Wrong With this Data? What Distributors Expect from Suppliers” – Moderator: Ed Orlet, NAED; Panel: Bob Wittig, Independent Electric; Ken Greenberg, Mid-Island Electrical Supply; David Starr, McNaughton & McKay

Industry panelists will discuss the results of what steps were necessary to correct and improve the content in their product databases. This session will explore relationships and illustrate how to get consistent pricing and more meaningful discount and commodity codes.

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Did You Know? IDW2 Hot Facts

For distributors using manufacturer “Item Numbers” as their unique key, the IDW2 has a field called “Legacy Item Number.” This 5-digit number is typically the last 5 digits of the manufacturer’s UPC or EAN (excluding the check digit). This field is available through the Outbound Mapper. Please contact Robert Hollands at (703) 562-4616 for instructions on how to add this field to your custom format.

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