Product Standards (PIES)
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The Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES) is the best practice for the management and exchange of a tremendous variety of product attribute information in the vehicle aftermarket industry. Following an industry standard is the first step towards global data synchronization with trading partners. Data synchronization yields increased sales, shorter new product introduction cycles and lower operating costs through reduced order processing, invoicing and shipping errors. |
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Click here for the AAIA white paper about the cost of unsynchronized product data in the aftermarket.
- Significantly improved documentation with the addition of Data Definitions
- Commonly used codes from third party sources included in the specification
- Fully revised and compliant XML schema for data exchange
- XML includes constraint checks to ensure more reliable and accurate data exchange
- Simplification of the standard by eliminating un-used fields
Free PIES Transformation Utility Software for Interchange Data -
The PIES format is almost universally accepted by the major data receivers in the aftermarket and parts interchange data is very important to their operations. To help suppliers easily prepare interchange data files in the PIES XML format AAIA offers a free PIES Interchange Transformation Utility that converts interchange files from a flat file input to PIES version 6.1 XML output. The Utility can also convert earlier versions of PIES XML to a structured flat file. This software works only for the Interchange Segment of PIES, by design. It is made available under the GNU free and open-source model which means there is no cost to download or use the software application. Further, developers are free to download and modify the application, extending or changing the functionality. Use the links below to download the PIES Interchange Transformation Utility, and / or the Source Code. Be sure to read and thoroughly familiarize yourself with the user documentation to properly install and operate the software.
Click here to download the PIES Interchange Transformation Utility set-up - Download this file to install and operate the utility software
Click here to download the PIES Interchange Transformation Utility source code - Download this file if you wish to modify or extend the utility software
Click here to download the PIES version 6.1 documentation packet (PIES specification, Data Definition Documentation and XML Schema). This is a Build Release to version 6.1 and was compiled March 11, 2008. You will be asked for your e-mail address so we can keep you informed about future changes to PIES
Click here to download the PIES version 5.0 documentation packet (PIES specification and XML schema). This will be useful in exchanging data with partners on the earlier version of the standard.
Click here to download the PIES version 4.2 documentation packet
Brand Identification is an important component of automotive data and communication standards. PIES uses aftermarket Brand Codes to uniquely identify products and traded items. AAIA has developed a coded table of Brands, Brand Owners and their Parent Company names. The Brand table is accessed through a portal where users can query for specific values and download the complete current table. Change request made through the portal are addressed the next business day.
Click here to access the Aftermarket Brand Code Table
Click here to download the Aftermarket Brand Code documentation
PIES version 6.1 includes complete support for the exchange of data having to do with product images. Click here to download the Aftermarket Imaging Best Practices Guidelines.
If you have any questions or comments about PIES or product data synchronization please write to PIES@aftermarket.org
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