Over the last two decades, there have been many changes in the automotive aftermarket sector, as evidenced by internet vendors of vehicle parts. There have been a number of changes in the industry linked to consumer expectations and experience, increased competition, and technological progress. When it comes to auto components, all of these elements have an influence on how original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), dealers, and customers do business.
In the United States, Canada, and Mexico, aftermarket parts businesses—including repair shops and component manufacturers—are worth about $400 billion. Aftermarket components purchases have come from millions of consumers at a time when the rest of the automobile industry has been experiencing a significant drop due to the COVID-19 epidemic. However, there are several important factors for businesses in dealing with aftermarket components to consider when increasing sales, brand image, and overall vehicle parts inventory management system.
Automotive aftermarket part catalogs are critical, not just for eCommerce in the automobile sector. Customers use these sites to find the components they need and see whether they fit their vehicles. However, selling automobile parts over the internet is quite different from any other product. To connect with their supply chain partners and assist their client base in its search, those in the business will want to utilize fitment data. To summarize, fitting data give valuable information in the form of the year, make, and model of the car as well as more detailed information such as submodel, trim, engine type, and other components.
The information on compatibility (fitment) should be precise, accurate, thorough, and complete. This way, your customers can simply discover the right parts. Aftermarket and original equipment manufacturers will benefit from online automobile part catalogs. It also helps individuals who are creating an internet auto parts company in terms of website creation, warehouse inventory management, and differentiating their brands from the competition.
It is important to maintain your car parts catalog accurately and up-to-date. This will ensure that your customers can find the right parts for their vehicles and that you are not selling them products that do not fit their cars. In this article, we will discuss the steps needed to maintain the fitment data and the car parts catalog up-to-date. We will also highlight the importance of maintaining fitment data accurate and up-to-date.
The Importance of Keeping Fitment Data Accurate and Up-to-Date
When it comes to a successful auto part catalog management system, keep in mind the close link between your fitment data and the ACES vehicle standard that it’s linked to. In a nutshell, ACES Product Data is the North American industry standard for managing and transmitting automotive catalog application data across partners and customers at every stage of the value chain. Using ACES data, stakeholders may exchange vehicle and component-specific information.
However, keep in mind that this information is compared to target databases that are always updated with current point-in-time data for a variety of vehicle configurations. In other words, the data is constantly changing. Researchers write and maintain datasets using the ACES vehicle configuration database (VCdb). It’s worth noting that rather than being verified by original equipment manufacturers, this information comes from aftermarket researchers. This implies the findings presented in these works are only a decent estimate based on prior work published by other experts.
When data is stored on a computer, it is very easy for them to “spoil.” As a result, when a company creates an auto parts catalog and includes all the necessary fitment information, it will simply take time for that information to become outdated. In other words, fitment data has a sell-by date and must be constantly updated and verified before becoming obsolete. The vehicle dealer’s (ADC) parts catalog gets more out-of-date with each passing day unless this information is continually updated.
Every month, many types of automobiles are retired and/or replaced. Any items and accessories associated with these removed vehicle configurations will be marked as “invalid” in the catalog. This implies that they will no longer appear to potential customers who are looking to purchase them. As a result, monthly fitment data validations are required to keep a car parts catalog current.
How To Maintain A Car Parts Catalog?
Mapping your fitment data and keeping it up to date takes time and effort. Large eCommerce platforms like Amazon or eBay Motors have their own vehicle lists that are updated on a regular basis. You may sort your goods by region, style, or both, allowing for car make and model changes depending on geographical areas.
When it comes to maintaining a car parts catalog manually, automotive aftermarket retailers need to validate all of the fitment data in their system every month. This task can quickly become quite tedious and time-consuming. There are a few key steps that need to be taken to maintain your car parts catalog:
- Firstly, you will need to identify any new makes and models that have been released since you last updated your catalog.
- Secondly, you will need to check if there have been any changes to existing makes and models – this could include anything from a change in engine size to a change in body type.
- Finally, you will need to update your catalog with the new information and remove any invalid entries. This last step is the most laborious and time-consuming as it involves going through your entire catalog and updating each entry one by one.
Although the aforementioned eCommerce platforms include some fundamental inventory management tools, the process is still time-consuming. Simply adding a few fittings to a single listing, such as a gas tank or braking system, may take a long time and effort. As a result, many individuals will choose to use third-party eCommerce solutions.
While it is possible to maintain a car parts catalog manually, it is important to note that this process can be very time-consuming and error-prone. To ensure that your catalog is always accurate and up-to-date, we recommend working with a reputable fitment data provider. A good fitment data provider will have a team of experts who are constantly updating their database with the latest information. This will save you a lot of time and effort in the long run!
These tools will save time by providing you with a complete, ready-to-use product catalog that’s been thoroughly mapped to vehicle makes and models. You’ll also get regular updates for new vehicle models and access to an expansive fitment database.
Many of these solutions come with their own Amazon or eBay listing tools. This way, you can quickly and easily list your products on these eCommerce platforms without worrying about the fitment data yourself.
How can myFitment Help?
myFitment was created in 2013 to help online parts and accessories retailers accept the complicated but powerful ACES data standard. myFitment has assisted over 5,000 vendors in offering fitment for platforms like eBay, Amazon, NewEgg, AutoZone, Wal-Mart, and other places.
The myFitment eCommerce Catalog is the world’s biggest Powersports and automobile catalog. InquisitorTM technology can help you find:
- The Best-Selling Categories
- The Best-Selling Titles
- Maximum Vehicle Coverage
- Item Specifics
- Product Details
The only alternative to communicating ACES data before myFitment was costly subscriptions or pricey Windows-based software, both of which were designed for conventional aftermarket manufacturers and brands. We understand the demands of our eCommerce customer base at myFitment, and we’ve created a solution that meets your needs while also including much more functionality than you’d expect for the price.
We use automation in our solutions because that is what works best for us. We have hundreds of reports and bulk processes to keep you out of the weeds and run your online components and accessories company effectively.
Our team has decades of aftermarket industry expertise, including at the largest retailers and distributors. Our 24-hour Customer Success Team is ACES-trained and ready to assist you in managing and communicating your most valuable business asset: product information.
Conclusion
Maintaining your car parts catalog does not have to be a difficult task. By using the right tools and taking the time to update your fitment data regularly, you can ensure that your customers can find the right parts for their vehicles. In addition, by keeping your catalog up-to-date, you can avoid potential customer frustration and ensure that your business runs smoothly.
Together with myFitment, you will be able to take all the necessary steps to maintain an accurate and up-to-date catalog with ease. myFitment offers a complete solution for managing your fitment data, so you can focus on running your business.
If you would like to learn more about how myFitment can help you maintain your car parts catalog, visit our website or contact us today!
