When you are looking to buy a new set of tires, for example, one of the most important factors you need to consider is fitment. But what is fitment?
Fitment is the term used to describe how well that set of tires will fit on a particular vehicle. It takes into account many different factors, such as wheel size, offset, and ride height. For tires to fit correctly on a car, they must be designed specifically for that application. This is where fitment information comes into play.
What Is Fitment Data?
Also known as compatibility information, fitment data is a collection of specifications and parameters that describe how a particular tire will fit on a specific vehicle. This data is important for consumers and businesses in the automotive aftermarket industry. For consumers, it helps to ensure they buy the correct tires for their car. For businesses, it helps them stock the right car parts and accessories for their customers.
Fitment data is also used among the different partners as part of the supply chain. Basically, the manufacturer provides fitment information to the distributor, who then provides it to the retailer. This way, everyone in the chain knows what products will fit which vehicles.
In addition to information about compatibility, fitment data also includes other important details about that particular tire, such as load index and speed rating. This information can be used by businesses to make sure that they are ordering the correct products for their customers. It should go without saying that fitment data is not just about tires. That was just an example. Fitment data applies to all auto parts and accessories, from rims and wheels to headlights, brakes, and everything else in between.
What Are the ACES and PIES Data Standards?
To better understand the role of fitment data, it’s important to understand the ACES and PIES industry standards. The fitment data for all automotive aftermarket products are stored in a standardized format known as ACES, which stands for Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard. This standard was developed by the Auto Care Association. PIES, on the other hand, stands for Product Information Exchange Standard. Like ACES, the PIES standard was developed by the Auto Care Association. PIES is used to store fitment data for all non-automotive products.
Both ACES and PIES are important standards in the automotive aftermarket industry. They help to ensure that fitment information is accurate and consistent across all businesses in the supply chain. In other words, they help to make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to fitment data.
Without these two industry standards, fitment information would be much more difficult to manage. The ACES and PIES standards make it possible for businesses to exchange fitment data between each other easily. They also allow companies to update their fitment data easily when new products are released.
How Do ACES and PIES Work With Fitment Data?
ACES and PIES allow fitment data to be readily understood by customers, dealerships, suppliers, manufacturers, and others. They’re used to create an accurate fit for a certain vehicle and give full details of a product. Dealerships and shops use ACES to import compatibility information into their systems. When automobile manufacturers need fitment information from component companies or distributors, they mostly utilize PIES internally.
Using APIs and other technology, data feeds that adhere to the ACES and PIES standards may be sent directly into consumer-facing web apps or mobile applications. Consumers can research fitment compatibility on particular vehicles using these APIs before making purchases online. To put it another way, both fitment data formats enable the accurate transmission of fitment information between stakeholders in the automotive sector.
Online fitment tools that help consumers locate aftermarket parts for their cars frequently include the fittings listed in ACES and PIES-compliant data feeds. These sort of fitment search engines make precise suggestions based on a customer’s vehicle make, model, year, engine type (petrol or diesel), transmission (manual or automatic), and other factors.
How Fitment Data Works in the Aftermarket Industry
The ACES and PIES standards describe fitments using four compatibility data categories: category, subcategory, subset, and application. The following are the descriptions of the fitment categories:
- Vehicle type – This is a catch-all term that describes which automobiles utilize this collection of fittings. For example, “car” or “truck.”
- Category – This is more specific than the vehicle type but less so than the subclassification designation. It also decides how many components may be combined with a certain vehicle type within a manufacturer’s product range (e.g., Fits BOTH a Honda Fit and a Honda Civic).
- Subcategory – The subcategory is more selective than the subset tag. It also specifies which parts may be used with a specific vehicle type (e.g., Fits only the front seat of a Honda Civic).
- Subset – This data attribute indicates whether or not this fitment may be used on one portion in particular, such as a single door panel on the right side of each sedan (e.g., Fits Right-hand drive manual sedan front seat only).
The fitment data categories listed above must be followed when using ACES and PIES compliant fitment data feeds.
Automakers, dealerships, and marketers may use the fitment data feeds’ specifications to demonstrate compliance with ACES or PIES requirements. Aftermarket fitment feeds must contain fittings that match those in a manufacturer’s product specification database exactly.
This implies that if the manufacturer’s database and automotive fitment databases don’t match, parts can’t flow from dealer or wholesale catalogs into the retail market. Assume Honda offers Fit Front Seat Only as part of its original equipment specification but does not appear in an auto-fitment feed. This will not result in a fitment, so the component will not be available for purchase in the retail aftermarket.
The importance of car parts fitment data cannot be overstated. It is critical for maintaining a smooth and efficient flow of components between all stakeholders and end customers in the automobile industry.
The Importance of Fitment Data Compatibility In eCommerce Marketplace
It is essential that fitment data be compatible between all stakeholders in the automotive industry. A discrepancy between the fitment data in a manufacturer’s database and the fitment data in an aftermarket fitment feed can cause problems downstream.
For example, let’s say a customer is looking for a replacement part for their car on an online marketplace. The customer enters their car’s make, model, and year into the fitment search engine. The search engine uses this information to locate compatible parts from aftermarket suppliers.
Suppose the fitment data in the manufacturer’s database does not match the fitment data in the aftermarket fitment feed. In that case, the search engine will be unable to find compatible parts for the customer’s car. This can cause frustration and delays for the customer and lead to lost sales for the aftermarket supplier. It is important to ensure that fitment data is compatible between all stakeholders to avoid these problems.
The automotive aftermarket eCommerce industry has seen an increase in the need for fitment data compatibility in today’s increasingly digital business environment. The expansion of this market is due to the ever-increasing demand for aftermarket components and accessories for cars.
To meet this demand, businesses in the automotive aftermarket eCommerce sector must be able to share fitment information efficiently and correctly with their suppliers. Online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay Motors, or Walmart are among the most popular and reliable places for automobile fitment data to be shared in the aftermarket sector. These platforms want sellers to upload fitment data for the items they offer. This information is used to verify whether a component is suitable with a particular make, model, and year of the vehicle.
If a seller does not offer fitment data, their items will be unavailable on these platforms. Businesses in the automotive aftermarket eCommerce sector must ensure that their fitment data meets the ACES and PIES standards to guarantee that all parts and accessories are available for sale on these online marketplaces.
Failure to do so will restrict the availability of key components and accessories on these platforms, which may have a detrimental impact on company growth and profitability. Ensuring compatibility between an automobile fitment feed and a manufacturer’s product specification database ensures that fittings are correct, making it simpler for customers to locate the items they want.
Fortunately, myFitment offers a powerful and easy-to-use solution that helps businesses in the automotive aftermarket eCommerce sector to meet the fitment data compatibility challenge. myFitment’s ACES and PIES fitment data management software is designed to help businesses upload, manage, and share fitment information quickly and easily. myFitment’s software makes it easy to create and edit fitment records for all parts and accessories.
In conclusion, fitment data compatibility is essential for businesses in the automotive aftermarket eCommerce sector. myFitment’s ACES and PIES fitment data management software is the ideal solution for managing and sharing fitment information.
