IDEA and ETIM International Agree to Enter Collaborative Partnership

Partnership intended to align standards for global eCommerce in the electrical industry

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• ARLINGTON, VA – IDEA (idea-esolutions.com), a business-to-business technology service provider owned by the electrical industry, announces its intent to enter a collaborative partnership with ETIM International (www.etim-international.com). This partnership will help align the eCommerce standards used within the wholesale distribution channel with their counterparts in Europe to make global business more efficient for electrical manufacturers and distributors.

  The European Technical Information Model (ETIM) is the European equivalent to the industry’s UNSPSC® Electrical Attribute Schema used to communicate product information. IDEA led the development of the Schema to give electrical manufacturers a guide to provide descriptive marketing content to their trading partners throughout the US and Canada. Through this new partnership, IDEA will work with ETIM International to align the standards and develop a cross reference so that manufacturers can quickly send their marketing content to their US, Canadian and European-based distributors simultaneously.

  “It’s important for IDEA to continually monitor international eCommerce movements so that we can help our customers work more efficiently across borders as well,” said Robert Gaylord, President and CEO, IDEA. “Partnering with ETIM International to align our eCommerce standards will ultimately give our customers more growth opportunities.”

  Mary Shaw, IDEA’s Director of Standards, was invited to brief the ETIM International Board of Directors during the 57th European Union of Electrical Wholesalers (EUEW) General Convention held in Amsterdam this year. The presentation was followed by a discussion regarding the mutual benefit of a partnership between IDEA and ETIM International to align its standards development.

  “The theme of the EUEW General Convention was ‘Strengthen and connect the existing.’ This is exactly what ETIM and IDEA plan to accomplish together. Both our organizations have much in common, and IDEA’s presence at the meeting confirmed our interest in closer collaboration,” said Marc Habets, President, ETIM International.

  “This partnership will benefit the industry and both our models by improving quality and streamlining the business process for companies conducting business internationally,” added Franz Ernst, Vice President, ETIM International.

  About IDEA: IDEA is the official technology service provider and eBusiness standards body of the electrical industry. The company helps thousands of electrical manufacturers and distributors find the most cost-effective methods for running day-to-day business. IDEA’s applications help connect the supply chain and make business processes efficient, easy and enjoyable for people every day. IDEA was founded in 1998 through a partnership rooted in the collective leadership of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) members. Their applications also bring value to vertical markets such as industrial, retail, and consumer-packaged goods. IDEA is headquartered in Arlington, VA (idea-esolutions.com).

  About ETIM International: The association ETIM International is a partnership of national ETIM organizations and has its official seat in Brussels. ETIM International is founded to join forces in the development, maintenance, publishing and promotion of one European Technical Information Model (ETIM) for the classification of technical products. The power of ETIM is the collective; independent and sector wide organizing is the only way to success. The focus of ETIM International for the presence lies on the classification of electro technical products, but the association is open for entry of other related industry sectors. Current member countries are Austria, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and The Netherlands, the foundation of ETIM France is planned for September 2012 (www.etim-international.com).

  Tags for this post: standards attribute schema etim

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