NG15 Ltd, product information management specialist and provider of the ETIM-enabled PIM system e-Pim, has recently become the first business to join the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) in their new Solution Provider Affiliated Membership category.
The new affiliation scheme is specifically designed for businesses that provide ETIM-enabled software solutions (including PIM systems, web shop and ERP systems) to electrical wholesalers and manufacturers. The scheme is also open to companies that are actively working to implement the ETIM Standard in their systems and solutions.
This new Solutions Provider scheme is an important way to complement the EDA’s recent work to facilitate digitalisation of the UK’s electro-technical sector, helping both manufacturers and wholesalers turn their product data into a major strategic asset. As the National ETIM Organisation for the UK, the EDA has been working across the supply chain to introduce ETIM – the global data model for the standardisation and classification of technical product data – to the channel. More recently it has created an industry-owned data pool called EDATA that will be the central source of complete and high-quality product data for the sector with the ETIM data model at its heart.
Margaret Fitzsimons, CEO at the EDA, explains more, “A key part of the EDA’s strategy to digitalise the channel is to have the support and involvement of those companies that supply product data related services to members and affiliates. A close working relationship with industry solution providers is critical to our success. Having systems and solutions that are ETIM enabled will provide a big boost to companies in their efforts to digitalise their data and make it easy to share with their chosen industry partners. Look out for the ETIM Inside logo that can be used by companies that have signed up to the scheme.
“We believe that all companies now require a system for managing their product data and from which information can be shared with ease with industry partners. The best-case scenario is that manufacturers will have their own PIM systems from which they will feed their product data into EDATA where it will be controlled and managed by them. Wholesalers in turn will require their own PIM systems to receive data from EDATA for use in their ERP systems and e-commerce sites.
“We recognise the hard work and direct experience that NG15 has brought to the development of their e-Pim system for wholesalers and manufacturers based on many years working in the sector. We look forward to working with them.”
Shaun Cranstone, managing director at NG15 said; “We are very excited to become the EDA’s first recognised solutions provider. e-Pim has been specifically developed with the electrical industry in mind and our team shares the EDA’s vision for a sector that truly recognises the value of its product data in the sales and marketing process.
“NG15 Ltd already works closely with some of the major UK electrical manufacturers and distributors and has gained in-depth knowledge of the electrical sector. This expertise has facilitated the process of incorporating the ETIM module into e-Pim and will help to provide manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers with an easier and more powerful way to manage their products and digital commerce”.