39 electrotechnical manufacturers have signed up to the not-for-profit data pool, EDATA, to distribute their product information to wholesalers. The latest manufacturers to choose the self-service portal, and in doing so to play an active role in EDATA’s development, are:
- Airflow Developments
- Atkore
- BEG (UK)
- BELL Lighting
- Deligo
- EnviroVent
- Europa Components & Equipment
- Gewiss UK
- JCC
- NVC Lighting
- Securi-Flex
- Termination Technology
- Timeguard
- WAGO
EDATA opened its doors to manufacturers and wholesalers in early 2020, starting with a three-year commitment from 25 Founders: 10 wholesalers and 15 manufacturers. Since then, a further 24 leading manufacturers have subscribed to the service.
Margaret Fitzsimons, CEO at the EDA, explains EDATA’s guiding principles, “EDATA was created to help digitalise the UK’s electrotechnical sector and, crucially, is not-for-profit: any surplus from annual subscriptions is ploughed back to develop the service or returned to members. All the product data inside remains the property of the manufacturer: each business is responsible for its upkeep through the self-service portal.
“Industry collaboration is central to EDATA, and subscribers have an active voice in its development: regular round-tables monitor progress and prompt discussion. There are also opportunities for businesses to join working groups: subject-specialists work in partnership to set data standards that benefit everyone in the sector.”
EDATA is on-target to hold 250,000 SKUs by the end of 2022 but volume is not the only measure of success as Richard Appleton, General Manager at EDA Data Services, explains: “Our focus is to offer the highest quality product data possible and that is not achievable overnight. We won’t jeopardise quality in the push for data volume. Our objective is to provide wholesalers with accurate, consistent, fully populated and reliable product data sourced directly from their key suppliers. The manufacturers that sign up to EDATA receive a full package of support, tailored to where they are on their product data journey – and each company is at a different stage.”