.jpg?sfvrsn=a82f32b1_2&MaxWidth=500&MaxHeight=500&ScaleUp=false&Quality=High&Method=ResizeFitToAreaArguments&Signature=AA44E544880519062A05EC5B8B2B8D8DB71630FB "Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES)")
Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES™)
The Product Information Exchange Standard (PIESTM) is the aftermarket industry data standard for the management and communication of product information.
The PIESTM data standard is used by light, medium, and heavy duty, as well as powersport, off-highway and equipment companies to communicate their product information.
Talk to an Expert
Book a session with one of our experts for a free consultation on Data Standards, TrendLens, Demand Index, or real-time data assessment and catalog.
Book NowThe PIESTM data standard allows suppliers to communicate product information for their products to their trading partners, by utilizing multiple supporting relational databases
.png?sfvrsn=f4f3de18_2 "Product Classification database (PCdb)")
.png?sfvrsn=8043c0b6_2 "Product Attribute database (PAdb)")
which contain standardized attributes, parts classifications, brands and other coded data.
By using the PIESTM data standard, as well as best practices
It allows for companies to be more efficient in communicating product information for their products by utilizing a standardized communication method that is machine-readable (XML) by all trading partners. Product information a user can send through a PIESTM xml file for their products include, but is not limited to, features and benefits, marketing descriptions, pricing, warranty, product attributes/specifications, hazardous materials, kit, interchanges, and digital assets. By using the PIESTM standard, it:
- Removes duplicated communication and distribution efforts
- Saves time and money
- Lowers supply chain costs
- Increases product introduction and speed to market
- Contributes to increased sales, operational efficiencies, and reduced returns
While the PIESTM data standard is free, it utilizes multiple relational databases which contain standardized, codified data (aka reference data), some of which require an annual paid subscription.
Learn more about
.tmb-thumb160.png?Status=Temp&sfvrsn=913d409b_2 "Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES)")
PIESTM 7.2 is the current version* of the Product Information Exchange Standard (PIESTM) offered to the industry. This version, and all versions, are designed and maintained by the industry, for the industry, through industry workgroups and the
guidance of the Technology Standards Committee (TSC).
Each version passes a 90-day industry review period and is then released to the industry there-after.
Technical Documentation
Technical Specifications
XSD Schema
Best Practices
Category Management Hierarchy
White Papers
*Auto Care Association ONLY supports the Current and Previous versions of the ACES® and PIESTM data standards per the guidance of the Technology Standards Committee (TSC). Auto Care Association highly recommends that users of the data standards stay up-to-date as new versions are introduced and released.
Note: Our documentation is available to the public. To view and download documentation, please sign-in with your autocare.org login information to the Auto Care Digital Hub. If you do not have a login, please create an account.
Check out this 1-minute video to see who use the ACES® and PIESTM data standards. You will learn who the key data players are.
There are multiple ways to get involved in the development and management of the Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES®) and Product Information Exchange Standard (PIESTM) data standards, as well as their supporting relational databases.
This platform allows users to both manage and download the Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES®) and Product Information Exchange Standard (PIESTM) supporting relational databases. This includes submitting change requests to the current databases to modify existing records, remove and/or add new records.
Additionally, the platform allows users to access different events related to the data standards, including workgroups, trainings, webinars and conferences.
Access to the VIP site does require users to create an account. To create an account, please visit autocarevip.com and follow the instructions on the landing page.
Access to the VIP site does not require a paid subscription. However, access to certain products within the VIP site will require an active paid subscription.
Auto Care Association provides ACES® and PIESTM self-paced eLearning courses to help users gain a better understanding of what the ACES® and PIESTM data standards are.
To learn more and see what courses are currently offered, visit the Auto Care eLearning Platform.
The Automotive Content Professionals Network (ACPN), a community of the Auto Care Association, is a professional network with 400+ individual members employed in the automotive industry. It is the only community devoted exclusively to the education and professional development needs of the automotive content management professional.
ACPN serves as the leader in content management and related activities; promotes industry technology standards; and provides a forum for discussing and promoting best practices within the automotive industry all of which will culminate in their annual Knowledge Exchange conference.
Testimonials
I’m an engineer. I love to solve problems. Through the Technology Standards Committee, we’ve been able to work on common problems across our trading partners and the customers that we serve to improve our delivery of goods and services.
Doug Wiggin,
Director, Software Architecture Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance
Frequently Asked Questions
Using both ACES® and PIES™ allows for companies to be more efficient in communicating product fitment and product information for their products by utilizing a standardized communication method that is machine-readable (XML) by all trading partners. This removes duplicated communication and distribution effort, saves time and money, lowers supply chain costs, increase product introduction speed and speed to market, as well as contributes to increased sales, operational efficiencies, and reduced returns. Check out our Data Standards page for more information.
Subscribe
Ready to create and/or receive PIESTM XML files for your products?
| STEP 1 | Subscribe to Reference Databases | |||
| STEP 2 | Download Documentation | |||
| STEP 3 |
Create and/or receive PIESTM XML files for your products! |
Need More Information?
Convenient, self-paced eLearning to help your more effectively communicate with your trading partners.
Data Standards eLearning from Auto Care helps aftermarket professionals learn how to use the data standards to speak the same technical language as their customers, getting the right part, to the right place, at the right time.
What's New In PIES
Translations covering North, South and Central America are now available!
Auto Care Association offers translations for the data standards supporting databases (VCdb, Qdb, PCdb and PAdb) in the following languages:
- Spanish
- Canadian French
- Portuguese
Subscribing to these translation databases provides users the ability to easily translate the coded content within an ACES or PIES XML file.
Visit the subscriptions page to subscribe!
Heavy Duty Expansion
The Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES) was recently expanded for the heavy duty industry, as a result of an industry project managed by the Auto Care Association Community, HDDA: Heavy Duty, beginning with PIES Version 7.1 and newer.
This expansion included the addition of heavy duty fields into the PIES data standard, as well as the addition of product attributes in the Product Attribute database (PAdb)* for 20 product categories of heavy duty products found in the Product Classification database (PCdb), which are both utilized in the PIES data standard.
Heavy Duty companies can now use the PIES data standard to communicate their product information to their trading partners!