New online course provides skills to use industry data standards

Fluency in ACES and PIES enables businesses to get the right part, to the right place, at the right time

Bethesda, Md.—The Auto Care Association has announced the launch of a new online educational course for its Data Standards products ACES and PIES. The Data Standards course comes as a response to a growing demand the association has seen for educational resources and tutorials on how to use the industry’s preferred Data Standards for conducting business efficiently. The new online course provides the necessary skills auto care industry professionals need to use industry data standards that speak the same technical language as their customers. Fluency in ACES and PIES enables businesses to get the right part, to the right place, at the right time.

In this interactive, self-paced course, participants learn about the cataloging process and how to use the aftermarket data standards, Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standards (ACES) and Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES), to communicate effectively and consistently with trading partners.

The course includes:

An overview of the catalog process
An introduction to the databases
An overview of ACES
An overview of PIES
An overview of how to make changes to the data

Training is critical to saving time and money when onboarding new members to a company’s cataloging team and also allows existing team members to refresh their skills.

“Being proficient in ACES and PIES data standards is foundational to running a successful business in today’s aftermarket industry,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “The new Data Standards course empowers companies to tap into their data team’s full potential and give them the confidence they need to use ACES and PIES more efficiently and effectively.”

The Data Standards course is ideal for:

Catalog managers
content managers
category managers
product data specialists
Any other industry professionals working with aftermarket standards ACES and PIES.

For non-catalogers, the Data Standards course helps improve overall communication with cataloging teams.

Students who successfully complete the Data Standards course earn 0.3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) that can be applied as an elective toward the Automotive Content Professional (ACP), the Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) and Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) designations.

Auto Care Association members can take advantage of the introductory member price of $99.00 for the Data Standards course by using code: “99Intro” available now through April 2022. The regular member price for the course is $149.00 and $249.00 for non-members.

The Data Standards course is available online here. Students can begin the course at any time and complete it at their own pace.