Product Data Questions Answered on ACES and PIES Data
Here we explain ACES® and PIES™ product data standards. Good product data is critical for success in digital marketing, and we’ve been working with ACES and PIES at Hedges & Company for 20 years.
(Note: here’s a link for information on PIES data and how it affects auto parts SEO.)
PIES product data standard for products and attributes
PIES (Product Information Exchange Standard) is the automotive aftermarket industry’s data standard for products.
It’s used to exchange product information between manufacturers, distributors and resellers. It was created to solve a massive problem in the industry when manufacturers and distributors started sharing product information that was non-standardized. Back then, information had descriptions of various lengths, abbreviations, missing information, and other errors.
The current PIES standard is version is 7.2, Revision 7, released March 2024.
The PIES standard covers more than 20,000 types of aftermarket parts and accessories. Aftermarket suppliers publish PIES data for their entire product lines and send it to their distributors, usually using third-party data companies to perform this service.
Using PIES as a data standard lets a supplier’s entire supply chain can accurately and consistently describe products online, in print, and in MRP and inventory systems.
![PIES™ product data product information exchange standard](https://hedges.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/pies-logo-2019_592x605-294x300.png)
The PIES™ (Product Information Exchange Standard) product data standard covers product-level data.
PIES data includes product descriptions, extended (longer) product descriptions, packaging information, warranty information, hazardous materials if applicable, country of origin and pricing.
It also includes features, benefits, product specifications such as dimension and weight, and more.
The newest version of the PIES standard, version 7.2, now includes products for heavy duty vehicles.
The PIES data standard is free for aftermarket companies to use, but related databases require an annual subscription. Subscribers can download files as Access 2007, ASCII, MySQL, SQL Server 2008 R2 or JSON (JavaScript Object Notation).
PCdb product classification database
The Product Classification database (PCdb) is also an industry standard, and defines a standard list of part types and categories, such as “spark plug” for example. The PCdb covers replacement parts, service parts, collision repair parts and aftermarket supplies. As of January, 2023, the PCdb requires a subscription to the PAdb (below) or the VCdb (scroll down to the ACES section).
PAdb product attribute database
The Product Attribute database is part of the PIES standard as well as the ACES standard. It includes 20 product categories and describes the fit, form and function of aftermarket products. The PAdb is massive: it includes over 108,000 product attributes in over 12,000 part terminologies, as of March 2020. It also now includes products for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.
ACES product data standard for year, make, model vehicle fitment
![aces automotive fitment standard aftermarket catalog exchange standard](https://hedges.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/aces-logo-250x263-1.png)
The ACES® (Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard) aftermarket fitment standard defines vehicle fitment.
ACES (Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard) is the aftermarket industry’s data standard in North America to exchange and manage automotive aftermarket fitment data. It was created due to our industry’s unique requirements for fitment information.
Fitment can include make, model and year; automatic vs. manual transmission, 4WD vs. front wheel drive, and many other variations. Aftermarket manufacturers publish ACES data for their product lines so their entire supply chain is using the same, standardized data.
The ACES standard follows an XML structure. It is available for subscribers to download as Access 2007, ASCII, MySQL, SQL Server 2008 R2 or JSON (JavaScript Object Notation).
The current standard for ACES is 4.2, Revision 1, released July 2021.
VCdb Vehicle Configuration Database
The Auto Care Association’s vehicle table, referred to as VCdb for “Vehicle Configuration Database,” covers vehicle type. It contains over 60,000 specific combinations of year/make/model cars and trucks. It includes attributes and configurations that go back to 1896 for US-manufactured vehicles. For vehicles manufactured in Canada it goes back to 1942 and 1961 for vehicles manufactured in Mexico. The VCdb covers nine vehicle segments outside of passenger vehicles. This includes agriculture, construction, industrial, lawn and garden, marine propulsion, marine auxiliary, power generation, railway and RV. You can subscribe to the VCdb in two levels with an annual fee paid to the Auto Care Association. One level covers light vehicles and powersports; another level covers medium and heavy duty trucks, GVW classes 4 through 8.
The trade association Auto Care Association (formerly AAIA) of Bethesda, Maryland manages year/make/model fitment through the volunteer Technology Standards Committee.
The aftermarket parts industry’s sources of product fitment can also come from data companies like PDM, Illumaware, RPM Data Services, Vertical Development, SEMA-backed SEMA Data, Direct Communications, Inc. (DCi), as well as many others. Fitment doesn’t necessarily need to be in ACES format to be used by the industry, because some companies will accept non-ACES files for fitment. These data companies can provide fitment data in multiple ways.
If you sell on Amazon, they prefer to receive ACES product data from either the manufacturer, or from that manufacturer’s approved third party data provider.
ACES and PIES data summarized
ACES and PIES are standard industry data formats for managing and exchanging automotive catalog applications data. Aftermarket manufacturers can send and receive parts data using industry standard vehicle applications (such as year, make, model), part types and qualifier statements. ACES (Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard) is an XML structure that uses multiple relational databases to manage and exchange automotive application (fitment) data. PIES (Product Information Exchange Standard) is used to manage and exchange product (part number) data. Product information in PIES files is categorized into over 20,000 product types that are organized into 25 categories.
Here’s a quick way to remember PIES vs. ACES: A PIES file—begins with “P”—is a list of Part numbers and Prices. An ACES file—begins with “A”—is a list of Applications, like a fitment application guide showing the different years/makes/models a part fits. Inside the aftermarket industry, we often refer to vehicle fitment as “applications.”
Those are shortcuts of course and have nothing to do with the real meanings or names.
What about a universal auto parts data database? Or can I buy an ACES and PIES database?
We see questions fairly often from people looking for an “auto parts data database,” an “automotive parts fitment database” or an “ACES and PIES database.” The data companies listed above manage parts databases by brand or manufacturer for their clients. There are many, many individual databases in the industry, created to be compliant with the ACES and PIES standards. If someone is searching for one universal database containing all the industry’s manufacturers part numbers, a comprehensive auto parts data database just doesn’t exist.
Intellectual property
ACES® is a registered trademark of the Auto Care Association. It is registration number 5706636, applied for on March 28, 2017 and approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on March 26, 2019. PIES™ is also a trademark of the Auto Care Association. It is registration number 7108157, applied for on September 23, 2019 and approved by the USPTO on July 11, 2023.
For more information: article on ACES and PIES data on AutomotiveAftermarket.org.