SOUTH JORDAN, UTAH, June 24, 2010 – OptiCat announced today that the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), the oldest organized group of warehouse distributors and their respective suppliers of parts, accessories, tools and other supplies for the automotive aftermarket, will become a member of OptiCat’s Advisory Committee. In this capacity, AWDA will represent its members and give OptiCat an important perspective from the non-manufacturer industry segment.
“OptiCat promised from its inception to involve all segments of the aftermarket in its efforts to deliver an industry-supported and organized data effort for the purpose of selling more auto parts,” stated Brad Duncan, president of OptiCat. “AWDA’s commitment to our cause helps close the circle of industry involvement for the benefit of all. We welcome AWDA and look forward to its invaluable insights as a key member of our Advisory Committee.”
“Complete, accurate and timely product data plays a major role in selling aftermarket parts.” said Willi Alexander, current chairman of AWDA’s board of governors. “With Rusty Bishop, most recent past chairman as our initial representative, we look forward to bringing our voice to the OptiCat table and helping OptiCat deliver on its data promises.”
AWDA will join AASA/MEMA (an OptiCat shareholder) as industry associations that offer guidance to OptiCat, a technology company focused on delivering software and data solutions to the aftermarket. In addition, another OptiCat shareholder and advisor, TecDoc Informations System GmbH, a similar European data cooperative, rounds out a powerful global group of advisory members.
“Over the past few weeks, OptiCat, AASA and MEMA have had the pleasure of meeting with a number of significant aftermarket distributors to discuss the OptiCat vision.” states Steve Handschuh, president and COO of AASA. “I am pleased to report that these meetings have been extremely positive, and there is general consensus that OptiCat will play an important role in advancing product sales in the aftermarket. AWDA will represent the industry’s distributors and their customers and its involvement is invaluable to OptiCat’s success.”
About AWDA:
The Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) was founded in 1947 and is the oldest organized group of warehouse distributors and their respective suppliers of parts, accessories tools and other supplies for the automotive aftermarket. AWDA, a leading segment of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) consists of more than 200 warehouse distributors and over 300 manufacturers, as well as jobbers, affiliates, marketing associations, manufacturer representatives and other companies that support traditional
distribution of vehicle parts. The 600-plus members collectively represent many hundreds of facilities and thousands of employees.
About OptiCat, LLC:
OptiCat is an industry-supported, manufacturer-centric technology company focused exclusively on delivering consolidated product information and associated software technologies to all segments of the automotive aftermarket. OptiCat’s Do-it-Once, Do-it-Right technology suite provides an interactive experience between data producers (manufacturers) and data users (retailers, distributors, service professionals) for the purpose of offering real-time, robust product data necessary for selling auto parts. OptiCat is majority-owned by AASA/MEMA and TecDoc Informations System GmbH. For more information visit www.opticat.net
About AASA:
AASA (www.aftermarketsuppliers.org) exclusively serves suppliers of aftermarket components, tools and equipment, and related products. It is a recognized industry change agent – promoting a collaborative industry environment, providing a forum to address issues and serving as a valued resource for members. AASA is an affiliate association of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). “AASA, Leadership in the Global Automotive Aftermarket”.
About TecDoc
The TecDoc Informations System GmbH was founded on 20. January 1994. A total of 31 shareholders from the automotive aftermarket industry and the parts trade, represented by the GVA (German Association of Spare Parts), support TecDoc. The primary aim of the company is to help ensure the ability to compete of the free spare parts trade. TecDoc offers an electronic information system for the PC and CV segment to the intermediaries of the free market. The availability of the technical catalogue information ensures the multi-brand service in all vehicle service companies. Currently, over 370 brands of the spare parts industry are members of the TecDoc system. The electronic parts catalogue on DVD and on the internet bundles over 2.795 million articles in 25 languages. Users can access more than 1.341 million illustrations. This covers over 44 000 PC types and more than 36 000 CV types. Per quarter, TecDoc reaches 800 000 national and international users, 60 percent of which in TecDoc own catalogues or in the WEB SHOP through trade solutions implemented by TecDoc and over 40 percent via trade catalogues.
Reprinting free of charge. Voucher copy requested.
Press contact:
Gabriele Stopka - Tel. +49 (0) 171 – 45 17 707 - press@tecdoc.net
Birgit Schiller - Tel. +49 (0) 221 66 00 – 214 - Fax +49 (0) 221 66 00 - 100 - birgit.schiller@tecdoc.net
TecDoc Informations System GmbH, Arnikaweg 3, 51109 Cologne, Germany
“OptiCat promised from its inception to involve all segments of the aftermarket in its efforts to deliver an industry-supported and organized data effort for the purpose of selling more auto parts,” stated Brad Duncan, president of OptiCat. “AWDA’s commitment to our cause helps close the circle of industry involvement for the benefit of all. We welcome AWDA and look forward to its invaluable insights as a key member of our Advisory Committee.”
“Complete, accurate and timely product data plays a major role in selling aftermarket parts.” said Willi Alexander, current chairman of AWDA’s board of governors. “With Rusty Bishop, most recent past chairman as our initial representative, we look forward to bringing our voice to the OptiCat table and helping OptiCat deliver on its data promises.”
AWDA will join AASA/MEMA (an OptiCat shareholder) as industry associations that offer guidance to OptiCat, a technology company focused on delivering software and data solutions to the aftermarket. In addition, another OptiCat shareholder and advisor, TecDoc Informations System GmbH, a similar European data cooperative, rounds out a powerful global group of advisory members.
“Over the past few weeks, OptiCat, AASA and MEMA have had the pleasure of meeting with a number of significant aftermarket distributors to discuss the OptiCat vision.” states Steve Handschuh, president and COO of AASA. “I am pleased to report that these meetings have been extremely positive, and there is general consensus that OptiCat will play an important role in advancing product sales in the aftermarket. AWDA will represent the industry’s distributors and their customers and its involvement is invaluable to OptiCat’s success.”
About AWDA:
The Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) was founded in 1947 and is the oldest organized group of warehouse distributors and their respective suppliers of parts, accessories tools and other supplies for the automotive aftermarket. AWDA, a leading segment of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) consists of more than 200 warehouse distributors and over 300 manufacturers, as well as jobbers, affiliates, marketing associations, manufacturer representatives and other companies that support traditional
distribution of vehicle parts. The 600-plus members collectively represent many hundreds of facilities and thousands of employees.
About OptiCat, LLC:
OptiCat is an industry-supported, manufacturer-centric technology company focused exclusively on delivering consolidated product information and associated software technologies to all segments of the automotive aftermarket. OptiCat’s Do-it-Once, Do-it-Right technology suite provides an interactive experience between data producers (manufacturers) and data users (retailers, distributors, service professionals) for the purpose of offering real-time, robust product data necessary for selling auto parts. OptiCat is majority-owned by AASA/MEMA and TecDoc Informations System GmbH. For more information visit www.opticat.net
About AASA:
AASA (www.aftermarketsuppliers.org) exclusively serves suppliers of aftermarket components, tools and equipment, and related products. It is a recognized industry change agent – promoting a collaborative industry environment, providing a forum to address issues and serving as a valued resource for members. AASA is an affiliate association of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). “AASA, Leadership in the Global Automotive Aftermarket”.
About TecDoc
The TecDoc Informations System GmbH was founded on 20. January 1994. A total of 31 shareholders from the automotive aftermarket industry and the parts trade, represented by the GVA (German Association of Spare Parts), support TecDoc. The primary aim of the company is to help ensure the ability to compete of the free spare parts trade. TecDoc offers an electronic information system for the PC and CV segment to the intermediaries of the free market. The availability of the technical catalogue information ensures the multi-brand service in all vehicle service companies. Currently, over 370 brands of the spare parts industry are members of the TecDoc system. The electronic parts catalogue on DVD and on the internet bundles over 2.795 million articles in 25 languages. Users can access more than 1.341 million illustrations. This covers over 44 000 PC types and more than 36 000 CV types. Per quarter, TecDoc reaches 800 000 national and international users, 60 percent of which in TecDoc own catalogues or in the WEB SHOP through trade solutions implemented by TecDoc and over 40 percent via trade catalogues.
Reprinting free of charge. Voucher copy requested.
Press contact:
Gabriele Stopka - Tel. +49 (0) 171 – 45 17 707 - press@tecdoc.net
Birgit Schiller - Tel. +49 (0) 221 66 00 – 214 - Fax +49 (0) 221 66 00 - 100 - birgit.schiller@tecdoc.net
TecDoc Informations System GmbH, Arnikaweg 3, 51109 Cologne, Germany
