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How Bad ACES and PIES Accuracy Causes Big Financial Losses

In the modern automotive supply chain, clean data isn’t just a technical requirement—it is the engine of your commercial strategy. 

For manufacturers, the ability to accurately manage and distribute ACES (Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard) and PIES (Product Information Exchange Standard) data is the definitive barrier between a captured sale and a lost opportunity.

Inaccurate data has been flagged as a $1.7 billion annual problem for the automotive aftermarket.

The High Cost of "Good Enough" Data

When ACES and PIES standards are neglected or managed via static spreadsheets, the financial impact is immediate and severe:

  • The Return Crisis

    While the average online return rate for parts sits near 19.4%, inaccurate fitment data is responsible for nearly 20% of those returns. For some segments, "incorrect fitment" skyrockets to 43% of total returns.

  • Customer Friction

    Consumer surveys indicate that 71% of returns happen because of compatibility issues. Whether the customer ordered the wrong part (37%) or received a part that didn’t fit (34%), the root cause is often missing or incomplete ACES data.

  • Invisible Inventory

    Approximately 20% of PIES files submitted by vendors lack primary images. In a digital-first world, a part without an image is effectively invisible to the buyer.

  • The Coverage Leak

    The vehicle population changes constantly. Suppliers who fail to synchronize their data monthly lose an average of 0.5% in vehicle coverage every 30 days. This is a compounding loss of market access.

  • The Overlap Issue

    Roughly 40% of catalog files contain "overlap errors"—where multiple parts are mapped to the same vehicle without the necessary attributes (Qdb qualifiers) to help customers choose the correct one.

Architecting a Seamless Data Strategy with Mecka

Mecka was engineered to move from fragmented to unified.

Our Business Operating System for Manufacturers focuses on three pillars of digital maturity:

  • Catalog Management

    We provide a "single pane of glass" interface that allows teams to maintain and share digital catalogs directly in ACES and PIES formats. This ensures that your fitment and product attributes are always in sync without the need for additional expensive support.

  • Standardized Data Conversion

    The transition from legacy spreadsheets to industry-standard formats is a massive hurdle. To lower the barrier to entry, Mecka subscriptions include some free initial data conversion. We transform your legacy records into market-ready, standardized data at no additional setup cost.

  • Real-Time Supply Chain Integration

    Accuracy at the source is only half the battle; distribution is the other. Mecka enables real-time data sharing with B2B wholesalers and B2C marketplaces. By pushing standardized data to platforms like eBay Motors, manufacturers can leverage "Confirmed Fit" algorithms to drastically reduce return rates and build consumer trust.

Moving Beyond Manual Entry

The era of managing data via spreadsheets is over. 

Scale requires automation, standardization, and a commitment to data integrity. 

By simplifying the management of ACES and PIES, Mecka allows manufacturers to focus on engineering the parts that keep the world moving.

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