Articles
Private: Beyond the 43: Packaging Information
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IDEA Connector is the premier Master Data Management (MDM) platform that allows electrical channel trading partners to securely share accurate product information from a single source like never before.
Strong Industry Participation
IDEA Connector has the largest portfolio of Electrical product content available. 73% of EFC Distributor members use IDEA Connector today.
Canadian Specific Data Attribution
IDEA Connector provides the specific requirements distributors need to conduct business in Canada. IDEA distributors are actively encouraging manufacturers to deliver Canadian specific content such as:
• Metric Unit of Measure
• French marketing content
• French descriptions
• Canadian pricing
• Canadian specific SKUs
• ETIM codes and features
Unparalleled Data Security
The IDEA Connector provides maximum product information and pricing content security. Application-level authorizations extend the cloud platform infrastructure, ensuring only the manufacturer authorized distributors can view their product and pricing details.
Customized Extractions for Mapping Efficiency
IDEA Connector’s visual mapping tool enables manufacturers and distributors to create templates and ad-hoc extracts to make timely and informed decisions.
Extended Product Attributes Support a Robust Web Presence
IDEA Connector has more than 500 fields of product information for a manufacturer to populate to meet specific requirements.
Product Information and Pricing Direct from the Source
IDEA Connector is fed directly and exclusively from manufacturers who maintain their own items and product/pricing changes.
Industry Created Product Information Standards
IDEA Connector aggregates and enforces a variety of industry-specific and global standards, including ETIM.
Advance Submission of Price Changes and New Product Information
IDEA Connector allows manufacturers to load price sheets 90+ days in advance of the active date. eCommerce platforms can preview the new items, assisting distributors in expediting the new product introduction process.
Data Source Transparency
Product information comes directly from manufacturers and is available to distributors immediately after submission.
Normalized product attribute values
IDEA normalizes many of the product attributes values to align with industry standards. Distributors have the option of extracting those attributes in the manufacturer submitted format.
Unparalleled Customer Service and Training
IDEA’s dedicated support staff have the extensive industry knowledge and available to assist distributors in customizing distributor’s data extractions and manufacturers in making sure their information is in a format the distributors can use.
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Key Partnerships
AD
The electrical channel product data for AD’s eContent Service program is powered by the IDEA Connector. IDEA also offers AD members discounted rates and incentives for the IDEA Connector.
IMARK Group, Inc.
IDEA partners with IMARK to educate their members on the business value of automation and offers members discounted rates and incentives for the IDEA Connector.
National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED)
NAED publicly endorses the IDEA Connector as the preferred source of manufacturer product and pricing information. New members also receive discounts for the IDEA Connector.
Electro-Federation Canada (EFC)
IDEA partners with EFC to tailor the IDEA Connector to the needs of the Canadian market such as incorporating French language, metric units of measure, and Canadian pricing.
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Resources
IDEA Connector enables
Lura McBride's sales team
to easily share accurate
product information
She’s Chief Operating Officer,
Van Meter, Inc.
Who We Serve
Testimonials
“ The IDEA Connector data is used by our staff to find better information more quickly, reducing hours and demand on our staff, while improving our quality of service and growing our sales. The Connector provides the quality data our company needs to be relevant in our industry, support our customers’ needs, and improve our efficiencies. ”
Lee Morris
Marketing Division Manager, Wabash Electric
“ The product data in the IDEA Connector drives our business system and is critical to increasing our profitability. Without the IDEA Connector, we’d need 3 to 4 times more staff internally and the data still wouldn’t be as good as what we get from Connector. ”
Jeff Skiles
Director of Strategic Pricing, Kirby Risk Electrical Supply
“ IDEA Connector is our sole source of product information. Our sales management all rely on product data being as complete as it can be. There’s a very direct relationship between having good data and how smoothly our business runs. ”
Ted Whitson
MIS Director, Stanion Electric
“ The IDEA Connector provides an efficient model to capture each of our manufacturer’s data in one place right at our desktop. They've helped us build relationships with our suppliers so that we can get the data we need to keep our customers happy. ”
Joe Wallace
Van Meter Industrial