http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/ IDEA News RSS Feed IDEA Copyright 2009 2009-10-28T19:39:00-05:00 http://expressionengine.com/ http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/twii-issue/october-28-2009/ http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/twii-issue/october-28-2009/#When:19:39:00Z Articles: New IDEA IRD Customers, New Resource! IDW eLearning Module Available on Portal, Personalize Your Portal Homepage, Get Forum Resources and Hear What Attendees are Saying, IDW Hot Fact: Utilities Workstation Now Available, November IDW and IDX Training Opportunities, 2009-10-28T19:39:00-05:00 http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/press-release-detail/pr-idea-enhances-customer-experience-with-upgraded-portal/ http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/press-release-detail/pr-idea-enhances-customer-experience-with-upgraded-portal/#When:16:50:00Z Arlington, VA – October 27, 2009 – IDEA, an electrical industry owned eCommerce service provider, today announced the release of the IDEA Portal 2.0 (www.myideaportal.net). This is the first major upgrade to the customer portal, originally introduced in 2008. The upgrade provides customers with improved search and navigation capabilities, real-time customizable news and expanded contact information. These improvements and additions were made based on customer feedback. The new search and navigation features give customers the ability to search by service, document type or standard type from one screen while simultaneously working in an IDEA web-based application. Customers have direct access to the application(s) in which they have subscribed once they log on to the portal. “I primarily visit the portal to access Industry Data Warehouse (IDW), the application I utilize to synchronize business information with trading partners. The portal has vastly improved over the past year and the 2.0 release is much easier to navigate. The organization and flow is intuitive and the direct access to IDW is a huge time saver,” said Richard Brooks, E-Business Development Manager, BURNDY® LLC. The renovated homepage integrates an RSS functionality to publish frequently updated industry content and offers more custom settings for customers to display the content of their choice. IDEA also added detailed contact information to help customers find and contact the right person for their specific needs. “The customer portal was introduced to serve as a one-stop location for customer support and will continue to evolve as our customers’ needs and technologies change. The improvements made in this release were designed to help our customers get the job done more efficiently so they can spend more time selling their products,” said Bob Gaylord, president and CEO, IDEA. The customer portal is a password protected site providing secure and direct access to Industry Data Warehouse (IDW), Industry Data Exchange (IDX) and Industry Retail Database (IRD). The site also features Live Chat support, public and private access to product support and training materials, Standards knowledge base and the ability to create support cases. About IDEA IDEA (www.idea-esolutions.com) is the only standard-setting organization offering a full range of eCommerce products and services designed to drive supply chain efficiencies, reduce costs, slash cycle times, and ensure standardized, timely and accurate data. IDEA provides Industry Data Warehouse (IDW), a database of product, pricing, and marketing data; Industry Data Exchange (IDX), a centralized and standardized document exchange solution; Industry Retail Database (IRD) a central repository of manufacturer retail product data powered by CERICOMX® which helps users meet retailer mandates and consumer packaged goods (CPG) and GS1 US requirements; and the Data Audit and Certification (DAC) Program which assures the accuracy and completeness of the manufacturer data found in IDW. 2009-10-27T16:50:00-05:00 http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/trade-news-detail/electrical-wholesaling-article-about-the-electrical-attribute-schema/ http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/trade-news-detail/electrical-wholesaling-article-about-the-electrical-attribute-schema/#When:21:18:00Z   2009-10-16T21:18:00-05:00 http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/twii-issue/october-14-2009/ http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/twii-issue/october-14-2009/#When:22:08:00Z Articles: New IDEA IRD Customers, IDEA Releases the First Electrical Industry Attribute Schema to Standardize Descriptive Product Information, Experience the New IDEA Portal 2.0 Today, Keep the Forum on Your Mind, IDW Hot Fact: How to Prepare for the December 31st Deadline, 2009-10-14T22:08:00-05:00 http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/press-release-detail/idea-releases-the-first-electrical-industry-attribute-schema-to-standardize/ http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/press-release-detail/idea-releases-the-first-electrical-industry-attribute-schema-to-standardize/#When:15:37:01Z ­ For Immediate Release Monday, October 5, 2009 IDEA releases the first Electrical Industry Attribute Schema to standardize descriptive product information Schema developed and approved by various participants to improve the sales process Arlington, VA – October 5, 2009 – IDEA, an electrical industry owned eCommerce service provider, today announced the release of the first Electrical Industry Attribute Schema. This schema provides suppliers with a guide to communicate a standardized set of product descriptors to their trading partners through IDEA’s Data Synchronization Platform (DSP), as an accompaniment to the existing transactional and descriptive marketing data in Industry Data Warehouse (IDW). The schema is based on the lowest and most detailed product category level of the electrical industry related portion of the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code® (UNSPSC®) list. UNSPSC® is an internationally harmonized and standardized code set used to categorize products for reporting and spend analysis. “This attribute schema is a major muscle movement in the energy to advance eCommerce and stands as an example of the collaborative power of the electrical channel. We should all be appreciative for the leadership of the Standards Committee manufacturer and distributor volunteers, heavily supported by DATAgility, that developed and piloted the schema, and Activant, that quickly enabled the IDW data sync platform to accommodate the data,” said Bob Gaylord, president and CEO, IDEA. The UNSPSC® field will become mandatory in IDW effective January 1, 2010. The UNSPSC® is the basis for the attribute schema which enables the growth of Internet based commerce. Correct assignment of the UNSPSC® code to products is necessary to effectively use the schema for attribute assignment. “Bottom line, missing information equals limited or no sales,” said Phil Barrios, Chairman, IDEA Industry Standards Committee and Sr. Director, Corporate Marketing & eBusiness, Hubbell Incorporated. "Once IDW is populated with detailed product attributes and UNSPSC® codes, distributors can incorporate this sales information into internal search and reporting functions and fuel the need of online commerce information,” said Barrios. The Standards Committee is developing a “lessons learned” document to assist the industry in populating and using the schema based on insights from a pilot program. IDEA is prepared to assist manufacturers in expediting this initiative to populate the product descriptors in IDW. DATAgility, partnered with Unilog Content Solutions, assisted with development of the Electrical Industry Attribute Schema that was ultimately approved for implementation channel-wide by the Standards Committee. The official documents detailing the copyright protected Electrical Industry Attribute Schema are now available on the IDEA Portal (www.myideaportal.net). IDEA customers are encouraged to contact their account manager for additional details. About IDEA IDEA (www.idea-esolutions.com) is the only standard-setting organization offering a full range of eCommerce products and services designed to drive supply chain efficiencies, reduce costs, slash cycle times, and ensure standardized, timely and accurate data. IDEA provides Industry Data Warehouse (IDW), a database of product, pricing, and marketing data; Industry Data Exchange (IDX), a centralized and standardized document exchange solution; Industry Retail Database (IRD) a central repository of manufacturer retail product data powered by CERICOMX® which helps users meet retailer mandates and consumer packaged goods (CPG) and GS1 US requirements; and the Data Audit and Certification (DAC) Program which assures the accuracy and completeness of the manufacturer data found in IDW. Media Contact: Rita Hagopian (703) 562-4628 rhagopian@idea-esolutions.com ­ 2009-10-05T15:37:01-05:00 http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/twii-issue/september-30-2009/ http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/twii-issue/september-30-2009/#When:20:24:01Z Articles: New IDEA and IDEA IRD Customers, Graybar and Rockwell Automation named recipients of the third annual Richard Buzun Award for Leadership and Innovation in eCommerce, Forum Attendees Learn How to “eOptimize” in Tucson, IDW Hot Fact: New Streamlined Authorization Process, October IDW and IDX Training Opportunities, 2009-09-30T20:24:01-05:00 http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/trade-news-detail/trade-news-idea-e-biz-forum-report-from-tuscon/ http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/trade-news-detail/trade-news-idea-e-biz-forum-report-from-tuscon/#When:16:10:01Z 2009-09-30T16:10:01-05:00 http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/press-release-detail/graybar-and-rockwell-automation-named-recipients-of-the-third-annual-richar/ http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/press-release-detail/graybar-and-rockwell-automation-named-recipients-of-the-third-annual-richar/#When:20:32:00Z Arlington, VA– September 24, 2009 – IDEA, an eCommerce service provider, today announced Graybar and Rockwell Automation as the distributor and manufacturer recipients, respectively, of the third annual Richard Buzun Award for Leadership and Innovation in eCommerce. Bob Gaylord, president & CEO, IDEA and representatives from the 2008 winning companies announced the winners during the IDEA E-Biz Forum 2009 in Tucson, AZ. The award was introduced to the industry in 2007 to recognize one manufacturer and distributor company that demonstrate leadership by implementing and promoting successful eCommerce programs throughout the electrical industry. The award is named after the late Richard Buzun, former IDEA Chairman, and former president and CEO of Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. “Recipients of this prestigious award understand the value of innovation in the channel. They invest in the future by exploring and adopting more efficient and effective ways of optimizing business with their trading partners. The 2009 winners continued to lead the change in the electrical channel despite a tough economy. We are most grateful for Richard Buzun’s significant contributions and for those leaders like Graybar and Rockwell who follow in his footsteps,” said Gaylord. Joe Wallace, Data/Pricing Administration Manager, Van Meter Industrial, and Mark Richards, Director of eCommerce, Leviton Manufacturing Company, announced the winners on behalf of the 2008 winning companies. Both Graybar and Rockwell Automation were recognized for their on-going initiatives as well as recent accomplishments. Chris Long, Supplier E-Business Manager, Graybar; Dave Stormo, Global Process Transformation (GPT) Program Executive, Rockwell Automation; and Mindy Michalski, Project Manager, Rockwell Automation accepted the award on behalf of the winning companies. Graybar was recognized as the distributor model for eCommerce. They were praised for successfully integrating eCommerce through their value proposition and using it to improve the customer’s user experience. One recent accomplishment was the successful implementation of Customer Project Order Management, a process that uses SAP tools to seamlessly upload information from suppliers and export it into custom sheets for customers. "As one of the founding members of IDEA, Graybar is incredibly honored to receive this award. For more than 10 years, Graybar has supported IDEA's mission to standardize electronic data sharing practices, and we are privileged to be recognized as one of the leaders in eCommerce innovation," said Robert A. Reynolds, Jr., Graybar’s Chairman, President and CEO. The manufacturer winner, Rockwell Automation, was recognized for “leading the change” and making a bold statement when it comes to eCommerce in the electrical industry. Rockwell was praised for actively participating in data quality programs and demonstrating that all of their data, including marketing and catalog data, is valued as intellectual property. In 2009 they implemented best practices and improved data reliability allowing them to expand EDI capability with partners and customers. "The alignment of our global EDI strategy with IDEA industry standards allows us to become more efficient in transacting business with our distributor partners, and will help them become more efficient as additional manufacturers adopt these standards. It is important that we work with our business partners to continue to find ways to eliminate costs and drive productivity, improving the way we manage our mutual businesses," said Keith Nosbusch, Chairman and CEO, Rockwell Automation. About IDEA IDEA (www.idea-esolutions.com) is the only standard-setting organization offering a full range of eCommerce products and services designed to drive supply chain efficiencies, reduce costs, slash cycle times, and ensure standardized, timely and accurate data. IDEA provides Industry Data Warehouse (IDW), a database of product, pricing, and marketing data; Industry Data Exchange (IDX), a centralized and standardized document exchange solution; Industry Retail Database (IRD) a central repository of manufacturer retail product data powered by CERICOMX® which helps users meet retailer mandates and consumer packaged goods (CPG) and GS1 US requirements; and the Data Audit and Certification (DAC) Program which assures the accuracy and completeness of the manufacturer data found in IDW. About Graybar Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, communications and networking products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of more than 240 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, serving as the vital link to hundreds of thousands of customers. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR. About Rockwell Automation Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, makes its customers more productive and the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell Automation employs about 20,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries. For more information, visit www.rockwellautomation.com. Photo Downloads All Ceremony Participants on Stage Graybar Accepting Award Rockwell Automation Accepting Award Graybar and Rockwell Automation Awards Media Contact: Rita Hagopian (703) 562-4628 rhagopian@idea-esolutions.com   2009-09-24T20:32:00-05:00 http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/twii-issue/september-16-2009/ http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/twii-issue/september-16-2009/#When:21:28:00Z Articles: New IDEA IRD Customers, New Resources! Give Your Trading Partners the Data that Sells, Dirk Johnson Joins the IDEA Team, Whose Comfort Zone Are You In?, Forum Hot Fact: User Group Agendas Revealed, 2009-09-16T21:28:00-05:00 http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/twii-issue/september-2-2009/ http://www.idea-esolutions.com/news-events/twii-issue/september-2-2009/#When:21:01:00Z Articles: The Case for Using EDI, Thomas & Betts: Bronze Sponsor of the IDEA E-Biz Forum, Forum Registration Closes Friday: Newly Added Educational Lunch Sessions Present More Opportunities to Learn, NEMA’s enLIGHTen America Initiative Marks First Anniversary, IDX Hot Fact: EDI is Not Just About Orders, 2009-09-02T21:01:00-05:00