IDEA Launches IDEA Volumetrics Service in Partnership with Avalon CSC

IDEA Volumetrics to Compile Weights and Dimensions Product Data for eCommerce Freight Calculations, Warehouse Automation, and Logistics

Arlington, VA—At the recommendation of NAED’s Board, the Industry Data Exchange Association, Inc. (IDEA) announces a new service, IDEA Volumetrics, which will provide weights and dimensions product data in IDEA Connector. IDEA, a leading product data provider, will be partnering with Avalon CSC, an experienced supply chain and logistics company, to assemble and maintain the data in collaboration with manufacturers and distributors.

Distributors need weights and dimensions to efficiently pick, pack, and ship to customers. This can include interfacing with eCommerce software to calculate freight, automate warehousing, and improve quality processes. Yet, the marketplace is challenged by the lack of weight and dimensional data for most products. In addition to reaching out to manufacturers to supply the data, IDEA and Avalon will work with customers to assemble and maintain weight and dimensional data for manufacturers’ product lines, including scanning products as needed.

IDEA Volumetrics anticipates delivering data for high velocity electrical items, with tens of thousands in phase one this year. This will enable electrical distributors to access weight and dimensional data via IDEA Connector into their ERP, WMS, and eCommerce systems.

“We’re dedicated to bringing more value to product data by partnering with Avalon to collect product weights and dimensions data. Having access to this valuable data will improve real-time freight calculations for eCommerce orders, operations, handling costs, and warehouse automation for the electrical industry,” said David Oldfather, President of IDEA.

“As we’ve helped dozens of distributors and manufacturers implement automated warehouses, we’ve found that weight and dimensional data is foundational. We’re delighted to partner with IDEA to be able to collaboratively provide volumetric data via the IDEA Connector. This enables industry companies to scale their supply chain operations, while maintaining efficiency and keeping costs under control,” said Nick Lovatsis, Managing Partner at Avalon CSC.

IDEA Volumetrics is launching with a select group of customers as founders of this new IDEA service. IDEA Volumetrics Founders will have an opportunity to have direct input on the service and advise on priorities. General subscribers will have access to the same high-quality weight and dimensional data based on a monthly service fee.

To get more information on IDEA Volumetrics or become a subscriber, fill out the form below.

About Avalon CSC

Avalon CSC is a consulting company and expert in supply chain optimization serving North America. The firm offers tailored solutions designed to help customers generate more revenue by making the right decision in strategy, planning and execution. Avalon CSC helps distributors and manufacturers make strategic decisions about location and planning for distribution centers and production machinery, choosing technology and automation, managing inventory, optimizing processes, and managing change in the workplace (avaloncsc.com).

About IDEA

The Industry Data Exchange Association, Inc. (IDEA) is the technology service provider and eBusiness standards body endorsed by the electrical industry. IDEA helps hundreds of manufacturers and distributors efficiently exchange transactional and eCommerce digital content and automate Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) documents nationally, as well as internationally. IDEA was founded in 1998 through a partnership formed by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED). Its applications, IDEA Connector and IDEA Exchange, also bring value to vertical markets such as industrial, retail, and consumer-packaged goods. IDEA is headquartered in Arlington, VA (idea4industry.com).

Media Contacts

Dena Barrett

IDEA Marketing & Digital Operations Director

Sonia Coleman

IDEA Marketing