This year's Aftermarket eForum™ will help businesses 'learn more and earn more'

This year's Aftermarket eForum™, scheduled to take place July 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Chicago, will focus on data industry standards and the impact standards-based technology has on aftermarket businesses. Scott Luckett, vice president for technology standards and solutions for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, will open the three-day event with a keynote address that explains the conference's theme, "Learn More, Earn More: Techniques & Tools for Growing Your Business."

Luckett's address is schedules for Tuesday, July 15, during the general session portion of the 2008 eForum. During his address, Luckett will offer a high-level overview of the standards, best practices and emerging developments that will define the future of eBusiness for the industry.

"It's understandable that the topic of standards and best practices tends to put some people to sleep … that is not my objective at the eForum," explains Luckett. "So, I intend to take a completely different approach in explaining the good work that is going on in information technology. I plan to talk about money."

Luckett, who serves as chairman of the eForum, says the reason why attendees should care about ACES, PIES, IPO, XML and SOA is because of the acronym: MONEY. Widespread adoption of standards-based technology has three principal impacts on aftermarket businesses, including increased sales, reduced returns and improved profit margins through increased efficiencies.

"I realized we were going about it all wrong — trying to explain the benefits of technology by talking about schemas and data synchronization. Those, in the audience of the eForum™ who practice IT everyday, already understand the advantage of industry standards — they don't have to be told," Luckett adds. "Our purpose is to break it down into terms and messages that non-technical decision makers can understand, apply to their own business and convert into action."

The 2008 event will begin on Monday afternoon, July 14, with three separate track sessions. New to the eForum this year, these practical, hands-on sessions will include demonstrations of the latest technologies for data synchronization, PIM, electronic ordering and supply chain connectivity.

A full day of general sessions on Tuesday, July 15 will include the results of a new telematics study, a panel of shop owners panel, a panel of leading innovators in distribution, and a look at managing intellectual property and brands in an online world. The 2008 eForum will conclude with three breakout sessions on Wednesday, July 16.

For more information on the 2008 Aftermarket eForum, click here.