Product Classification database (PCdb)
The Product Classification database (PCdb) is a fully normalized, relational database, that is used in conjunction with the Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES®), Product Information Exchange Standard (PIESTM), and Internet Parts Ordering (IPOTM).
The PCdb is a product classification hierarchy, which standardizes product terminologies in a coded manner.
Some examples of PCdb product terminologies include:
Brake Pads
Spark Plugs
Headlight Bulbs
Sponges
Candy Bars
T-Shirts
The industry use of the Product Classification database (PCdb) promotes increased speed to market for manufacturers and their trading partners who use the ACES®, PIESTM and IPOTM data standards, as it makes it easier for trading partners to compile and display product content for web catalogs, websites and internal systems. Additionally, the PCdb promotes a positive user experience for consumers and allows consumers to compare products in their searches due to the information being classified in a consistent manner.
Learn more about
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The Product Classification database (PCdb) documentation found below is the latest version of the database documentation. This version, and all versions, are designed and maintained by the industry, for the industry, through
industry workgroups and the guidance of the Technology Standards Committee (TSC).
Data Rules and Policies
ER Diagram
Note: Our documentation is available to the public. To view and download documentation, please sign-in with your autocare.org login information to the Auto Care Digital Hub. If you do not have a login, please create an account.
There are multiple ways to get involved in the development and management of the Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES®) and Product Information Exchange Standard (PIESTM) data standards, as well as their supporting relational databases.
Auto Care Communifire
This platform allows users to join discussions and workgroup calls that are centered around the Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES®) and Product Information Exchange Standard (PIESTM) data standards and their supporting relational databases. Users can communicate issues, as well as areas of improvement, to continuously develop the standards to meet the demands both of today and tomorrow. Creating an account is free. Join today!
Education and Networking
The Automotive Content Professionals Network (ACPN), a community of the Auto Care Association, is a professional network with 380+ individual members employed in the automotive industry. It is the only community devoted exclusively to the education and professional development needs of the automotive content management professional.
ACPN serves as the leader in content management and related activities; promotes industry technology standards; and provides a forum for discussing and promoting best practices within the automotive industry all of which will culminate in their annual Knowledge Exchange conference.
Download
The Product Classification database (PCdb) and all other ACES® and PIESTM data standards supporting relational databases, can be managed and downloaded through the Auto Care Vehicle Information Portal (VIP).
The VIP platform allows users to view the contents of the PCdb, submit changes to existing records, request new records, as well as download the published database.
Publication Cycle: Weekly
Release Notes: Click here
The Product Classification database (PCdb) requires an annual paid subscription to either one of the Vehicle Configuration database (VCdb) packages or Product Attribute database (PAdb).
Note: Access to the VIP site does not require a paid active subscription. However, access to certain products within the site will require an active paid subscription. To access the VIP site, users are required to create an autocare.org account. Click here to create an account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Users can do all of this by logging* into autocarevip.com. The VIP platform allows users to view the contents of the databases (VCdb, Qdb, PCdb, PAdb, Brand Table), submit changes to existing records, request new records, as well as download the published database.
All change requests are reviewed by the Auto Care Association technology team prior to approving the request. If you need help while in autocarevip.com, navigate to the “Contact Us” button within autocarevip.com.
*Note: Access to the VIP site does not require a paid active subscription. However, access to certain products within the site will require an active paid subscription. To access the VIP site, users are required to create an account. To create an account, please visit Autocarevip.com and follow the instructions on the landing page.
To create and/or receive ACES® xml files, one must subscribe to one of the VCdb packages. Subscribing to the VCdb provides access to the Qdb and PCdb. All three databases are required to create and/or receive ACES® xml files.
To create and/or receive PIES™ xml files, one must subscribe to the PAdb. Subscribing to the PAdb provides access to the PCdb. Both of these database are required to create and/or receive PIES™ xml files.
See our subscriptions page for more pricing and more details!
Subscribe
Ready to create and/or receive an ACES® and/or PIESTM XML file for your products!
| STEP 1 | Subscribe to Reference Databases | |||
| STEP 2 | Download Documentation | |||
| STEP 3 |
Create and/or receive an ACES® and/or PIESTM XML file for your products! |
.tmb-thumb80.png?sfvrsn=913d409b_1 "Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES)")
Need More Information?
Convenient, self-paced eLearning to help your more effectively communicate with your trading partners.
Data Standards eLearning from Auto Care helps aftermarket professionals learn how to use the data standards to speak the same technical language as their customers, getting the right part, to the right place, at the right time.
What’s New in PCdb
Translations covering North, South and Central America are now available!
Auto Care Association offers translations for the data standards supporting databases (VCdb, Qdb, PCdb and PAdb) in the following languages:
- Spanish
- Canadian French
- Portuguese
Subscribing to these translation databases provides users the ability to easily translate the coded content within an ACES or PIES XML file.
Visit the subscriptions page to subscribe!
Heavy Duty Expansion
The Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES) was recently expanded for the heavy duty industry, as a result of an industry project managed by the Auto Care Association Community, HDDA: Heavy Duty, beginning with PIES Version 7.1 and newer.
This expansion included the addition of heavy duty fields into the PIES data standard, as well as the addition of product attributes in the Product Attribute database (PAdb)* for 20 product categories of heavy duty products found in the Product Classification database (PCdb), which are both utilized in the PIES data standard.
Heavy Duty companies can now use the PIES data standard to communicate their product information to their trading partners!