A Conversation With Bob Moore, Chairman of the SEMA Business Technology Committee

Bob Moore is the co-founder and current chairman of SEMA’s Business Technology Committee (BTC) and an unflagging advocate for the use of standardized data and the SEMA Data Co-Op, the industry’s newest sales-generation system. He has been working in the automotive aftermarket since 1976 and is a partner with Jerry McCabe in J&B Service, a consulting company that specializes in the aftermarket.

The dust has settled and the 2012 edition of the SEMA Show delivered the goods in a big way. Exhibitors and quality buyers participated in near-record numbers—which in itself is an encouraging indicator—and the buzz on business value was strong. Looking back on the past year, we note some of our other key accomplishments and the road ahead in 2013.

The SEMA Technology Transfer program recently received a series of new computer-aided design (CAD) files, including new files for the ’13 Jeep Wrangler and the ’12 Scion FR-S. The Technology Transfer program was developed with the intent of minimizing or eliminating the necessity for manufacturing members to produce products through reverse engineering.

After nine months of beta testing, the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) is poised to transition to a full system launch beginning in January. During its beta phase, the SDC came to encompass more than 125 data suppliers and more than 55 industry resellers representing data exports from more than 25 brands within the specialty-equipment marketplace. Recently demonstrated at the 2012 SEMA Show, the SDC promises to revolutionize the aftermarket’s approach to product data.

Fuel for the Retail Sales Machine

Think about the last time you wanted to make a significant purchase. Did you do any research, or did you just run down to the nearest store and pay whatever price they were asking for the item?

On average, more than 80% of consumers research products before buying. Many of those purchases happen in brick-and-mortar retail stores, and many happen online. The point here is not where a product is purchased but rather how the buying decision is made. You can’t do research without product information, right?

An Industry Solution for Data Independence

As the SEMA Data Cooperative (SDC) gets up and running, its officers are getting a lot of questions and comments from participants, curious observers and skeptics. They range from those who are currently active in managing their data to folks who are just realizing that product data management is fast becoming a requirement to do business in today’s marketplace.

Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act; Employers Face Important Decisions

After months of speculation and uncertainty, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was constitutional, including the mandate that requires individuals to obtain minimum coverage by 2012 or face a penalty tax. The Court’s decision now sets in motion full implementation of the law. This article focuses on upcoming decisions to be considered by SEMA-member companies.

SEMA’s Vehicle Technology Center

One of the central principles of lean customization is the Japanese term Genchi Genbutsu, which means “go and see.” To truly understand new business opportunities and the impact vehicle technology is having on automotive specialty-equipment products, you need to Go to the Gemba—the place where value and meaning are created.

The Science of Standardized Product Data Management for Manufacturers and Re-sellers With SEMA Data Co-op