Thorn Lighting announced as latest EDATA data pool sponsor
Thorn Lighting has become the latest manufacturer to sponsor EDATA, the electrotechnical sector’s data pool.
Thorn Lighting has become the latest manufacturer to sponsor EDATA, the electrotechnical sector’s data pool. Their commitment brings the total number of sponsors to 25, comprising a mix of manufacturers and wholesalers of various sizes. The sponsors’ pledges means that the EDATA Data Pool can continue to develop: making high quality product data available at no cost to EDA wholesalers and their branches, and continuing to develop the platform based on the input of the members.
Margaret Fitzsimons, CEO at the EDA, said “EDATA is ‘by the industry for the industry’ and we are delighted to have secured the backing of Thorn Lighting, a highly respected, market-leading brand. Like the other sponsors, Thorn will take their place on the EDATA Steering Group and contribute to the strategic direction and development of the data pool.
“EDATA is about helping businesses benefit from efficiencies that standardised, high quality data can deliver to every point in the supply chain. This is not just about driving sales from manufacturer to wholesaler, and wholesaler to contractor, but also about improving the accuracy and traceability of product information during a building’s lifetime.”
Paul Kilburn, Managing Director, Zumtobel Group UK & Ireland, said “The EDATA data pool is changing the way the supply chain shares product information. Wholesalers are a key sales channel and our sponsorship means we can influence how EDATA evolves to support their businesses.
“We are also committed to giving our wholesaler customers easy access to high quality information about our products, and our EDATA sponsorship demonstrates that we are putting product data at the heart of our business and service to them.”
EDATA is growing steadily with over 80 leading brands signed up to share their high quality product data with electrical wholesalers. Every EDA wholesaler has free access to the data pool where they can download data in bulk to drive websites, e-shops, ordering and invoicing, and ERP systems, and create individual data sheets on the fly.
Launched in 2020 by the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA), the EDATA data pool is a cloud-based portal through which manufacturers can share their product data and images with multiple wholesalers simultaneously.
About EDATA
EDATA is the UK’s data pool for the electrotechnical sector created by the EDA in 2020. EDATA is industry-owned and run as a not-for-profit, with a Steering Group of wholesalers and manufacturers helping to guide its development.
Inside EDATA there are currently 3 types of data with more in the pipeline. Currently EDATA holds:
- Manufacturer Master Data: the basic data which enables the identification of an individual product or SKU (including manufacturer’s part number and GTIN or bar code number). The Manufacturer Master Data also includes product descriptions and marketing bullets enabling manufacturers to highlight key selling points.
- Digital Assets: including pictures showing the product at different angles, installation and maintenance instructions, certificates, and so on.
- Technical Attributes: data structured in accordance with the ETIM standard showing the technical and performance attributes for each product.
About the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA)
Serving and representing the UK’s electrical wholesale sector for over 100 years the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) is a membership organisation for the UK’s electrical wholesale sector. Launched in 1914 as the Electrical Wholesalers’ Federation (EWF), the Association refocused and rebranded in 1998 as the EDA. Membership is available to wholesalers, whilst manufacturers can join as affiliated members.
The EDA benefits cover 4 pillars:
- Business Community: events, forums, networking, access, news
- Training and Apprenticeships
- Digitalisation: ETIM and EDATA, the industry data pool
- Industry Insight & Representation
The EDA’s Training & Apprenticeship Programme is twofold: apprenticeships and the City & Guilds accredited Product Knowledge Programme of 12 modules. The Modules received a Princess Royal Training Award 2022.
In 2011 the EDA partnered with EDA Apprenticeships Plus to offer comprehensive and flexible apprenticeship service for the Associations’ members and affiliates. The menu of services includes all recruitment, HR and mentoring support and can be tailored around the needs of the business. Managers benefit from ready access to apprenticeship expertise and support to help navigate the training and funding landscape. In addition, EDA Apprenticeships Plus offer levy management services to larger businesses.
The EDA currently has over 250 wholesaler members and over 100 affiliates (suppliers of products, services or software solutions). Membership includes the leading national wholesalers, Edmundson Electrical Ltd, Rexel UK and CEF, and Stearn Electric Co Ltd, as well as hundreds of independent electrical wholesales businesses of all sizes, most of whom are members of the UK’s largest buying groups ANEW, AWEBB, Fegime UK and The IBA Buying Group.
The EDA has been a member of the European Union of Electrical Wholesalers (EUEW) since 1960. The EDA represents an estimated 75-80% of the UK electrical wholesale industry.
For further information, please visit www.eda.org.uk