The American Supply Association plans to develop an industrywide standard database and is recruiting volunteers to man a task force to study the issue. This was revealed at ASA's 8th electronic commerce blue ribbon summit during its recent convention in Las Vegas.
"This fall we surveyed wholesaler members of ASA and got responses from 85, including some of the largest in the industry," said Jack Hester, president of F.W. Webb (Burlington, Mass.) and current ASA president. "We wanted to find out what the major wholesalers need for their database. Their overwhelming response was that they want UPC codes, and Source ASA+ should put less emphasis on product information that resembles catalog information."