In an ever-growing world, e-commerce emerges as a shining star in the field of aftermarket parts sales. Experts believe that e-commerce sales will increase exponentially in the upcoming years, opening up the window for new business ventures.
However, with new ventures come new opportunities and challenges. There are usually thousands of unique car parts that a car part seller will have to handle. Therefore, any car part seller who wishes to enter the e-commerce market will have to be well-prepared, especially for fitment data. Fitment data is a key to managing your e-commerce website and a key to increasing its conversion rate as well.
Auto part fitment data
Auto part fitment data refers to data sets that govern whether certain parts will fit specific models of cars. Most parts are not universal fit-all pieces. Many parts can only fit with very specific vehicles, and if a customer buys the wrong part, they will have to return it, which is a lengthy and complicated process. Fitment data is managed by databases, of which the Universal Vehicle Database (“UVDB”) and the Global Auto Parts Catalogue (“GAPC”) are good examples.
UVDB fitment data
UVDB is currently the most detailed and accurate vehicle database in the world. This database also provides high-quality and superbly accurate fitment data to users by going further into the vehicle's details. For example, other databases only deal with base vehicle data, but UVDB goes deeper into the transmission, body type, engine type, and much more, further improving the accuracy of the data in general.UVDB also features a simple API, which will enable you to integrate it into your website easily.
GAPC fitment data
GAPC is a fitment database that works in conjunction with the UVDB database. It is a database that governs details about car parts as well as the vehicles themselves. The database is regularly updated to take in newer parts and newer vehicles.
GAPC is used to cross-reference information that your customers input. The database will return results that match the input data. For example, if the customers input the model of their vehicle and its configurations, the system will give out the matching parts based on the selected part type, allowing the customers to buy parts with ease.
Not all fitment data is created equal
Fitment data is reasonably complicated, so most businesses rely on software solutions to help them sort out and manage this vast amount of data. There are a number or areas that are important to understand.
Format considerations
In the industry, UVDB and GAPC are the two industry-standard data formats that you should consider. UVDB links catalogue parts directly to vehicle base properties to provide fitment, an extremely accurate link to real-world vehicle configurations. GAPC is the most detailed and precise parts catalogue globally, providing part information such as name, description, dimensions and weight.
Both of these data formats are equally important for your eCommerce website, and a good e-commerce website will have to consider both. Using the wrong data formats could potentially cause more harm to your website.
The benefits of accurate fitment data
Fitment data is essential to your e-commerce website, and it is even more important to use accurate fitment data. Here are some of the most prominent benefits you can get if your data is correct.
Trusted branding
Customers’ trust is arguably one of the most critical factors to your brand’s success. If the branding is solid, your brand can expect to get a reliable flow of customers in the future. Accurate fitment data means that your customers will be able to accurately find the parts they need within just a few minutes.
Conversely, if the fitment data is not entirely correct, there is a chance that your customers may make the wrong purchase. Your branding will face bad reputations if it somehow happens. These bad reputations will negatively affect your sales if they are not addressed.
It should also be noted that accurate fitment data will prevent your customers from missing out on their parts. One car part might fit multiple cars, and if your fitment data is not correct, a possible fit might be left out.
Therefore, the customers might miss out on a potential part that might actually fit their vehicle. This will severely affect your sales volume, especially if the database is severely outdated.
Credibility
When a case of mistaken purchase occurs, your credibility as a brand will also suffer a loss of credibility. Customers will then have to return the purchased parts, costing them extra shipping fees.
They might also start doubting the accuracy of your fitment data and will move away from your website altogether. Some angry customers might even leave bad reviews about your business. Therefore, it is always good to get the most accurate fitment data.
Lower resources requirements
Accurate fitment data also has a positive influence on your website's resources.
Fitment data is an essential key to increasing your chance of success with your car parts store on an eCommerce platform. With accurate and high-quality fitment data, it will be much easier for the customers to find the parts that fit their vehicle, ensuring that they will make the right purchase all the time. Fitment data, if used correctly, will also help you save a lot of resources and utilise them more effectively.
