PDS Adoption Is Underway: The Industry Begins Speaking One Data Language

Three months after its launch, ASA’s Product Data Standard is shifting from concept to reality as members begin putting it into practice.
 

If you’ve ever tried to upload a manufacturer spreadsheet only to realize none of the columns line up, you’ve felt the pain. Different field names, mixed formats, and missing attributes turn routine updates into a scavenger hunt.
 

The Product Data Standard (PDS) was built to end that cycle. Launched this past July, it gives manufacturers and distributors a shared playbook for structuring and naming product data. Member-made, member-run, and now officially moving into adoption, the PDS is gaining traction. More companies are mapping their data to the Standard, and early results show exactly why it matters: less rework, faster updates, and clearer communication across the channel.
 

The goal isn’t perfection; it’s alignment. When everyone defines “color,” “finish,” or “material” the same way, everything moves faster. Fewer one-off templates. Less back-and-forth. Cleaner e-commerce listings. Faster updates. Consistency is what unlocks the next wave of efficiency, automation, analytics, and AI.
 

Kohler Co. was the first to fully align its product data to the PDS, showing what adoption looks like in practice. They’ve proven the Standard works outside a test file—it works in the real world. That kind of validation gives everyone else confidence to follow, because it shows the payoff isn’t theoretical anymore.
 

“It’s essential to ‘speak the same language’ when it comes to product data. It’s understandable that our partners find it challenging when manufacturers are not aligned on uniform definitions for brand, category, and collection. We build trust and win with our partners when we deliver product data that’s clear and consistent, empowering end-customers to make confident and more informed purchasing decisions.” — Jim Giuliano, Product Data Analyst, PIM Operations, Kohler Co.
 

Is ASA collecting and managing all product data? No, we are simply defining how the data that others have is shared.
 

The Standard, built by members, is straightforward and practical: category templates that define key attributes, a data dictionary that removes ambiguity, standardized values that support automation, and a governance process to keep everything current. It’s all available now at www.asa.net/Industry-Standards/Product-Data-Standard.
 

Already, more manufacturers are comparing their data models to the PDS, and several distributors have started integrating it into their onboarding workflows. Each new adopter makes the next one’s job easier, creating momentum that keeps building as feedback rolls in.
 

The task group continues to refine and expand the Standard as members submit change requests and share lessons from their early implementations. This collaborative process ensures the PDS remains relevant, accurate, and adaptable as product information needs evolve across the supply chain.
 

If your company hasn’t looked at the PDS yet, now’s the time. Download the templates, scan the data dictionary, and see how your structure compares. If something doesn’t fit your real-world use case, send a change request and help shape the next version. Or join the task group directly—the Standard only works if we build it together.
 

Every company that utilizes the Product Data Standard, makes it more valuable. Because when the industry speaks one language, everyone wins.