If your team is still spending hours cleaning up spreadsheets just to quote a job or place an order, it’s time to stop. The American Supply Association (ASA) just launched a new Product Data Standard (PDS), and it’s built to fix the messy, inconsistent product specs that slow down the entire PHCP and PVF supply chain.
The short version: no more guessing on product dimensions, materials, UPCs, or performance data. No more back-and-forth with reps over mismatched descriptions. No more wasting time reformatting bad info just so your systems will accept it.
What It Covers
The standard applies to the categories where chaos is most common:
- Full-line plumbing
- Water heaters
- Pipe, tubing, and related components
- Tools
- Rough-ins and accessories
And it’s not just surface-level cleanup. The PDS standardizes key product details, like dimensions, finishes, materials, descriptions, and performance specs, into a single, unified format developed with input from over 30 manufacturers and distributors.
It’s built by the people who live this pain every day. Think less manual re-entry, fewer quoting delays, and cleaner data from the warehouse to the jobsite.
Why It Matters
Bad data isn’t just annoying. It slows down jobs, creates errors, and leads to costly rework in the field. It bogs down estimating, purchasing, and field teams who need fast, accurate answers.
Whether you’re a contractor tracking down materials, a distributor onboarding new SKUs, or a rep trying to avoid that third email explaining a spec sheet, this standard is designed to save you time, cut the noise, and reduce mistakes.
Key benefits:
- Fewer order errors
- Faster quoting and onboarding
- Better communication across teams
- Cleaner inventory and job tracking
- Less manual formatting and spreadsheet hell
Clear, consistent data benefits every link in the chain, from the field to the back office. Technology makes it possible, but the real value is in getting everyone on the same page.
Why Now
The industry’s moving digital. Whether you’re running full-scale ERP systems or still sending out POs via email, clean, structured product data is now the backbone of your operation.
The ASA saw that disconnect, with data flying back and forth in inconsistent formats, and decided to fix it. The PDS fills a gap that’s been dragging down progress for years. It gives every player in the chain from suppliers to end users a shared system that actually works.
Even if your team’s just starting its digital journey, aligning with this format means fewer headaches later. It’s not just for tech-savvy companies. It’s for anyone tired of cleaning up other people’s bad info.
What to Do Next
If your team handles product data anywhere from estimating to procurement to field install, now’s the time to get aligned.
- Ask your vendors to send product specs using the PDS format
- Review ASA’s documentation and sample guides
- Loop in your operations or IT lead
- Start building the standard into your internal workflows
The standard is live and free to access right now at ASA Product Data Standard.
ASA is also rolling out webinars, task group sessions, and support resources to help teams adopt the standard without derailing their day-to-day.
Bottom line: clean data saves time, reduces mistakes, and helps your business move faster. If you’re tired of spreadsheet gymnastics just to get product info from A to B, the fix is finally here.
