SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — OptiCat announced that the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) will become a member of OptiCat’s Advisory Committee. In this capacity, AWDA will represent its members and give OptiCat an important perspective from the non-manufacturer industry segment.

“OptiCat promised from its inception to involve all segments of the aftermarket in its efforts to deliver an industry-supported and organized data effort for the purpose of selling more auto parts, “ said Brad Duncan, president of OptiCat.
“AWDA’s commitment to our cause helps close the circle of industry involvement for the benefit of all. We welcome AWDA and look forward to its invaluable insights as a key member of our Advisory Committee.”

“Complete, accurate and timely product data plays a major role in selling aftermarket parts,” said Willi Alexander, current chairman of AWDA’s board of governors. “With Rusty Bishop, most recent past chairman as our initial representative, we look forward to bringing our voice to the OptiCat table and helping OptiCat deliver on its data promises.”

AWDA will join AASA/MEMA (an OptiCat shareholder) as industry associations that offer guidance to OptiCat, a technology company focused on delivering software and data solutions to the aftermarket. In addition, another OptiCat shareholder and advisor, TecDoc Informations System Gmbh, a similar European data cooperative, rounds out a powerful global group of advisory members.

“Over the past few weeks, OptiCat, AASA and MEMA have had the pleasure of meeting with a number of significant aftermarket distributors to discuss the OptiCat vision,” said Steve Handschuh, president and COO of AASA. “I am pleased to report that these meetings have been extremely positive, and there is general consensus that OptiCat will play an important role in advancing product sales in the aftermarket. AWDA will represent the industry’s distributors and their customers and its involvement is invaluable to OptiCat”s success.”