Q&A 001

Question:
What is ECCMA?

Approved answer draft:
ECCMA stands for the Electronic Commerce Code Management Association. ECCMA is an international not-for-profit association and community focused on improving the quality, integration, and interoperability of supply chain data.

ECCMA’s mission is to champion the development and adoption of international standards for quality, interoperable supply chain data. Through collaboration among industry and government, ECCMA helps improve the accuracy of data and information used to identify and describe individuals, organizations, locations, goods, and services within business systems worldwide.

ECCMA’s work focuses on the implementation of international consensus-based standards for data quality and interoperability, including ISO 8000 and ISO 25500. ECCMA also supports standardized terminology, standardized master data formatting, and resolvable identifiers to help organizations reduce costs, improve data exchange, reduce supply chain risk, and support digital and AI-enabled supply chains.

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Question:
What is ISO 8000?

Approved answer draft:
ISO 8000 is the international standard for data quality. It defines requirements for the exchange and quality of master data, including data about products, suppliers, assets, and other supply chain information.

For ECCMA, ISO 8000 is important because it helps organizations create master data that is accurate, interoperable, portable, and free from data lock-in. This means the data can be exchanged between systems and organizations without losing its meaning or becoming dependent on a single software application or vendor.

ISO 8000 supports better supply chain data management by helping organizations use standardized formats, clear descriptions, and quality identifiers so that data can be verified, reused, and trusted across business systems.

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Question:
What is ISO 22745?

Approved answer draft:
ISO 22745 is an international standard for open technical dictionaries and the exchange of characteristic data. It supports the creation of unambiguous, language-independent descriptions of individuals, organizations, locations, goods, and services.

ISO 22745 is important because ordinary words and labels can have different meanings in different systems, industries, or languages. ISO 22745 addresses this by linking terms, definitions, and images to concept identifiers. This helps ensure that the meaning of a term remains clear, regardless of the language or context in which it is used.

ECCMA is the current project leader for ISO 22745 and manages the ECCMA Open Technical Dictionary, or eOTD, which is an ISO 22745 compliant open technical dictionary of cataloging concepts.

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Question:
What is ISO 25500?

Approved answer draft:
ISO 25500 is the international standard for supply chain interoperability and integration. It supports trusted, automated exchange and verification of supply chain data between organizations and systems.

ISO 25500 is important because modern supply chains depend on data moving between many different parties, platforms, and applications. For this data to be useful, the identity of the parties and the meaning of the data must be clear, verifiable, and interoperable.

ECCMA is currently working on ISO 25500 with reference to supply chain integration and interoperability. In ECCMA’s work, ISO 25500 is closely connected with the Industrial Internet, trusted data exchange, authoritative identifiers, and the verification of supply chain data across business systems.

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Q&A 005

Question:
What is the ECCMA Open Technical Dictionary, or eOTD?

Approved answer draft:
The ECCMA Open Technical Dictionary, or eOTD, is an ISO 22745 compliant open technical dictionary of cataloging concepts managed by ECCMA.

The eOTD is used to create unambiguous, language-independent descriptions of individuals, organizations, locations, goods, and services. Instead of relying only on words that may have different meanings in different languages or business systems, the eOTD uses concept identifiers linked to terms, definitions, and other supporting information.

This helps organizations describe data more consistently, exchange data more accurately, and support standards-based cataloging, procurement, and supply chain data management.

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Q&A 006

Question:
What is a SmartPrefix?

Approved answer draft:
A SmartPrefix is an ISO 8000-115 compliant prefix used to identify the owner of a part number. It helps make part numbers more accurate, traceable, and digitally verifiable in procurement and supply chain transactions.

Manufacturers, suppliers, and corporate buyers can use SmartPrefix to standardize and verify part numbers before they are used in purchase orders, requests for proposal, catalogs, or other automated and AI-enabled supply chain processes.

By identifying the organization responsible for a part number, SmartPrefix helps reduce ambiguity, improve data quality, and support automated verification of product and supply chain data.

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Q&A 007

Question:
What is the ECCMA Master Data Validator, or eMDV?

Approved answer draft:
The ECCMA Master Data Validator, or eMDV, is an ECCMA application used to support standardized, interoperable master data across supply chain operations.

eMDV is based on ISO 8000 and ISO 22745 standards, which support data quality and data portability in procurement master data. It is linked to the ECCMA Open Technical Dictionary, or eOTD, for standards-compliant terminology and to the ECCMA Data Requirements Registry, or eDRR, for access to item templates across procurement categories.

Organizations can use eMDV to help validate and improve master data so that it is more consistent, portable, and suitable for exchange across systems and supply chain partners.

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Q&A 008

Question:
What is the ECCMA Standardized Open Catalog, or eSOC?

Approved answer draft:
The ECCMA Standardized Open Catalog, or eSOC, is a repository of 6+ million material master records.

eSOC is designed to support product sourcing, requisitioning, procurement, cataloging, and inventory management. It helps AI and automated systems deliver more accurate results by using standardized material and service master data.

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Q&A 009

Question:
What is the ECCMA Smart Catalog Builder, or eSCB?

Approved answer draft:
The ECCMA Smart Catalog Builder, or eSCB, is an ECCMA application used to convert product specifications into an ISO 8000 compliant interoperable data format.

eSCB supports the use of SmartPrefix for part numbers and ISO 8000-115 for part number identification. It helps manufacturers, suppliers, and other organizations prepare product specification data so that it can be exchanged and verified more consistently across procurement and supply chain systems.

By converting product specifications into a standards-based format, eSCB supports better product data quality, cataloging, and interoperability.

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Q&A 010

Question:
What is the ECCMA Data Requirements Registry, or eDRR?

Approved answer draft:
The ECCMA Data Requirements Registry, or eDRR, is a repository of cataloging templates, also known as identification guides.

These templates define the characteristics needed to describe a class of products, materials, items, or services. For example, a template may define which properties are required or optional when describing a specific type of item.

The eDRR is a shared resource built by ECCMA members and supports data cleansing, cataloging, and master data management projects. Templates in the eDRR use terminology from the ECCMA Open Technical Dictionary, or eOTD, and comply with ISO 22745.

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Q&A 011

Question:
What is ISO 8000-114?

Approved answer draft:
ISO 8000-114 is an international standard that specifies requirements for portable data. Portable data is data that can be moved from one system to another without losing its meaning.

In supply chain transactions, ISO 8000-114 supports the use of an interoperable data format for information such as purchase orders, product specifications, and item characteristics used in RFPs and RFQs.

For ECCMA, ISO 8000-114 is important because it helps make master data machine-readable, interoperable, and suitable for automated and AI-enabled supply chain processes.

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Q&A 012

Question:
What is ISO 8000-115?

Approved answer draft:
ISO 8000-115 defines the format for an International Part Number, or IPN. An International Part Number is a product identifier formatted as a quality identifier that includes a prefix identifying the owner of the part number.

This is important because manufacturer-issued part numbers may be unique within one manufacturer’s system, but they are not always globally unambiguous. They may also be modified or replaced by distributors or resellers.

By formatting part numbers according to ISO 8000-115, organizations can make product identifiers more accurate, traceable, and verifiable before they are used in purchase orders, RFPs, RFQs, catalogs, ERP systems, or master data management systems.

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Q&A 013

Question:
What is the ECCMA Know Your Supplier, or eKYS, service?

Approved answer draft:
ECCMA Know Your Supplier, or eKYS, is a supplier identity verification service powered by ECCMA.

eKYS verifies and standardizes supplier master data using ISO 8000 and ISO 25500 standards. It is intended to help organizations access verified, trusted, and interoperable supplier master data for digital and AI-enabled supply chains.

This supports better supplier identity management, improved data quality, and more reliable supply chain operations.

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Q&A 014

Question:
What is the Supply Chain Data Formatting Contract Clause?

Approved answer draft:
The Supply Chain Data Formatting Contract Clause is a resource that helps organizations require suppliers to provide supply chain data in a standardized, interoperable format.

The clause focuses on the identification and description of “who,” “what,” “where,” and “when” in supplier-provided data. This can include supplier identity, item technical specifications, facility locations, and transaction dates.

The purpose is to make supplier-provided data ready for automated intake into business systems, supporting better data quality, interoperability, and supply chain automation.

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Q&A 015

Question:
What types of ECCMA membership are available?

Approved answer draft:
ECCMA offers different membership options depending on the type of member and their role in supply chain data quality and interoperability.

The main membership categories are Full Member, Associate Member, and Professional Member. A Full Member is typically an organization that relies on quality master data for procurement, inventory, and supply chain operations. An Associate Member is typically a manufacturer, supplier, or service provider working to deliver quality portable data to customers. A Professional Member is an individual data or business systems professional who wants to be recognized as part of the ECCMA community.

ECCMA also provides US Technical Advisory Group, or US TAG, membership for participation in relevant ISO technical advisory activities.

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Q&A 016

Question:
How much does ECCMA membership cost?

Approved answer draft:
ECCMA membership fees depend on the membership category.

The rates are as follows: Full Member at USD 5,000 per year, Associate Member at USD 500 per year, and Professional Member at USD 50 per year. The ECCMA website also lists US TAG membership fees separately, including USD 10,000 for combined US TAG membership and a reduced fee of USD 6,000 for membership in only one listed committee.

Membership fees and available options may change, so users should refer to the ECCMA membership page or contact ECCMA for the most current information before making a payment.

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Q&A 017

Question:
What benefits do ECCMA members receive?

Approved answer draft:
ECCMA members gain access to tools, resources, services, expertise, and support related to the implementation of international data standards such as ISO 8000, ISO 22745, and ISO 25500.

ECCMA membership helps support digital transformations goals by supporting better master data verification, data quality, interoperability, standardization, supplier fraud protection, AI and automation readiness, and a clearer roadmap for improving supply chain data. Full Members will receive an ECCMA Full Member certificate, ISO 25500 IBID Verification Certificate, SmartPrefix registration, guidance related to ISO standards development, and discounted rates on ECCMA training and certifications.

Member access may vary by membership type, so users should review the relevant membership category or contact ECCMA to confirm which benefits apply.

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Q&A 018

Question:
What payment methods does ECCMA accept?

Approved answer draft:
Cheque or money order, wire transfer, and credit card are available payment methods.

Where wire transfer is used, the ECCMA requires that all wire transfers must include an additional USD 25 fee added to the total amount.

For the most accurate payment instructions, users should follow the payment options shown on the specific ECCMA registration, membership, training, or certification form they are using, or contact ECCMA directly.

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Q&A 019

Question:
Do I need to be an ECCMA member to take ECCMA training or certification?

Approved answer draft:
ECCMA membership is not required for ECCMA training or certification.

For MDQM programs, membership is not required and a free PDF certificate is included. An additional USD 50 option may add a printed and signed certificate as well as ECCMA Professional Membership for one year.

For training, ECCMA lists different online instructor-led training prices for non-members and members. The listed prices are USD 300 for non-members, USD 200 for Professional Members, USD 175 for Associate Members, and USD 135 for Full Members.

Users should check the specific training or certification page before registering because fees and requirements may depend on the program.

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Q&A 020

Question:
How can I become an ECCMA member?

Approved answer draft:
You can become an ECCMA member by selecting the membership category that best matches your role and completing the relevant registration or payment process through ECCMA.

ECCMA offers membership options for organizations, suppliers, service providers, and individual professionals. The membership categories include Full Member, Associate Member, and Professional Member. ECCMA also provides US TAG membership options for participation in relevant ISO technical advisory activities.

Before registering, review the membership category, benefits, and fees on the ECCMA membership page. If you are unsure which membership type is appropriate, contact ECCMA for guidance.

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