At the end of October, we welcomed parts manufacturers and International Trading Groups (ITGs) to Cologne for the 3rd myITG Forum. It was a day full of open dialogue, industry insights and concrete progress on how we, as a community, can build a more connected and competitive aftermarket.
“The myITG Forum showed what is possible when suppliers and ITGs work together with a shared purpose. We are committed to providing the neutral platform that helps reduce complexity, streamline workflows and create the conditions for more efficient cooperation. This collective approach is essential for staying competitive in the evolving aftermarket landscape.”
A Shared Focus: Standardised Data and Digital Processes
We opened the day by looking at how standardised data and harmonised structures make the entire ecosystem more reliable and efficient. Across several agenda items, it became clear that consistent member structures, unified product groups and the use of identifiers such as VAT, DUNS and Alternative Business IDs are becoming essential.
These elements are the foundation for accurate customer mapping, cleaner reporting and fewer discrepancies — topics that came up repeatedly in both the morning programme and the breakout sessions.
Insights From the ITG and Supplier Community
One of the strengths of the myITG Forum is hearing directly from the people who work with the platform every day. This year, we had guest speakers from both suppliers and ITGs who shared their experiences of digital transformation in practice.
From the ITG side, we heard why data standardisation is becoming essential — not only for ITGs themselves, but for the entire aftermarket. They explained how they are integrating myITG into their own systems to create consistent reporting structures, maintain accurate membership data and align product hierarchies. By standardising these elements, myITG has helped them streamline internal processes, reduce discrepancies and ensure that data flows more reliably across all levels of their organisations.
From the supplier perspective, we saw how myITG supports structured meeting preparation, immediate recording of key decisions and streamlined follow-up across different teams and regions. Several participants emphasised how much administrative effort can be eliminated simply by using one shared platform with predictable processes.
The myITG Reporting Connector Takes Centre Stage
One of the biggest highlights was the introduction and deep dive into the myITG Reporting Connector, which allows suppliers to provide their sales data in one single format while automatically generating the specific output required by each ITG.
This wasn’t just a theoretical presentation — we saw two real-world, fully working solutions. One supplier showcased an implementation built on Microsoft Power Platform / Power BI, demonstrating how the connector can run on standard enterprise tools.
Another supplier presented a Python-based implementation, showing how lightweight setups can achieve the same automated transformation with minimal overhead.
Both examples proved that the connector is flexible, scalable and ready for real-life use. They also showed how automated reporting significantly reduces manual work, removes the need to maintain multiple templates, and improves the accuracy and speed of monthly reporting.
Deep Dives Into Data Provisioning and Standardisation
Our technical sessions walked through practical steps for improving data accuracy across the board. This included:
- How ITG member structures can be standardised and kept up to date
- How unique identifiers improve matching accuracy between supplier and ITG hierarchies
- How structured product groups reduce uncertainty in reporting
- How APIs enable more efficient data exchange and reduce manual corrections
These discussions highlighted a clear message: we all benefit when the ecosystem speaks the same language.
Automation and AI Are Already Making a Difference
Throughout the forum, it became evident that automation is becoming part of everyday operations. We explored how automated meeting summaries, action extraction and improved data preparation are already helping teams work more efficiently.
Several participants noted that AI will soon play a bigger role in reporting, analytics and operational decisions. The shared understanding was that the companies who prepare their data now will be the ones who benefit the most from these developments.
Looking Ahead Together
What made the 3rd myITG Forum special was the strong sense of collaboration. Suppliers and ITGs openly shared where they see challenges and how digital workflows can help overcome them. We were reminded once again that progress in our ecosystem works best when we define standards together.
