Aerospace Marketplaces / Websites Report

The report covers the key websites which facilitate the trading, procurement and listing of aircraft parts. We provide not only a synopsis of their key capabilities and policies, but the results from a survey of the Aviation industry on their usability and how customers view these sites. This in-depth survey covered many aspects of twenty (20) of the aviation industries most-used websites/Marketplaces. We also delve into emerging industry trends to be aware of such as RFID, electronic forms (eForms), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and more. Our ~300 page report was written by industry experts, and was based upon feeback from aerospace personnel from around the world. 

The most important trading mechanisms and formats, such as ATA Spec 2000, X12, UN/EDIFACT, and the new Type X are discussed from a non-technical perspective, and guidance on potential solution providers is provided.  Also presented is a set of general recommendations on protecting yourself and securing your data as you do business on the Internet, and an overview on optimizing your website and email marketing approaches to attract more customers. 

We provide an overview of various industry mechanisms which are either in use, or, will be coming the near future, which affect how parts are traded or managed. There is simply no better way for you to determine which of these sites fit your business criteria. 

Table of Contents: 

Marketplaces: A Brief Overview 

   B2B Marketplaces: A Primer 

      A Brief History of Aerospace (e)Marketplaces: They Came, Re-Invented eCommerce & Most Left 

      Quick Analysis on Why So Many Early Marketplaces Failed 

      Marketplaces and EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) 

      Benefits of Using a Marketplace 

      Possible Drawbacks for Marketplace Customers 

      Managing the Repair Process 

   Business Trends Affecting the Marketplaces 

Key Mechanisms related to Aerospace Parts Trading 

   EDI (Electronic Data Interchange): What Is It & Where It Is Used 

   Key Aerospace/Aviation Industry Value Added Networks (VANs) 

   Airline Networks 

   Internet Service Providers 

   Type X: Enabling XML and Replacing Type B 

   The ‘Spec 2000’ Primer:  Everything You Ever Needed To Know About Trading Aircraft Parts Via This Mechanism 

      Who Uses It & Why 

      How They Use It 

      Benefits 

      Brief Overview of the Spec 2000 Chapters 

          Common Support Data Dictionary (CSDD) 

          Key Spec 2000 Chapters Related to Aircraft Parts Trading Activities 

             Chapter 2: Procurement Planning 

             Chapter 3: Order Administration 

             Chapter 4: Customer Invoicing 

             Chapter 7:  Repair Order Administration 

          ATA’s Aviation Marketplace 

    Spec 2000 Solution Providers: Helping You Choose Which Is the Right One For You 

       Getting Started 

       Solution Providers 

       Differences Between The Two Standards 

    Aerospace X12 Standard: Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) 

    X12 EDI Implementation Conventions 

     International Military Data Standard: ASD Spec 2000M / S2000M (Military) 

   XML: The Lingua Franca for Exchanging Data in the 21st Century 

Industry Developments Which Will Affect How Parts Are Managed / Tracked / Traded 

   The Resurgence of the Barcode Due to Smart Phones 

      Smart Phone and Tablet Applications 

    RFID Tags on Aircraft Parts 

       Supply Chain / Logistics Tracking 

       RFID Tags Used To Stop Counterfeiting of Parts / SUPs & Verify Part Pedigree 

       MRO Usage of RFID 

    eForms Replacing Hard-Copy Airworthiness Documents 

       Background 

       Potential Benefits to Airlines / Operators of Using eForms 

       Potential Benefits to OEMs / Suppliers / Parts-handling Operations 

       Potential Benefits to Aviation Authorities 

       Digital Signatures 

       Software-As-A-Service (SaaS) & Cloud Computing 

   Key Market Factors Which May Affect Parts Pricing or Demand 

   Parting Thoughts on this Chapter 

Overview of the Marketplaces 

   Form – Fit – Function 

   Evolution of Marketplace Features and Capabilities 

   Fictitious Inventory 

   Messaging: A Key Factor in Choosing Which Marketplaces You Work With 

   Aerospace Market Sectors Supported 

   Experiment #1: Comparing Search Results – Search Engines versus Marketplaces 

   Experiment #2: Comparing Search Results Across Differing Marketplaces 

   Quick Comparison Pricing Overview of the Marketplaces 

   Detailed Marketplace Pricing Tables 

User Survey Results – How the Industry Perceives These Providers 

   Survey Methodology 

   Question #1: Respondees Involved in Either Buying or Selling Activities 

  For Those Involved in Buying Aircraft Parts 

     Question #2: Which Of These Sites Do You Currently Utilize (Or Have In The Past Year) 

     Question #3: Multi-Part Question on Which Sites are Favored/Used More 

     Question #4: Rating Sites in Meeting Your Firm’s Needs to Execute Orders for Aircraft Parts? 

     Question #5: Current Methods of Placing Orders for Parts 

     Question #6: General Questions Related to Buying Activities 

     Question #7: Number of Trading Partners 

     Question #8: Geographic Distribution of Your Suppliers/Trading Partners 

     Question #9: Approximate Number of Monthly Transactions 

     Question #10: What Percentage of Orders are Executed Electronically 

     Question #11: Percentage of Repaired/Inspected (Not New) Parts That You Procure 

     Question #12: Trending-Based Questions 

     Question #13: Electronic Documents and eForms 

     Question #14: XML-based eForms in the Place of Paper-based FAA Form 8130-3’s Yet 

     Question #15: Internal or External Personnel to Inspect/Sign-off on Your Regulatory Documents 

     Question #16: If You Could Have One New Feature Added to Any/All of These Websites to Make Your Job Easier, What Would That Be? 

  For Those Involved in Selling Aircraft Parts 

      Question #18: Which Sites Do You Currently Utilize (or Have in the Past Year) 

      Question #19: Multi-Part Question on Which Sites are Favored / Used More 

      Question #20: Rating Sites in Meeting Your Firm’s Needs to Execute Orders for Aircraft Parts 

      Question #21: Current Methods of Selling Aircraft Parts 

      Question #22: General Questions Related to Buying Activities 

      Question #23: Number of Trading Partners 

      Question #24: Geographic Distribution of Your Suppliers/Trading Partners 

      Question #25: Approximate Number of Monthly Transactions 

      Question #26: What Percentage of Orders Are Executed Electronically 

      Question #27: Percentage of Repaired/Inspected (Not New) Parts That You Provide 

      Question #28: Trending-based Questions 

      Question #29: Electronic Documents and eForms 

      Question #30: Are You Utilizing XML-based eForms in the Place of Paper-based FAA Form 8130-3’s Yet? 

      Question #31: Internal or External Personnel To Inspect/Sign-off On Your Regulatory Documents 

      Question #32: If You Could Have One New Feature Added To Any/All Of These Websites To Make Your Job Easier, What Would That Be 

  Demographics of the Users Responding 

      Question #33: Identify The Type Of Company 

      Question #34: Identify Which Market Sectors You Are Involved In 

      Question #36: Identify Your Job Function 

      Question #37: Approximate Number Of Employees In Your Firm 

      Question #38: Approximate Reported Revenues For Your Latest Fiscal Year 

      Question #38: How Would You Rate Your Comfort Level With Handling Business Transactions Over The Internet 

  Analysis of the Results 

Matrix of Marketplaces Capabilities & Features 

   General Information 

   Security 

   User Privacy and Data Collection 

   Usability 

   Customer Support 

   Trading 

   Buying 

   Selling 

   Business Intelligence 

   Repairs Management 

Strategies for Buying & Selling Aircraft Parts Globally Via Marketplaces 

   Strategies for Working with 3rd Party Marketplaces 

   Considerations for Optimizing Your Buying Activities 

   Considerations for Optimizing Your Sales Activities Via Marketplaces 

   Strategies for Managing Direct Sales From Your Own Website 

   Optimizing Your Online eCommerce/Marketing Efforts 

   Search Engine Optimization Strategy for your Website 

   Email Marketing Do’s and Don’ts 

       The CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business 

   Advertising Revenue for your Website – Quick Overview 

      Buying Online Advertising for your Website or Products/Services 

      Best Practices for Protecting Yourself and your Information 

Appendix A:  Company Profiles 

Appendix B:  Survey Results Provided by the Marketplaces 

   Excerpts from a Survey by RHOBI 

   Excerpts from a Survey by fipart 

   Comparison of Repair-Focused Capabilities – Provided by OneAero 

Appendix C:  Marketplace Web Traffic Estimates

Specs:

• ATA Spec 2000