CIECA
CIECA is a nonprofit standards body that develops data exchange standards (CAPIS, BMS, EMS) for the U.S. collision industry, enabling software interoperability across insurers, repairers, parts suppliers, OEMs, and rental companies through annual memberships, training, and the CONNEX conference.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersSanford, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What CIECA does
CIECA (Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1994 and headquartered in Sanford, North Carolina. The organization develops and maintains data exchange standards for the U.S. collision industry, providing software developers with a comprehensive toolkit — including a Data Dictionary, a Code List comprising thousands of industry-standard codes, Schemas, and Support Documents — to build interoperable APIs and systems. Its standards portfolio includes the modern CIECA API Standards (CAPIS) built on JSON/OpenAPI 3.1, alongside legacy BMS (XML) and EMS (dBase IV) standards.
CIECA's membership spans every segment of the collision industry, from start-ups to multi-billion-dollar corporations, including software providers, insurance companies, parts suppliers, equipment manufacturers, repairers, OEMs, rental companies, and towing/salvage operators. The organization generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues across three tiers: Technology Corporate Membership, Non-Technology Corporate Membership, and Association Membership. CIECA supports its member ecosystem through an annual CONNEX conference (now in its 17th year), monthly CIECAST webinars, a developer Slack channel, user forums, and a structured training curriculum (CIECA 101-107).
The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees with representatives from major industry players — the 2026 officers include leadership from Enterprise Mobility, OEC, State Farm, and Boyd Group — and operates with a lean staff of approximately 8 employees. CIECA's strategic focus centers on modernizing its standards architecture (CAPIS), expanding educational programming, and maintaining its position as the de facto data interoperability layer for the collision industry.
CIECA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CIECA
- Legal name
- CIECA (Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association)
- Website
- https://cieca.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CIECA is a nonprofit standards body that develops data exchange standards (CAPIS, BMS, EMS) for the U.S. collision industry, enabling software interoperability across insurers, repairers, parts suppliers, OEMs, and rental companies through annual memberships, training, and the CONNEX conference.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CIECA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Data Exchange Standards
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Transport Safety & Infrastructure Standards Cooperation (BPADANAK)
Keywords
Where CIECA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sanford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
CIECA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: CIECA generates revenue through annual membership fees. The organization offers Technology Corporate Membership, Non-Technology Corporate Membership, and Association Membership tiers with different pricing levels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Technology Corporate Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Non-Technology Corporate Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Association Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
CIECA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CIECA (Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association) develops and maintains data exchange standards for the collision repair industry. Its primary offerings are CIECA API Standards (CAPIS) built on JSON/OpenAPI 3.1, BMS Standards in XML, and EMS Standards in dBase IV format, each consisting of a Data Dictionary, Code List, Schemas, and Support Documents. The organization also delivers training tutorials (CIECA 101-107), the annual CONNEX conference, and technical support services to help software developers build interoperable APIs for collision industry trading partners.
Product overview
CIECA (Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association) is a standards organization that provides data exchange standards for the collision industry. The portfolio includes CIECA API Standards (CAPIS) as the primary JSON/OpenAPI 3.1 offering, alongside legacy BMS (XML) and EMS (dBase IV) standards. These standards are used by software developers to build APIs for estimating, shop management, insurance processes, parts ordering, and calibration. Supporting offerings include training tutorials (CIECA 101-107), the annual CONNEX Conference, and technical support services. The organization focuses on enabling efficient communication between all segments of the collision industry including repairers, insurers, parts suppliers, and manufacturers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CAPIS (CIECA API Standards): JSON / OpenAPI 3.1 standard for API development in the collision industry
- BMS Standards
- EMS Standards
- CONNEX Conference
- CIECAST
Products and services
- CIECA API Standards (CAPIS) JSON/OpenAPI 3.1 based API specifications for the collision industry that provide software developers with tools to develop APIs tailored to collision industry needs, including Data Dictionary, Code List, Schemas, and Support Documents.
- BMS Standards XML-based Business Message Standards for business messaging and data exchange in the collision industry.
- EMS Standards dBase IV format based Estimating Management Standards for estimating processes in the collision industry.
- CIECA Training Tutorials Educational modules (CIECA 101 through 107) covering standards usage, data dictionary, code lists, schemas, and implementation guides for developers adopting CIECA Standards.
- CONNEX Conference Annual industry conference bringing together collision industry leaders to discuss technology trends, standards, and future developments, featuring presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
- CIECA Standards Support Technical support services including support requests, user forums, Slack community channel, and tutorials for CIECA standards implementation.
Companies that use CIECA
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CIECA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
CIECA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CIC (Collision Industry Conference)coreCIECA collaborates with CIC on industry initiatives. CIECA staff participate in CIC meetings and committees. CIC Wiki is referenced as an industry resource.
- National Auto Body Council (NABC)coreNABC and CIECA co-host events including NABC Recycled Rides vehicle gifting ceremonies at CIECA CONNEX conferences. The organizations collaborate on industry events and initiatives.
- I-CARcoreI-CAR serves as a Platinum sponsor for CONNEX conferences. The organizations share mutual industry stakeholders in the collision repair space.
- Women's Industry Network (WIN)minorWIN holds networking events during CIECA CONNEX conferences, such as the WIN Meet-Up at CONNEX 2026 in San Antonio.
- Automotive Service Association (ASA)coreASA holds the NACE/CARS Conference during the same week as CIECA CONNEX. Both organizations serve the collision repair industry and coordinate on scheduling.
- Tennessee Collision Repairers Association (TCRA)minorTCRA hosts the Music City Collision Conference during the same week as CIECA CONNEX 2025 in Nashville.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CIECA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HL7 International: HL7 develops interoperability standards for healthcare data exchange, supported by member organizations, working groups, and annual conferences. It is the closest analogue to CIECA in vertical industry data standards development and ecosystem governance.
- Automotive Service Association (ASA): ASA is a trade association for the collision and mechanical repair industry and co-schedules its NACE/CARS Conference with CIECA's CONNEX. It serves overlapping membership with a broader advocacy and education mandate.
- I-CAR: I-CAR is the collision industry's training and certification body, and a Platinum sponsor of CIECA's CONNEX conference. It serves the same collision repair ecosystem with a parallel mandate (training vs. data standards), making it a direct ecosystem peer.
- ASC X12: ASC X12 is a standards organization developing EDI-based data exchange standards across multiple industries including insurance. Like CIECA, it convenes industry stakeholders to define interoperability standards, but operates across many verticals with broader scope.
- Collision Industry Conference (CIC): CIC is a collision industry body that co-publishes calibration workflow documentation with CIECA and participates in joint committees. It covers similar industry stakeholders and is a partner-and-peer in the collision ecosystem.
- GS1: GS1 is a global standards organization that develops data exchange standards (barcodes, product data, EDI) for supply chains. It mirrors CIECA's model of industry-wide standards development, although at significantly larger scale and global scope.
- NACHA: NACHA governs the ACH electronic payments network — a nonprofit standards and rule-making body operating similarly to CIECA in defining technical interchange standards, governing via member organizations, and developing compliance programs.
- OASIS Open: OASIS is a nonprofit consortium that develops open standards (e.g., SAML, DocBook) via member-driven working groups. It mirrors CIECA's open-standards development model in a different vertical.
Broad incumbents
- ISO (International Organization for Standardization): ISO is the dominant global standards body covering automotive, manufacturing, and data exchange. CIECA's standards could be viewed as a vertical-specific specialization of the broader ISO framework, though ISO does not directly compete in collision-specific data exchange.
Others
- CCC Intelligent Solutions: CCC is a leading collision estimating and shop management software vendor that has won CIECA's Electronic Commerce Company of the Year award. While it consumes CIECA standards, it is also a potential alternative integrator — making it an ecosystem dependency rather than a direct peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CIECA social profiles
Digital presenceCIECA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CIECA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
CIECA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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CIECA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CIECA
What does CIECA do?
CIECA (Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association) develops and maintains data exchange standards for the collision repair industry. Its primary offerings are CIECA API Standards (CAPIS) built on JSON/OpenAPI 3.1, BMS Standards in XML, and EMS Standards in dBase IV format, each consisting of a Data Dictionary, Code List, Schemas, and Support Documents. The organization also delivers training tutorials (CIECA 101-107), the annual CONNEX conference, and technical support services to help software developers build interoperable APIs for collision industry trading partners.
Is CIECA a public or private company?
CIECA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CIECA founded?
CIECA was founded in 1994. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CIECA based?
CIECA is headquartered in Sanford, United States, in the North America region.
How does CIECA make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Dues.
Who are CIECA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HL7 International, Automotive Service Association (ASA), I-CAR, ASC X12, Collision Industry Conference (CIC), GS1, NACHA and OASIS Open. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is listed as a broad incumbent. CCC Intelligent Solutions is listed as an others.
Does CIECA have an API?
Yes. CIECA API Standards (CAPIS) provide JSON-based OpenAPI 3.1 specifications for developing APIs tailored to the collision industry. CAPIS includes Data Dictionary (data elements and types), Code List (industry standard codes), Schemas (data organization and validation), and Support Documents (implementation guidance). The standards support multiple formats including JSON/OpenAPI 3.1, XML, and dBase IV. Developer documentation is at www.cieca.com/standardsoverview.
What industry is CIECA in?
CIECA's product category is Industry Data Exchange Standards. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADANAD, Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation, with a secondary code of BPADANAK, Transport Safety & Infrastructure Standards Cooperation. Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 8600.