In 1984, the world of technology as we know it was just beginning to take shape. The Apple Macintosh had just made its debut, and CD-ROMs were cutting-edge digital storage. Meanwhile, digital photography and 3D imaging were light years away from becoming mainstream, and the AutoCare Association’s ACES and PIES standards had not even been developed.
It’s in this same technological landscape and year that Claudio Di Sano founded Solenium Group Inc. in Toronto, Canada. Soon after, he launched Visual SKUs Inc., planting the seeds for what would become go-to foundational solutions in product information management (PIM) and digital asset management (DAM) for the automotive aftermarket.
Over the next four decades, Solenium became a trusted partner to many of the world’s leading aftermarket companies, delivering enterprise-grade technology that empowered businesses to manage, share, and distribute product information with unmatched accuracy and precision.
Throughout the decades, the Epicor catalog team published thousands of industry-standard ACES and PIES files sent from Solenium, finding them to be superior at mapping and producing pristine data.
Claudio’s vision for the future expanded further with Visual SKUs Inc., which introduced a unique Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution designed to manage the entire lifecycle of high-quality product images. From creation to internal organization and external distribution to customers, resellers, and marketplaces, Visual SKUs helped aftermarket businesses streamline and elevate their digital presence. Under Claudio’s leadership, the company produced millions of high-quality static, 360°, and 3D product images. These assets helped businesses enhance their digital footprint and simplify distribution across channels.
When Claudio began planning for retirement, his top priority was ensuring a seamless transition and maintaining continuity for his customers and team. In October 2024, he chose Epicor—a partner aligned with his values and vision—to carry the legacy forward. After a year of thoughtful collaboration, Claudio is now officially stepping into retirement.
While reflecting on his career, Claudio shared, “Building Solenium and Visual SKUs has been the journey of a lifetime. I’m proud of the teams, the technology, and the trust we built with our clients. Joining Epicor will enable the businesses to scale their impact and value to the automotive aftermarket and beyond.”
As Claudio moves into retirement, we honor not just his achievements but the enduring influence he leaves behind. His legacy will continue to inspire innovation, excellence, and customer-centricity at Epicor and in the aftermarket for years to come.
“Claudio’s contributions to the industry are immeasurable,” said Rob Jones, Director of Content Management at Epicor. “His entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to excellence, and deep customer relationships have left a lasting legacy.”
Jon Owens, National Sales Manager at Epicor, who will be taking over much of Claudio’s responsibilities, added, “I’ve known Claudio for years and have admired his passion and enthusiasm – both for his company and for the industry. Working closely with him for the past year now, it’s easy to see the indelible impact he’s made on people's careers and lives and the companies he’s worked with. His are very BIG shoes to fill!”
Today, we’re proud to celebrate Claudio Di Sano, a true industry pioneer whose deep understanding of the automotive aftermarket and its product management challenges has shaped the way product data and digital assets are managed today.
Thank you, Claudio, for your vision, leadership, and dedication. Please join us in wishing Claudio the best as he embarks on this next chapter!
