Signing Up for the is.group PSN Service
The is.group PSN automates the process of purchasing stock
from the is.group Regional Distribution Centers. Until you
get the is.group PSN set up, you can purchase via the is.group
iStore, but that means re-keying items from your low-stock
reports, and manually updating your inventory records. With
the is.group PSN, you will be able to use the ECi Private
Supply Network to transmit purchase orders to and receive
acknowledgements from the is.group electronic data interchange
(EDI) system.
1) Get an EDI Login ID
and FTP Password from is.group.
Send an email to edi@isgroup.org
to get information that will be used when you set up your
DDMS system:
- Request an is.group EDI account to be
set up for you.
- Confirm whether your four-digit is.group member
ID is your EDI login ID. This will be used as the
Vendor ID of your vendor PSN parameters. It will also be
used as the Account ID in your vendor PCN (Private Communications
Network) parameters.
- Request an FTP password. This will be
used as the vendor password in your PSN and PCN parameters
of your vendor database.
2) Sign up for the is.group
PSN Service.
3) Load the Minimum Required Software.
Note: The is.group PSN requires Version
7.1.39B or higher to be installed. We shipped the Version
7 General Release software update to all our is.group customers
during the first two weeks of June 2004, so that you can begin
using all the new ISDC enhancements as quickly as possible.
4) Set up your DDMS system to use
the is.group PSN.
To learn how to set up appropriate parameters to transmit
purchase orders and request acknowledgements via the PSN with
is.group, see Phase
II: Setting Up and Using the is.group PSN.
5) Update your Item
Direct Buy Records for is.group DC.
To purchase from an ISDC, your Direct Buy record (Vendor
ID, Prefix, Item #, Buy Unit, Of, and Cost) must match the
ISDC’s record of stocked and non-stocked items. Until
the O/PUS is.ezTrade edition is released July 1, 2004, manual
changes may be necessary.
If you use the is.group PSN service to purchase items that
do not match the item record in the ISDC system, the is.group
computer system will reject affected items. In some cases,
these discrepancies may cause problems meeting is.group’s
minimum order requirements.
To learn how to get the ISDC list of stocked and non-stocked
items, and how to manually update your inventory records wherever
necessary, see Updating
Item Direct Buy Records for is.group DC.
FAQs on the is.group Distribution Center
PSN
To help you set up your DDMS system for communicating with
the is.group Distribution Centers via the PSN, we want to
provide you with answers to the following frequently asked
questions (FAQs):
A. When will ECi Roll Out the is.group
PSN Service?
Support for the is.group PSN service will be included in
the Version 7 General Release. ECi has taken great care
to ensure that our back-end systems comply with the requirements
of the is.group Distribution Centers. We want to extend our
thanks to the is.group beta testers, as well as to all of
the development and support personnel involved with this project.
On June 1, 2004, we shipped the Version 7
General Release. With the Version 7 General Release, you will
be able to use the Private Supply Network (PSN) to transmit
purchase orders to the is.group Distribution Centers. You
will also be able to take advantage of new changes to the
inventory database that allow is.group stocked and non-stocked
items to be flagged for low-stock reports and purchase orders
during your quarterly O/PUS is.ezTrade update.
While all DDMS customers will receive the Version 7 General
Release software automatically, the process of shipping updates
to all of our customers normally requires several weeks. We
will give priority to is.group customers so that you can begin
using the new PSN service as quickly as possible.
Since the General Release follows closely after the release
of the Version 7.1.39B software update, some dealers may be
updating their DDMS system twice within a matter of weeks.
While we apologize for any inconvenience, this is the most
efficient way to distribute the required software changes.
For more information on features that are new in Version
7, see the Version 7 Documentation page.
B. What about the is.group O/PUS® database
changes?
O/PUS has been working closely with is.group to ensure that
the next OPdb® catalog update complies with the requirements
of the is.group Distribution Centers. The is.ezTrade edition
for the third quarter will be released on July 1, 2004.
The changes to the O/PUS OPdb catalog also require changes
to the DDMS software. These software changes will be rolled
into the Version 7 General Release currently scheduled for
June 1, 2004.
We will keep you informed about the O/PUS is.ezTrade and
related DDMS software releases as more information becomes
available.
C. What are the requirements of the ECi is.group PSN services?
ECi has worked with great care to ensure that our back-end
systems comply with the requirements of the is.group Distribution
Center.
With that in mind, there are certain requirements that must
be met for your DDMS®/Ensite business systems software
to communicate successfully using the is.group Distribution
Center PSN:
- DDMS/Ensite business systems software Version 7.1.39B
or higher must be installed.
- You must have an ECi PSN Services account set up,
with the requisite web request form submitted and a signed
agreement on record.
- You must request to have is.group set up on your PSN
account as one of your PSN vendors.
- You must set up DDMS to communicate with the is.group
PSN.
- You must make sure your DDMS inventory database will
reference the is.group Distribution Center I-store list
of stocked and non-stocked items.
- You must complete a set of test purchase orders and acknowledgements
with the is.group Distribution Center.
For more details, see the related topics below.
D. When does all this have to be done?
According to is.group, all members must purchase from the
is.group regional distribution centers starting June 1, 2004.
Until you have the is.group PSN set up on your system, you
can purchase via the is.group iStore.
But using the is.group PSN streamlines your procedures, by
automating processes so that little or no human intervention
is necessary:
- Instead of manually re-keying item numbers and quantities
from your low-stock into an iStore purchase order, you can
pull low-stock items directly into a DDMS purchase order.
- You can use the is.group PSN transmit your DDMS purchase
order directly over the Internet to your is.group Regional
Distribution Center.
- With the pre-receive feature, the automated PSN acknowledgement
updates your inventory with quantities that is.group has
arranged to fulfill.
The Version 7 General Release software must be installed
in order to load your July 1 O/PUS is.ezTrade quarterly update.
However, if you wait until then to load the software update
and set up PSN, realize that quarter end will be upon us.
During this peak time, everyone has questions about quarterly
updates, resulting in longer response times from ECi Technical Support. You can avoid the traffic jam altogether
by getting started now!
E. How do I get the software update required
for is.group PSN?
If you haven’t already done so, fill out an online
request form to add is.group as a vendor to your PSN account
(see related topics below). Our staff examines each PSN account
request to determine whether a software update is necessary.
Since the is.group PSN requires updated software, the software
will be shipped to the address you specify on the PSN request
form.
While all DDMS customers will receive the Version 7 General
Release software automatically, the process of shipping updates
to all of our customers normally requires several weeks. We
will give priority to is.group customers so that you can begin
using the new PSN service as quickly as possible.
F. What if I don’t have ECi PSN services set up?
If you are not yet using the ECi PSN, you can learn
more about it and sign up at www.DDMS.com/products/psn/psn.asp
Remember: As you fill out the PSN
signup form, be sure to select is.group as one of the vendors
you wish to communicate with via PSN.
 You
will need to contact each vendor you select (including is.group)
to request information that is required to set up your DDMS
system. For is.group, send an email to edi@isgroup.org
to:
- Request an is.group EDI account to be
set up for you.
- Confirm that your four-digit is.group member
ID is your EDI login ID. This will be used as your
Vendor ID of your vendor PSN parameters. It will also be
used as the in the Vendor PCN (Private Communications Network)
parameters.
- Request an FTP password. This will be
used for your Vendor password in the PSN and PCN parameters
of your vendor database. It will also be used as the in
the Vendor PCN (Private Communications Network) parameters.
When you submit the initial PSN signup form, you will receive
a confirmation message at the email address you specified
on the form. This confirmation message includes the PSN privacy
policy, which you must sign and fax us before we can activate
your account. After we activate your account, we will notify
you by email.
After you submit the initial PSN signup form, you'll see
a page with additional information, including a link to the
PSN Documentation Web page.
- Please download or print the “Phase I: Setting
up PSN” documentation, and follow the instructions
to set up your system to use the PSN.
- Download or print the Phase II documentation for each
vendor you selected, and follow the instructions to set
up your system to set up your system to communicate with
each vendor.
G. What if I have the ECi PSN, but
I need to add is.group as a vendor?
You
will need to contact is.group
to request information that is required to set up your DDMS
system. For is.group, send an email to edi@isgroup.org
to:
- Request an is.group EDI account to be
set up for you.
- Confirm that your four-digit is.group member
ID is your EDI login ID. This will be used as your
Vendor ID of your vendor PSN parameters. It will also be
used as the in the Vendor PCN (Private Communications Network)
parameters.
- Request an FTP password. This will be
used for your Vendor password in the PSN and PCN parameters
of your vendor database. It will also be used as the in
the Vendor PCN (Private Communications Network) parameters.
Go to the
PSN Documentation Web page.
Please download or print the “Phase II: Setting up &
Using the is.group PSN” documentation, and follow the
instructions.
To view the documentation, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader
version 4 or above. You can download it free from www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
H. How do I set up my DDMS system to communicate
with the is.group PSN?
If you have Version 7.1.39B or higher installed, ECi PSN services set up, and is.group set up as a vendor, you are ready to set up your DDMS system to communicate
with the is.group Distribution Center via the is.group PSN.
For detailed instructions, see “Phase II: Setting Up
and Using the is.group PSN,” which is available on the
PSN Documentation Web page
I. How do I ensure my system will reference
the ISDC stocked items?
To purchase from an ISDC, your Direct Buy record (Vendor
ID, Prefix, Item #, Buy Unit, Of, and Cost) must match the
ISDC’s record of stocked and non-stocked items. Until
the O/PUS is.ezTrade edition is released July 1, 2004, manual
changes may be necessary.
If you use the is.group PSN service to purchase items that
do not match the item record in the ISDC system, the is.group
computer system will reject affected items. In some cases,
these discrepancies may cause problems meeting is.group’s
minimum order requirements.
To learn how to get the ISDC list of stocked and non-stocked
items, and how to manually update your inventory records wherever
necessary, see “Updating
Item Direct Buy Records for is.group DC.”
J. What transmission tests does is.group
require to verify that my DDMS system is ready?
After completing the is.group PSN communications setup in
DDMS and making any necessary changes to your DDMS inventory
database, you are ready to do two communications tests.
For the first test, a test purchase order will be used only
to verify your address coming from your DDMS system.
- Create a small single-line purchase order for 1 CT (or
5 BX) SMD10330. (Do not order any other items.)
- Following the instructions from page 13 in the “Phase
II: Setting Up & Using the is.group PSN,”
transmit this purchase order via the is.group PSN.
- Since the is.group system will not return any acknowledgements
for this test P/O, your system may keep polling for acknowledgements.
You may exit the screen as soon as it completes the test
P/O transmission.
- Email edi@isgroup.org
to inform them of the P/O# you sent.
- Do not place any other orders via the is.group PSN unless
requested by ISG staff.
- is.group will contact you when address verification is
complete or to discuss any additional actions that may be
required. Please wait for a response from is.group.
- When this initial test is complete, delete the test P/O
from your Purchasing application screen. is.group will not
accept duplicate P/Os.
For the second test, a test purchase order will be used to
verify receipt and acknowledgements.
Do
not place the second test order until the is.group gives you
the go-ahead!
If you have problems with the transmission or with the acknowledgement,
first get a verbal confirmation that is.group received the
transmission, and then contact ECi Technical Support.
K. What if I have questions about the is.group
Distribution Center?
Consult your is.group Distribution manual, or contact your
is.group representative for questions about the is.group Distribution
Center. Some helpful contact information is below:
is.group Distribution Certification: certification@isgroup.org
is.group Distribution Customer Service
Email: dcs@isgroup.org
Phone: 317-813-5115
Fax: 317-579-9016
is.group electronic data interchange (EDI) support: edi@isgroup.com
iStore support: istore@isgroup.org
L. What if I have other questions about
DDMS software and ECi PSN Services?
For questions on DDMS software and the ECi PSN services,
you can contact ECi Technical Support four ways:
M. How does is.ezTrade
work for Distribution Center data?
O/PUS has been working closely with is.group to ensure that
the is.group item data is as accurate as possible.
The is.group item information and pricing underwent
rigorous quality assurance testing from an is.group contractor
to ensure its accuracy.
The is.group item information loads into the Direct Buy Record
of the (E) Inventory screen (Item Window). O/PUS incorporated
the new Direct Buy detail fields to indicate whether is.group
offers an item as stocked or non-stocked.
In the O/PUS text-based and SIMPLE is.group parameter screens,
O/PUS has enhanced the options to let you load only the items
you want. For example, you can load stock, non-stock, direct
items only. In addition, you can add all items, or you can
load NO is.group items at all. You can also specify an item
department and stock class for new items being added. You
can exclude or include specific classes and departments of
existing items.
N. Why Do I Need to Load Version 7.4.0 Before
I Load is.ezTrade?
The OPdb is.ezTrade edition catalog update requires
that the DDMS® Version 7 General Release software be installed,
so you can take advantage of the is.group Distribution Center
enhancements:
While the Version 7.3.9 released to is.group
beta testers included enhancements required for the is.group
PSN, the General Release Version 7.4.0 or higher must be installed
to use the is.group purchasing enhancements, including:
• New parameter screens for setting up the ECi Private Supply Network (PSN) for purchasing communications
with the is.group Distribution Centers.
• New direct buy fields that will assist is.group members
in automating low-stock purchase orders for the is.group Distribution
Centers. The OPdb is.ezTrade edition catalog update will take
advantage of these new fields if is.group members elect to
load the is.group Distribution Center item updates.
O. What If I Don’t Load Version 7.4.0?
If you do not load General Release Version 7.4.0 or higher,
you will still be able to load the OPdb is.ezTrade edition
catalog update. But without the new direct buy fields, you
will not be able to automate purchasing with the is.group
Distribution Centers, until you load Version 7.4.0.
Even if you are still on an earlier version, the is.ezTrade
edition will write the data for the new is.group fields (for
vendor stock and ignore cost) into your item database. However,
the fields will not be visible. As soon as you load version
7.4.0, you will be able to view and use the new fields.
P. What If I Haven’t Received the
Version 7.4.0 Software Update Yet?
As an is.group member, you were among the first DDMS customers
to be shipped the Version 7 software update this month. According
to our records, we have shipped the requisite software update
to all is.group members who use DDMS as a back-end system.
The first release with is.group enhancements was Version
7.3.9. However, some of you may have received or may expect
to receive different versions, depending on whether you are
affected by recent Release Notes. If you use split volume
serials, you need to load Version 7.4.1 (for more information,
see Release Notes).
If you do not use split volume serials, any other Version
7.3.9 or higher will allow you to take advantage of the enhancements
for automating purchases from the is.group Distribution Centers.
If you have not received your copy of the software, please
contact Support.
Q. Will is.ezTrade update inventory records
for is.group stocked items?
Yes. If you have loaded Version 7, the is.ezTrade edition
catalog update will take advantage of new vendor stocking
fields if you elect to load the is.group Distribution Center
item updates.
In the May email message of May 24, 2004, titled, “is.group
PSN Timeline and Action Items”, we informed all is.group
DDMS customers that your Direct Buy record (Vendor ID, Prefix,
Item #, Buy Unit, Of, and Cost) must match is.group’s
record of stocked and non-stocked items.
If you intend to purchase from is.group before loading the
O/PUS is.ezTrade edition, manual changes may be necessary,
or the is.group computer system will reject affected items.
In some cases, these discrepancies may cause problems meeting
is.group’s minimum order requirements. For more information,
see Tech Note
# 255: Updating Item Direct Buy Records for is.group DC.
If you elect to load is.group stocked and/or non-stocked
items when you load the 3rd quarter O/PUS is.ezTrade edition,
it will automatically update your Direct Buy record, and manual
changes will no longer be necessary.
R. Where Can I Find Documentation on Loading
is.ezTrade?
Loading
& Purchasing is.group Items includes the latest documentation
on loading the is.ezTrade catalog update, including the new
parameters.
In the O/PUS text-based and SIMPLE is.group parameter screens,
O/PUS has enhanced the options to let you load only the items
you want. For example, you can load stock, non-stock, direct
items only. In addition, you can add all items, or you can
load NO is.group items at all. You can also specify an item
department and stock class for new items being added. You
can exclude or include specific classes and departments of
existing items.
S. Where Can I Find Documentation on Purchasing
from is.group?
The Loading
& Purchasing is.group Items documentation also includes
the latest information on the new vendor stock fields that
indicate whether an item is stocked or non-stocked, and illustrates
how to complete a purchase order, either manually or using
the new Low-Stock P/O action code and dialog boxes.
For more detailed instructions on running Low-Stock reports,
see DDMS online help on Printing
Low-Stock Reports (Custom).
If you’re more comfortable with text-based interface,
you can also learn about the six new low-stock report selectors.
It is nearly as easy to create a Low-Stock P/O in text-based
software as it is in the graphical Purchasing application.
To be able to use these reports, you must first catalog the
is.group Low-Stock report selectors in the (LR) Inventory
Standard Reports screen. Then you can run one of the custom
low-stock reports from the (R) Inventory Selectors report
screen, just as you would the original Min/Max and Cycle Count
low-stock reports. Once the report selector creates the low-stock
file, you can build a low-stock P/O using the short-buy process.
For detailed instructions, see Tech
Note #258: Creating a Text-Based Low-Stock Purchase Order.
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