ECi PSN FAQs

The page answers frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the ECi PSN.

After reading about the PSN, you can activate your PSN account by completing the PSN registration form.

What is the ECi PSN?

The ECi PSN (Private Supply Network) is a collection of Internet-based services that enables ECi customers to exchange data and conduct electronic transactions with suppliers and other trading partners. All PSN services are designed with speed, efficiency, and convenience in mind. A number of PSN services are already available, with more in development. These services fall into three broad categories:

• General services — standard features available to all ECi customers using PSN compliant software.
• Premium services — features that require an additional charge or service fees. These features are available to all ECi customers using PSN compliant software.
• Private services — custom features developed to the specifications of the sponsoring vendor. Availability and requirements are determined by that vendor.

What is Internet Purchasing?

Internet Purchasing is one of several services available to all dealers using compatible ECi business system software. Internet Purchasing allows you to use the Internet to transmit purchase orders and receive acknowledgments from participating vendors. It replaces point-to-point communications using conventional dial-up modems or EDI transactions through third-party value-added networks.

Internet Purchasing is faster and more efficient than conventional dial-up communications. It eliminates the speed limitations of point-to-point modem-based transmissions and can dramatically reduce the time required to transmit purchase orders (P/Os). It also eliminates the additional costs of dedicated telephone lines for purchasing.

Is PSN just a new way to transmit purchase orders?

The ECI2 PSN enables a new realm of vendor communications — Internet Purchasing is just one of the services available. Other services, such as Online Stock Check and Online Price Check, which are simply not possible using dial-up communications, are also provided via the PSN.

How does Internet Purchasing work?

P/Os can be created and transmitted as usual, either manually or through Auto Short-Buy. When you send a P/O, your DDMS business system software transmits a data file over the Internet to an ECi PSN server. The PSN server processes the file by translating it to the specific format required by the vendor, then routing it to the appropriate supplier over the Internet.

What is an Acknowledgement Re-request?

Dealers have the ability to electronically request order acknowledgments from supported suppliers. If there is a problem with receiving or printing an acknowledgment, you can use the PSN to request that the vendor resend the information.

What is Online Stock Check?

The ECi PSN enables dealers to check stock levels with supported wholesalers in real-time. You can view the wholesalers inventory positions from within the DDMS order entry application. This allows you to respond immediately to customer inquiries about item availability, improving both fill rates and customer satisfaction.

What is Online Price Check?

Similar to Online Stock Check, this feature enables you to view your most current wholesaler cost, in real-time, from within the DDMS order entry application. This feature enables you to instantly verify item costs and adjust sell prices accordingly before placing them on an order.

What is Electronic Invoicing?

Suppliers can use the PSN to transmit dealer invoices electronically. Your DDMS business system can download the invoices, automatically match them against the original purchase orders, and post them to the accounts payable. You define the acceptable variances for automatic posting; exceptions — invoices with cost differences greater than the acceptable variance are flagged for management review.

Why does my order go through the PSN? Why not send it directly to my vendor?

Vendors have different capabilities and requirements associated with handling electronic transactions. Some vendors require XML while others require proprietary or flat-file formats, for example. Implementing all of these unique file formats within the DDMS software would be a daunting proposition. Imagine, every time a wholesaler added new features or changed existing ones, we would have to make corresponding changes to our software and ship updates to all of our customers. This would increase costs for all parties and would delay speed to market. Years of experience in programming dial-up communications with vendors has proven this to be true time and time again.

Since PSN servers handle all required file format translations with vendors, the DDMS software only needs to be enabled to transmit the file format required by the PSN. This file is sent from your DDMS server to the PSN where it is translated into the vendor’s preferred format and routed to the vendor over the Internet. Likewise, the PSN converts vendor acknowledgments and item prices or quantities back to the required format before they reach your system.

Also, the PSN provides more efficient change control since many updates can be handled by programming changes on the PSN servers instead of on your business system software.

The ECi PSN enables implementation of Internet-based purchasing using a flexible, cost-effective platform now and into the future. The PSN’s translation capabilities allow vendors to send and receive transmissions in their native file format, simplifying implementation for everyone and potentially reducing the number of software updates you have to load.

What are premium PSN services?

Like general PSN services, premium services are available to all ECi customers using PSN-compliant business systems. However, these services carry additional charges. Premium services give you the option to conduct Internet-based transactions with additional vendors who do not have private PSN services. Implementing connections to these vendors may require specialized file formats, customized transaction mapping, or other special programming, and may necessitate specific setup charges or other fees.

What about the private PSN services? What features do they offer?

Private supply networks (PSN) automate the supply chain between vendors and their customers. Vendors can leverage the capabilities of the ECi PSN to create their own private PSN services. ECi develops each of these private services to the specification of the sponsoring vendor.

These private PSN services allow suppliers to offer customized, value-added features tailored to their customers' needs. For example, as a wholesaler, ActionEmco chose to include Internet Purchasing as part of the feature set for its private service. It is supplementing this basic capability with more advanced features such as electronic invoicing, allowing automated processing of downloaded invoices in compatible ECi business systems. By contrast, ECi’s O/PUS® division specializes in data services. The O/PUS PSN service provides subscribing dealers with Internet access to item catalogs and price files.

ECi has the capability to automate virtually any type of transaction or information exchange between your ECi software and a supplier’s computer system. The feature set of each private PSN service will be determined by the individual supplier based on its business flow and customer base.

I have Dealer Station®. Can I use the same Internet connection for PSN?

Yes. If you are using Dealer Station (or is.D-Force), your DDMS server is already connected to the Internet. You can use this same connection for PSN.

How do I get PSN? Does it require authorization?

PSN services do not currently require authorization from DDMS. However, you may need authorization and an ID code from the sponsoring vendor.

To set up a new PSN account, follow these three simple steps:

1) Meet the requirements for general PSN services

2) Meet the requirements for each vendor (Some vendor PSN services may require a DDMS software update)

3) Request a PSN ID. You'll be directed to sign a privacy statement, and an ECi representative will contact you with your ID so you may set up parameters according to your vendor PSN documentation.

The ECi PSN services were introduced in the Version 5 general release of our DDMS business system software. As we enhance and expand these services, the software requirements will change. Check the PSN section of the DDMS Web site for the most up-to-date information on PSN software requirements.

It is important to note that different PSN services may have different software requirements. General services such as Internet Purchasing are compatible with both our DDMS and Distribution Professional products. Other services, such as the O/PUS PSN service, require our DDMS graphical software. When requesting authorization for PSN, be sure to review the requirements for the services you are interested in using.

I want to use a premium PSN service. What do I do?

First, you will need to be set up for PSN as described above. As previously mentioned, different PSN services may have different software requirements. When requesting authorization for PSN, be sure to review the requirements for the services you are interested in using. For a premium PSN service such as Dealer Dispatch, contact ECi Sales at 866-374-3221 or via e-mail at info@ecisolutions.com.

I want to use a private PSN service. What do I do?

First, you will need to be set up for PSN as described above. As previously mentioned, different PSN services may have different software requirements. When requesting authorization for PSN, be sure to review the requirements for the services you are interested in using. For a private PSN service, you will also need to contact the sponsoring vendor and follow their registration procedures.

Will new services and additional vendors be supported through the PSN?

The PSN is designed to accommodate a wide variety of services from a multitude of vendors. Over time, we anticipate that new general PSN services will be included in future software releases. And, by contracting with ECi to develop a private PSN service, other vendors have the opportunity to join those currently available in the PSN.

Vendors interested in PSN services should contact ECi Sales at (800) 959-3367 ext 3236 or via e-mail at info@ecisolutions.com.

Where can I get more information on PSN?

You can learn about system requirements and our privacy policy on the PSN registration page.

You can also read or download the complete PSN documentation.