Dealer Station® Family of Web Storefronts

This page answers Frequently Asked Questions on the Dealer Station™ family of legacy eCommerce Web storefronts, integrated with DDMS® business systems.

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Manuals | How to Use Specific Features

Dealer Station Manuals

Where are the other e-commerce links?

Related Links:

ECinteractive FAQS & Doc
Miscellaneous Documentation
Private Supply Network (PSN) Documentation
Approval Link Credit Card Processing FAQs
AutoComm Fax and Email FAQs
EDI and Electronic Invoicing FAQs

What are the very first steps to install Dealer Station and integrate it with DDMS ?

Checklist for Dealer Station DDMS Edition Brief reminder of the steps dealers should take before and after receiving Dealer Station DDMS Edition

Installation form for Dealer Station DDMS Edition Complete and fax this form to Support after completing the steps outlined in the Checklist, so a technician can help you complete the setup

Getting Started with Dealer Station DDMS Edition (pdf) Preparatory steps including your Web order email address, company logo, backbone Internet Service Provider, telecommunications connection,

Installing Dealer Station DDMS Edition (pdf) Learn how to install Dealer Station DDMS Edition, including details such as your Web order email address, company logo, backbone Internet Service Provider, telecommunications connection, your (L1) Terminal and Ticket Parameters, your TCP/IP configuration, and your TBLNetCom configuration.

How Do I use the Admin Control Panel to set up and manage Dealer Station?

Dealer Station Admin Manual (pdf) Learn how to set up and manage Dealer Station DDMS Edition.

How Do I use the Admin Control Panel to set up and manage is.D-Force?

Setting Up is.D-Force Admin Pages (pdf) Learn how to manage features specific to is.D-Force.

How Do I use the Admin Control Panel to set up and manage Distributor Station Maytech Edition?

Setting Up Distributor Station (pdf) Learn how to manage features specific to Distributor Station, the ECi Web Storefront integrated with Maytech's SDS Platinum business system.

How do my Dealer Station or is.D-Force customers place orders and manage their accounts?

Understanding Online Purchasing (pdf) Explains how customers on your Dealer Station or is.D-Force site can place orders and manage their accounts

How do Distributor Station Maytech Edition customers place orders and manage their accounts?

Using Distributor Station Explains how customers on your Distributor Station site (integrated with Maytech's SDS Platinum business system) can place orders and manage their accounts.

How do I set up eGate?

Setting Up eGate (pdf) documentation for eGate, a Windows program that allows DDMS to interact with Internet-based, e-commerce packages that process customer orders remotely and batch transmit to your site.

What are the latest Dealer Station enhancements?

 

How to Use Specific Dealer Station Features

How do I import or migrate my customers from Dealer Station® to ecInteractive® (and D-Force to D-Force2)?

The migration tool was released in Version 6.9 at the end of April 2007. It will be turned on and available in the Admin Control Panel for a dealer's site on completion of the requisite ecInteractive and Migration Tool training. New groups of dealers are in Web-based training to go live every week. ECi and is.group firmly believe that a controlled release schedule leads to the most successful implementation for each customer. It allows our training and support teams to provide the requisite attention to all dealers in a fair manner, and to properly assess server performance as consumer usage increases.

ECi product managers and trainers have sent personal invitations periodically to groups of dealers to attend Web based training, set up their sites, and migrate their customer accounts. Selected dealers include Project Cozumel investors, beta test sites, and other dealers with consideration made for historical online order volume. If you are a Project Cozumel investor or beta test site, your company has been sent an invitation to join our ecInteractive virtual classes.

For information on our next-generation Web Storefront and taking steps to migrate customers to the new site, see ecInteractive FAQs on Migrating from Dealer Station to ecInteractive (D-Force to D-Force2).

How do I offer Custom Avery Signature Series Binders Online?

With the Avery Microsite, you can offer Avery Signature Series and let your Web customers create their own custom binders in minutes.

Avery's punchout microsite launches from your Dealer Station and is.D-Force site.But what’s a microsite? Picture a supermarket. It may have smaller shops inside, focused on a small subset of products and services like a pharmacy, a salon, a deli, a bakery cafe. But you’re still buying your Cafe Mocha while you’re shopping for Everything Else at that location.

Avery's punchout microsite launches from your Dealer Station and is.D-Force site. Your DDMS system then transmits purchase orders for Avery microsite orders via the ECi Private Supply Network (PSN).

In the Dealer Station or is.D-Force Admin Control Panel, you can activate the microsite for your Web storefront customers and to edit the microsite link text that appears on your storefront site.

For details on implementation, as well as the steps your customers will take on Dealer Station or is.D-Force to customize binders on the Avery Signature Series Microsite, see Setting Up and Using the Avery PSN
(www.DDMS.com/Resources/Doc/PSN/averypsn.pdf).

How do I implement the MeadWestVaco Microsite for Calendars & Planners in Dealer Station?

With the AAG Dealer Connect microsite from MeadWestvaco in DealerStation and is.D-Force, you'll be your customers’ first choice for dated goods.

But what’s a microsite? Picture a supermarket. It may have smaller shops inside, focused on a small subset of products and services like a pharmacy, a salon, a deli, a bakery cafe. But you’re still buying your Cafe Mocha while you’re shopping for Everything Else at that location.

Your Web storefront is like the supermarket, and the MeadWestvaco Microsite is like the smaller cafe inside, showcasing a smaller subset of products. Just like the HP Supplies Finder and Xstamper tools, your new Calendars & Planners navigation button launches a new window.

The MeadWestVaco MicroSite window offers a selection of brand-name dated goods like calendars and planners from AT-A-GLANCE, DayRunner, DayMinder, Visual Organizer, recycled products, and more.

Clicking Calendars & Planners in Dealer Station launches the MeadWestVaco MicroSite.Your customers will be able to order AT-A-GLANCE®, Day Runner®, DayMinder®, and Visual Organizer® brand calendars and planners. You’ll be able to offer dated goods earlier in the year online, as soon as they are published. You’ll help customers trade up from a basic, core planning product to a more feature-rich, value-add product. And with AAG Dealer Connect's cross-selling features, you’ll be able to increase unit purchases — and your profit — in the dated goods category.

To load MeadWestvaco items and pricing (optional), see Loading the MeadWestvaco Price File in DDMS (pdf). Then, to activate the Mead Microsite in Dealer Station, see Setting Up & Using the MeadWestvaco Microsite in Dealer Station (pdf) .

See also Setting Up & Using the MeadWestvaco Microsite in ECinteractive® (pdf)..

How do I implement the Xstamper Microsite in Dealer Station?

Xstamper (www.xstamper.com) offers an extensive catalog of Stock and Custom Made Xstamper pre-inked stamps and daters, self-inking stamps and daters, traditional stamps and daters, engraved office signage, name badges, office and industrial pens and markers, and accessories.

In Dealer Station and is.D-Force, the Xstamper button launches the microsite in a separate window.

But what’s a microsite? Picture a supermarket. It may have smaller shops inside, focused on a small subset of products and services like a pharmacy, a salon, a deli, a bakery cafe. But you’re still buying your Cafe Mocha while you’re shopping for Everything Else at that location. Your Web storefront is like the supermarket, and the Xstamper Microsite is like the smaller cafe inside, showcasing a smaller subset of products.

Your shoppers can choose from a variety of common styles or personalize their own design using the Stamp Design Wizard. The Preview feature lets shoppers see how the finished product will look, and save a PDF before add to their carts.

For detailed instructions on launching the Xstamper microsite for your Dealer Station or is.D-Force shoppers, see:

 

How do I Gain More Leverage With National Accounts through Punchouts?

Increasing Leverage and Maintaining National Accounts (pdf) Fortune 500 companies can be profitable customers, but many of these companies use specialized procurement software. The ability to interface with these systems is frequently a condition for doing business with these companies. Discover how you can use PunchOuts to integrate your ECi e-commerce site with major procurement systems like Ariba, Commerce One, and SAP, positioning your company to win profitable new business.

How do I set up RouteTrak to Display Delivery Signatures in Dealer Station?

Setting Up RouteTrak To Show Delivery Signatures on Your Web Storefront (pdf) If your delivery drivers use RouteTrak mobile units to capture proof of delivery, you can allow your shoppers to look up that information in Order History. This feature provides a link to open a new window that shows the signature for the order and the date when it was signed and the individual who signed it. Implementation involves adding your Web storefront URL to the RouteTrak SyncBox setup window for proper synchronization of delivery timestamps and signature images.. See also Setting Up & Using RouteTrak™ Proof of Delivery for DDMS (pdf).

How do I implement S.P. Richards Enhanced Catalog Content?

Setting Up SPR Enhanced Content in Dealer Station (pdf) If you have customer accounts who purchase items that are in the S.P. Richards catalogs, you can use the Dealer Station Admin Control Panel to set up selected end users to use enhanced search filters, cross-sell and up-sell opportunities, large item images, and product comparisons. Note: some items from custom dealer catalogs and other vendor catalogs are excluded.

How do I integrate my Web storefront with HP PurchasEdge and drive supply sales?

PurchasEdge_Integration (pdf) Learn how to integrate your Web storefront with PurchasEdge to help build stronger end-user relationships and drive supply sales by rewarding your end-users with free Hewlett-Packard products. See also the sign-up form on ECiSolutions.com, Register as an HP PurchasEdge Reseller.

How do I use HPUSAGE to track and export HP product sales, and report to HP?

Exporting HP Data (pdf) HP PurchasEdge participating dealers can use the HPUSAGE program to track HP product information. This program creates an output file that contains customer contact information as well as total sales dollars for HP products. By exporting the data to a file, you can target those customers who purchase less than a specified sales amount. After the data is exported, you can forward the file to HP, who in turn, can assist you with marketing campaigns targeted to increase HP product sales to the customer.

How can I exempt customers from the HP PurchasEdge Minimum Order Charge?

You can make your customers exempt from the minimum order fees charged when you use the Hewlett-Packard (HP) PurchasEdge program.

Both the setting to make the account Exempt from Minimum Order Charge, and the HP PurchasEdge ID (PID), are available in the graphical Customer Order Entry tab, as well as the text-based (AU) Customer Settings screen. This data is stored with customer supplementary data in the C-SUPP file.

That’s fine for changing customer records one at a time, but can you exempt your customers in mass from those HP minimum order fees? Yes, if the customer has a PID record in C-SUPP. ECi DDMS Support recommends creating a backup C-SUPP, then assigning a blank PID, then mass-changing the exemption, and then merging with the original file to restore PIDs.

For detailed instructions, see Exempt from HP PurchasEdge Minimum Order (pdf).

How do I use recent enhancements like Category Search and Marketing Tools?

Dealer Station® (pdf) This 2005 conference handout covers recent enhancements including Category Search functionality (what it means, how to manage it, etc.) and marketing tools. It also provides a brief overview of the differences between Dealer Station and the new ecInteractive Web storefront product, originally codenamed Cozumel.

How do I manage Favorites Lists in Dealer Station?

Managing Favorites Describes the enhancements to Favorites Management released in October 2003

How do I set up my customer's order authorization or approval hierarchy?

Setting Up Order Authorizations for Dealer Station DDMS Edition If some of the buyers for a customer account need authorization from their own company to make a purchase, you can automate this process through Dealer Station.

How do I set up Laundry Lists (aka shopping lists) and assign them to end users?

Setting Up Laundry Lists for Dealer Station DDMS Edition Learn to build laundry lists (collections of items that a customer usually orders) and assign them to end users.

How do I set up Guest user accounts so new visitors can place orders?

Setting Up Guest Users for Dealer Station DDMS Edition Set up a guest user account, so customers who do not have their own accounts can place orders.

How do I add my company logo or pictures for custom items?

Adding Logos and Pictures to Dealer Station DDMS Edition Learn to add your company logo to your Dealer Station website, and also learn to add pictures for custom items.

How do I export a list of contract items for Dealer Station customers, and import into a spreadsheet?

Exporting Dealer Station Contracts Learn to export a list of contract items for customers who use Dealer Station DDMS Edition. After exporting, you can bring this information into a Windows-based program, such as a spreadsheet. You will also need FAQ #71: Exporting reports in Windows NT (file:export-nt.pdf) or FAQ # 218: Exporting reports in Windows 2000 (file:export-2k.pdf)

How do I verify monthly Dealer Station billing activity?

Verifying Dealer Station Billings How to verify the activity shown in the monthly billings for Dealer Station DDMS Edition.

How do I create a Demo account to show prospects what they can do without incurring transaction fees?

FAQ #146: Creating a Demo Account for Dealer Station Learn how to create a Demo account to show customers the features and benefits of Dealer Station DDMS Edition without incurring transaction fees.