With its Internet capability, WrightTools is the first suite
of products to provide a single database and tool-set that works across a
network and the Internet. Key advantages include the ability to service
different types of end-user relationships, powerful interactive selling process
capabilities, and the ability to proactively manage sales cycles.
eTransact extends WrightTools’ standard functionality to
your website. eTransact extends your quoting and ordering
capability to the web, adding a shopping cart function and leveraging your sales
channel's resources.
eTransact Internet Capability.
eTransact is a powerful module that allows users to easily
access your site and conduct business with your company. The uniqueness of our Quote to Order Management System is that
it allows more than one way to interact with your customer, depending upon the
type of user, while maintaining the integrity of Internet security demanded of
companies in the e-commerce world today.
eTransact provides a number of core functions. These
capabilities are described as transaction management, user access and security,
account set-up, and administrative functions.
eInteract is a module that works with eTransact to offer
"interactive" capabilities and additional functionality.
If eInteract is required or for more information,
please see the section on eInteract.
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eTransact Product Details
Functionality Outline: This
section outlines detailed functionality that comes with the eTransact Quote to Order Management module.
Functions allowed are relative to the existing capability as provided by the
standard set of WrightTools capability as documented in the WrightTools modules
owned by the customer, specifically SmartQuote and EasyEstimate. eTransact
functions are divided into categories that will be reviewed in further detail.
In summary the main functions encompass:
- Transaction Management
allows
Internet users to find and build the information necessary to create quotes and
orders. Transaction Management achieves this in three ways: depending on the
user-types, they may elect to use shopping cart technology, quoting tools and
/or order processing over the Internet. This section details the types of
transactions and functions available. Actual site configuration allows for the
user to determine accessibility (see User access and security for more details).
- Account Set Up
is the
classification and set up of the users accessing the eTransact product. It
discusses how the user hosting the site sets up accounts (customers or
prospects) in the database. Static information on customers, distributors,
trading partners and new users can be managed. This section outlines the
information that can be set up and the functions available.
- Administrative Functions
are those
that relate to common forms, table set up, and utilities that are used in
managing eTransact capabilities. Administrative Functions allow pre-determined
standards to be set up. These functions help control processes and expedite
order processing. This section covers maintenance and set up of system wide
features.
- User Access and Security
is the
function that enables different types of users in your sales channel to navigate
according to their needs while minimizing their accessibility to
business-critical data. The type or class of user determines the form of
navigation and access to data. For example: a new user may be restricted to
shopping cart capability; further restrictions on the access and data are
determined by actual user login. This section provides an overview of the
definitions of user classes and functions available. Actual data access is
determined during implementation.
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Transaction Management
Transaction Management is based upon the type or class of
user. Depending upon the user class and type defined by the user login,
different forms (pages) may be available. The types of transactions are shopping
cart, quotes, and orders. This section discusses the elements and functions
provided by each transaction type.
Shopping Cart Transactions: Shopping
Cart Transaction Management allows a user accessing the site to pick and choose
from the company’s product offering. Typically the user selects desired
products and then adds them to a "shopping cart". eTransact treats
these as a quote or order specific to the user. Shopping Cart functionality will
be accessible for all types of users. Pricing will be accessible according to
login.
This capability allows the following:
- Native browser print functionality supported
- Products available for sale can be added via the
SmartQuote parts table
- Category and subcategory can be referenced
directly from the product table
- Shopping cart (quote) or order history can be
reviewed by logged-in members
- System-level setting which forces the user to
logon before they can peruse the product catalog, if true; otherwise the user
need only logon to complete the order
- The discount field is in the product table and
is maintainable from the Product Maintenance Form in WrightTools. This discount
will be a percentage with a configurable range of acceptable values. This
discount will be applied transparently by calculating the price (base price
multiplied by the discount percentage).
- Entry and recording of purchase order numbers.
- Orders may be saved once the member has logged
in, and revisited via member order history.
- Credit card processing such as verification and
authorization will be implemented via an off-the-web product such as Web
Authorize and is available on a custom quote basis.
- Product search will be available for the
following product table fields: Category, Subcategory, Product Description,
Price Range, and Product Number (Further search capability is available if the
user has enabled the eInteract module).
Quote Transactions: Quote
functionality allows the user to provide additional levels of access and
navigation to the "shopping cart" capabilities offered by eTransact.
In a quote-driven navigation interface, the user may want to build account data
and header information about the quote, and to treat the entire transaction as a
single event. The major difference between a "shopping cart" and a
"request for quote" approach is that the user is investigating
multiple products to be ordered at one time, and tends to be fairly
knowledgeable about what needs to be included. The Quote to Order Management System allows users to
work with different iterations of the same quote, copy and build on these for
new quotes, and provides extensive functions related to the management of data
associated with processing the quote. This includes requests for custom quoting,
engineering, and pricing.
- Review existing quotes
- Print lists of quote summaries
- Add a new quote
- Change a quote
- Select from parts offered for sales
- Access different pricing structures
- Assign a contact
- Assign Sales Representatives
- Add comments
- Copy a template or quote
- Assign forecast data
- Request a quote (This is a request for special
pricing)
- Request a quote for non standard items (This is
the submittal of an item that may not be a "standard" product offering
that the user needs. The WrightTools user will then be able to create an
"Estimate" and publish the response in a secure area. The requesting
user via a report can access this response.)
- Terms and Conditions
- Shipping methods requested
- Ship to instructions
- Notes at the header level
- Notes at the line level
- Financial data
- Reports
Order Transactions:
Order functionality is the conversion of a "shopping cart quote" or
the acceptance of a previously built quote, or the building of a direct order.
Order processing is dependent upon credit acceptance (credit or purchase
authority). Functions related to the quoting process such as copy quote to order
are included.
- Review existing orders
- Print lists of orders summaries
- Add a new order
- Assign a contact
- Assign Sales Representatives
- Request a change to an order
- Select from parts offered for sales
- Access different pricing structures
- Add Comments
- Requires review (All acceptances of orders are
dependent upon approval and are often reviewed by sales. This issue needs to be
covered procedurally as part of the implementation process. Status codes may be
used.)
- Convert a Quote to an Order for non-standard
items (This assumes that an internal quote with an estimated Bill of Material is
associated with an order. The process is based upon a request for quote in which
a person responsible for creating the estimate works up the pertinent data and
has submitted a "quote report" specific to that user.)
- Terms and Conditions
- Shipping methods requested
- Ship to instructions
- Notes at the header level
- Notes at the line level
- Financial data
- Reports
- Purchase Orders
- Credit card (information will be captured for
export to outside services. Custom work is required and will be specified and
billed on a time and materials basis.)
- Freight charges (information will be captured
for export to outside services. Custom work is required and will be specified
and billed on a time and materials basis.)
- Taxes (information will be captured for export
to outside services. Custom work is required and will be specified and billed on
a time and materials basis.)
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Account Set Up
Account information relates to the ability to establish
and maintain new accounts (trading partners or distributor-related information).
This means an Internet user may request that another user or trading partner is
added. The final outcome will be determined based upon the security and
transaction capability associated with the user.
- Review existing accounts
- Add or edit an account
- Add or edit address information
- Add or edit contact information
- Add or edit shipment method
- Add or edit FOB point
- Add or edit price book
- Add or edit parent information
- Add or edit reseller representative information
- Freight charges
- Taxes
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Administrative Functions
Administrative functions determine the nature of the way the
tools and the system respond to different user types. It also ensures those code
and transaction activity standards, including ship-to addresses, prefix codes
and other managerial services are consistently provided.
- Set up a new representative
- Set up a new user for access types other than new users
- Establish standard terms and conditions
- Establish price book access
- Add parts
- Add sales representatives
- Add regions
- Condition
- Status code
- Ship
- FOB
- Freight charge
- Countries
- States
- Forecast codes
- Prefix
- User titles
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User Access and Security
User Access and Security ensures that registered users have
access to the specific data they need to process transactions. WrightTools makes
the process of converting opportunities to orders as efficient as possible.
Applying the right controls with regards to user access and security continues
to be a priority with the Internet modules. User Access and Security falls into
many categories: the primary classification of these categories is defined as
the user type or classification and functionality or accessibility by each user
within a class.
Security is also maintained via standard security offered by
access to the site designated by the Internet site, Microsoftä Site Server, and
User Types. User type security will afford standard views and data accessibility
according to documentation provided by WrightTools upon implementation. Other
security will need to be defined according to the implementation of the other
Internet tools used and are not covered by this proposal. The Security based upon
user type and login will have an impact upon the following data access.
- Accounts
- Quotes and orders associated with accounts
- Parts
- Price books
Secure connections for transactions will be ensured with the
implementation of secure sockets.
User Types: This section defines
types or classes of users, and describes the general functionality available to
each. A standard set of security is provided. Additional security functions are
part of the implementation.
WrightTools provides Internet accessibility based upon the
following types of business relationships:
- Inside Sales - sales transactions are managed with customer
service or sales personnel.
- Outside Sales - sales transactions are managed with outside
sales representatives.
- Distributors and their sales representatives - products are
resold for the manufacturer and representatives of the reseller(s) are not
employees of the manufacturing company.
- Registered End Users –repeat buyers or who have ongoing
contracts with the manufacturer or distributor (also know as trading partners).
- End Users - Individuals who are not consistent users and do
not need an account. These users especially will need some interaction to
complete the sales transaction
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Conclusion
WrightTools eTransact is a quick and easy way to begin
utilizing the power of the Internet. It is a packaged solution for companies who
manage their e-commerce utilizing a business-through-distributor model. In
addition to leveraging this aspect of the business world, it serves end users
and trading partners, as well as your sales force.
eTransact provides one tool-set and database that works across
a network and the Internet. With eTransact, you will have the ability to respond
to different types of business relationships, utilize powerful interactive
selling process capabilities, and proactively manage your sales cycles.
When used in conjunction with eInteract, eTransact provides an
interactive sales environment on your website. This capability is especially
effective when a prospect’s needs require communication between the buyer and
the seller and, at minimum, some expertise to translate or match the prospect’s
requirements to your product capabilities or offering.
You can significantly improve your sales and closure rates by
investing in WrightTools’ Internet Modules. The effectiveness of your
communications and sales channels will be improved considerably as you extend
your business to the web. Move into the 21st century with the
knowledge that you have the WrightTools.
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