Product Import
Like its predecessor Supplier Link, the Distribution SX.e Product Import (PI) module provides distributors with a method of importing updated pricing and product information from the many available suppliers or service providers (for example, i2 supply chain solution services. or Trade Service Company's common information platform services). Because these service provider’s updates can be frequent and can contain vast amounts of information, specifying this data manually is impractical.
Product Import downloads this information electronically, accepting multiple formats, and updates your files automatically. This is an extremely useful tool for any distributor with a large number of products. Product Import is fully integrated with other related modules of the Distribution SX.e system.Most importantly, it interacts with the Product module during the update process.
How it works
| Features | Product Import module |
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| Information is loaded from the supplier or Trade Service files. | Specify the Import Directory in SA Administrator Options. |
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Create import file based on mappable import types (Trade Service PFMS format, Fixed length format, Delimited or CSV format, custom format). Applies calculations and mapping definitions. Product identifiers can be manipulated by appending a prefix or suffix. Flags any problem records. |
Run PI Administrator Import File, in conjunction with Progress Quoter Utility. It applies the import definitions and record defaults set up in PI Import Definition Setup, PI Price Cost Multiplier Setup, and PI New Product Default Setup to the file. Optionally, you can build import files from products that currently exist in your Product entity using the Product Import Administrator Build From Product Files function. These files can then be updated and new price/cost calculations applied. Creates the PI Entry Edit File, a table function that can be used for editing. |
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New information can be edited before files are updated. Any calculated information can be overridden. Effective dates and hold codes can be applied. The format can be modified. |
The edit file, PI Entry Edit File, can be displayed and modified using PI Entry Edit Product Update File before any Product entity records being updated or created in your database. |
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Product records are updated. Completely automatic. New catalog, product, warehouse, and interchange records can be created. Supersedes can be created automatically. Audit trail is created. New information is available immediately. |
After you have completed editing all or a portion of your update file, the PI Entry Edit File, in PI Entry Edit Product Update File, you can update Product entity records by running PI Entry Update Products. Records that are selected for updating have an update code of Update and an effective date that is before, or equal to, the current date, unless you set the Days to Allow Forward option. During the update, the system searches for the existing product records in Product Setup, Product Warehouse Product Setup, and Product Catalog Setup and updates those records with the information from the line items that qualify for updating. |
| Maintain records. |
Maintain records with these PIE reports:
Maintain records with these PIA reports:
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| Perform inquiries. |
Inquire about import history or specific products in these functions
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| Print information about the import file and setups. |
Use these PIR reports to print static information:
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