Simplifying and streamlining the process of supervisors calling for deliveries is an
important requirement of volume builders. Wait times in call centre phone queues is
an extremely inefficient use of a supervisor’s time. This coupled with SMS
messages, voice mail, and other activities on the phone, supervisors are constantly
facing challenges to their ability to supervise.

The SupplierConnect - Notifications solution extends on the efficiencies of the
Tablet PC, by allowing supervisors to electronically call up notifications to
participating suppliers without the need to wait in phone queues or directly call the
supplier. That is, suppliers receive notifications via email and through a single-click
link into the Logistics Supplier Portal they can provide instant feedback to
supervisors and the office, acknowledging the call up. Supervisors are also notified
automatically as purchase orders and the call forward programme are updated as
they are colour coded to indicate the status of call up notifications.

Implemented using both email and the Internet portal, communication with
suppliers is instantaneous, and does not require supervisors to synchronise their
Tablet PC data to call for deliveries.

Features
Features and benefits of this module include:

• Supervisor access to call-up notifications
• Ability to easily respond to supervisors confirming called-for deliveries
• Responses automatically update the supervisor’s Construction Logistics
• Tablet PC without the need to sync
• The electronic notification call up process eliminates long waiting in phone
• queues to request deliveries

Module Requirements
Requirements for this module include:

• Construction Logistics Tablet software up and running successfully with
• supervisors
• Microsoft Outlook configured and working on supervisors tablet PC’s
• Dedicated Windows Web Server

Supplier Connect Supplier Colours

Black - The supplier is not profiled for supplier connect. 

Blue - The supplier is profiled for Supplier Connect Email call ups and the Activity has a linked Purchase Order.

Red - The supplier is profiled for Supplier Connect Email call ups and the Activity has no linked Purchase Order. 

Call forward programme are colour coded to indicate the status of call up notifications

Blue (Question Mark) - Pending Acceptance
Green (Tick) - Accepted
Red (Cross) - Declined

Electronically accepted call up notifications

SupplierConnect – Notifications Message Flow Diagram

Automatic email-based call up solution for supervisors. Suppliers and tradespeople automatically receive an email as their call up notification. Responses are provided by the email linking back to a response page web portal.

Analysis and Setup Requirements

• Confirm all Supervisor Email Addresses are setup and correct
• Notification of change to Suppliers
• Confirm which suppliers will be enabled for notifications
• Request/confirm correct supplier contact details (email address)
• Nominate scheduler supplier contact (who will receive the notification emails)
• Update supplier entity details in Ordering system
• Integrate supplier entities into Framework
• Assign entity roles in Framework to new suppliers

Supplier Connect Portal Install

• Select a public server for the supplier connect response portal Installation (A public server is one that will allow external users access to the portal)
• Configure Microsoft SQL Server for Mixed Mode Authentication
• Create the ODBC DSN connection for Supplier Connect Portal using SQL Authentication
• Install Internet Information Services (IIS)
• Install PHP
• Install Microsoft SQL Server Driver for PHP
• Configure PHP Settings (php.ini)
• Copy Ixed folder into PHP Ext Folder
• Copy SupplierConnect Website Files
• Configure Firewall to allow external users access to the reponse portal
• Set Folder Permissions for Internet Guest Account (servername_IUSR)
• Configure Website Files (config.php)
• Configure Internet Information Services (IIS) 
• Test SupplierConnect Portal

Framework Portal/Tablet Preference Setup

Framework Administration

• Create email template for called emails (email sent to supplier for call up)
• Create email template for Called Off emails

Framework Security / Preferences

• • Set Notification Emails preference for Called Email - Tablet (-11008)
  • Set Notification Emails preference for Called Off Email - Tablet (-11009)
  • Set Enable Supplier Notifications preference to Yes (-50000)
  • Set the Email Address for Notifications to Desktop preference (-11050)
  • Set Source of Supplier Details for Notifications preference (-50078)
  • Set Notifications Response Page URL preference (-11003)
  • Set SupplierConnect Portal Status to Enabled - Testing/Enabled - Live
  • Set Notification Monitor (minutes) - Desktop preference (-11053)
  • Set Notification Monitor (minutes) - Tablet preference (-11052)
  • Set Enable Notification Monitoring preference to Yes (-11054)
  • Set the Notification Email Delivery preferences for Test and Live environment

Tablet Microsoft Outlook Setup

• Confirm Microsoft Outlook 32bit  is installed (64bit version is not supported)
• Outlook is configured and working using supervisor email address 

Supplier Connect Testing

• Confirm All emails are sent and received correctly
• Confirm Tablet Functions Work Correctly for Supplier Responses

Supplier Connect Go Live Rollout

• Final notice to suppliers to inform them of Go Live
  
• Inform supervisors of Go Live date and training
• Set Framework/Tablet preferences in Live ECM database (as per above)

Supervisor Training

• Train Supervisors on usage