EQ streamlines the experience for retailer and manufacturer users, but it can also benefit suppliers by sending purchase order information in the best format for them to receive and action.
What does an EQ user need to do?
The EQ quote should be accepted and then the user clicks the Purchase Order button. An EQ user is prompted to enter a requested or preferred delivery date and confirm or change the delivery address (quick options include the business address, any warehouse setup, or the end customer's address).
Tick or untick the products required and click the Generate Order button!
EQ can send purchase orders in a variety of methods.
Emails with PDFs
Most commonly setup, EQ will generate an email to the supplier with attached PDF file. The PDF file is an A4 version of a full purchase order including product codes, descriptions, dimensions (optional), delivery information and prices (optional).
An example of a carcase furniture purchase order PDF is shown:
Electronic Orders (EQX files)
An additional standard option available to all EQ users, is sending orders in the EQX file format. This is a proprietary file format that EQ automatically attaches to the email being generated to the supplier.
This solution requires some bespoke development with the supplier to interpret the EQX file format so it can be read and imported with any back-end ordering system. No development is requires for EQ, as the EQX format is available in all EQ versions.
Electronic Orders (custom format)
Suppliers may have a back-end ordering system and can save some double-entry by receiving a file attached to the email that EQ generates. The EQ user does not need to produce any extra steps, they will generate the order as usual and then EQ will attach the required file.
Some suppliers for example request data in CSV or XML format. These files can be saved off from the email and imported into the supplier's system.
This solution requires some bespoke development from EQ, working with the supplier to agree the data and format required.
Full Integration
Suppliers may have a back-end ordering system that can accept data from third parties such as EQ. Utilising the appropriate API technology, a live order placing link could be developed to allow EQ to generate an order and send it, in real-time, into the supplier's ordering system. Depending on the software capabilities, this could also include live product/stock/delivery information that is displayed back to the EQ user at the point of ordering.
This solution requires some bespoke development with EQ working with the supplier to agree the data and format.