The final cutover from the IDW to the new IDEA Connector is scheduled for April 19th, during which time all customers will be migrated to the enhanced platform. Please do not update your URL or your FTP URL from the IDW to IDEA Connector for any loads, extracts, or automated feeds until instructed to do so.
The IDEA team is working diligently to ensure a smooth launch! Let us know if you haven’t received your access to the new platform or the learning portal, and we’ll get you set up.
Time frames (EST) as follows:
- 5:00 pm, April 16th —The IDW will shut down; no manufacturer files will be sent
- 5:00 pm, April 16th to Sunday, April 19th — Final validations will be performed
- 8:00 am, April 20th — Customers will be able to log into the new IDEA Connector and operate exclusively in the updated platform
If you have questions about any of the information or dates noted above, please contact the IDEA Client Solutions team at ideaclientsolutions@idea4industry.com or call 866-479-0484.
Last Chance to Train for IDEA Connector
If you haven’t completed training yet, now is the time to do so! The IDEA Learning Portal will remain open during the entire migration time frame and beyond, so you will always have access to the great lessons, videos, recordings, and documentation on the new platform.
We’d like to thank the industry for devoting their time to learning the new platform and improving the number of users ready to work in the new system dramatically. We will continue to reach out to those few who have yet to be trained to ensure that everyone is prepared and able to cut over to IDEA Connector as smoothly as possible.
If you have any questions please contact the Client Solutions team at ideaclientsolutions@idea4industry.com or call 866-479-0484.
IDEA Connector Q&A Webinars
With the sunset date of the IDW, we are here to answer any questions you may have during this process. Join our weekly Q&A webinars every Thursday for IDEA Connector and have all your questions and concerns addressed in real-time! Recordings of these webinars are also available in the IDEA Learning Portal. Contact the Clients Solutions Team if you have trouble joining or accessing the recordings.
If you have any questions please contact the Client Solutions team at ideaclientsolutions@idea4industry.com or call 866-479-0484.
IDEA Connector Tip: Have You Checked Your Extraction Maps?
When was the last time you checked the maps you are using to extract product information and pricing from the IDW and the new IDEA Connector? We encourage distributors to review their extracted product information to ensure it includes everything needed and integration to internal and external systems are optimized.
Manufacturers are currently populating over 500 fields of product information and pricing including the 43 industry critical fields and additional content including technical drawings, multiple images (3D, thumbnails, etc.), warranty information, videos, IMAP pricing, certifications (UL, Prop 65, etc.), multilingual (Spanish, French, etc.) and much more! With the launch of IDEA Connector, now’s a great time to review the product information you may not be taking advantage of.
If you have any questions contact your account manager or the Client Solutions team at ideaclientsolutions@idea4industry.com or call 866-479-0484.
Optimize IDEA Connector With IDEA Fusion
In today’s market, timely information access is key to driving business. Yet, many distributors struggle to optimize and manage their product data efficiently. Companies need a way to combine multiple data sources, normalize product information, and share with internal and external systems. Read more how IDEA Fusion assists companies facing these challenges in this exclusive whitepaper!
Ensure the Stability of Your EDI System
During these tumultuous times, it is often easy to overlook some safeguards you may have in place to ensure your business continues to run smoothly. With much of the country in some form of self-quarantine, being able to move goods through the supply chain is of paramount concern for the majority of companies.
Find out what opportunities you have to minimize the impact of operating in a modified business model and keeping your supply chain optimized!
IDEA COVID-19 Response
IDEA views your success, including your data syndication and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) needs, as our most critical priority. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we do not anticipate any impact on the data or EDI services we provide, nor do we expect any impact on the customer support, so many of you have come to rely upon.
If you have any questions contact your account manager or the Client Solutions team at ideaclientsolutions@idea4industry.com or call 866-479-0484.
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