Guidelines for assessing new systems + potential to connect via CSV FTP

Overview

Kimelo is currently able to integrate with vendor order management systems via CSV manual, CSV FTP, Quickbooks Online (QBO), and Quickbooks Desktop (QBD). We are building capabilities powered by the sales pipeline for additional ERP systems such as SAP, Odoo, MS Dynamics, etc.

Through speaking with vendors, we have found that a majority of them use QBO and QBD. Vendors often use systems like Fishbowl or Acctivate alongside QuickBooks because these systems provide additional features and functionalities that complement QuickBooks, which is primarily accounting software. They offer features like barcode scanning, multi-location tracking, real-time inventory updates, and automated stock alerts, which are critical for businesses with complex inventory needs. Oftentimes these systems will not import into Quickbooks, so we must find a way to bridge connectivity via CSV FTL / manual.

When reviewing systems, there are a few pieces of information required to make an initial assessment of feasibility. Linked below is a template of the new system assessment form which can be duplicated to review new systems

1. Data Spec - Can we obtain the necessary data for our CSV FTP solution?
   1. Products
   2. Price Tiers
   3. Customers
2. Data Mapping
   1. Does the software offer data mapping capabilities? (Meaning that data from their platform in column X can be written into the file under the column name Y)
   2. If not, investigate if other solutions i.e. Fiver, MS spreadsheet can be workarounds to translate data from X format to Y format
3. File Format - Can files be exported in CSV? If not, what is the file format? Ideal format is csv but other formats can be useable as long as we can transfer it into csv
4. File Path
   1. Do they have API or file exchange capabilities?
   2. If yes, are they able to transfer files to a remote directory?

If all of the above questions are answered Yes, then the software can be set up to work with our FTP solution. If the answer to any of the above questions is No or Unsure, we should further investigate workarounds or alternative solutions (i.e. CSV manual, data mapping workaround).

For integration set-up next steps, we use the FTP software FireZilla. Each store will receive its own FTP destination in which the data exchange will occur. Kimelo team will distribute credentials to those destinations to the vendor when ready. They’ll receive instructions with the FTP address, user and password once we complete the work. We may need to meet with the vendor to get the file transfer set up / walk through steps manually.

New System Assessments

[Assessment Form - please duplicate]

Acctivate

Fishbowl