eCOMMERCE GUIDE

 

eCOMMERCE GUIDE CONTENTS

• Introduction
• 1. Logging In
• 2. Registering For A Username
• 3. Home Page
• 3.1 Products (Our catalogue)
• 3.2 My Account Link
• (Top right; shows all of your account admin functions here)
• 4 Product Searches
• 4.1 Browsing the Hierarchy
• 4.2 Standard Text Search –
• 4.3 Advanced Search
• 4.4 Refine Search
• 4.5 All Products
• 5. Product Configurators (Product Search Assistants)
• Crucial / Kingston Memory Assistant
• Office Supplies Assistant
• Projector Lamp Assistant
• Laptop Power Assistant
• 6. Comparing Products
• 7. Product Technical Specifications
• 8.     Ordering Products
• 9. Completing your Order
• 10. Checking the progress of your orders
• 11. Parcel Tracking & Proof Of Delivery
• 12. View Invoices Credit notes etc.
• 13. Account Finances
• 14 Favourite Products
• 15 Your Account Team
• 16 Manage Stored Card Information
• 17 Manage Your Bundles
• 18 .Quotes & Saved Baskets
• 19 Your Invoice Addresses
• 20 Manage Delivery Addresses
• 21. User Details
• 22. E-mail a Basket or Product Specification to a Colleague
• 23. Review A Product
• 24. Recently Viewed / Viewing History
• 25. Requisition Approval System
• 26. Customised Pages For Account Holders
• 27. E-Commerce Solutions

Introduction

Macwarehouse has been trading over the web for over eight years now at our ecommerce site http://www.macwarehouse.co.uk
The site enables our customers to find products, check prices and availability, and order products for delivery. Our site is connected directly to our back-office system so all prices and availability are shown in real-time. In addition to the core operational functions described in this document Macwarehouse are constantly adding to and improving the functionality of our site in order to cater for the changing needs of our customers.
Recent changes and additions include;
New Website Layout – A new more business like look and feel to the site with links to latest product releases and information.
Improved Product Data – We hold over 60,000+ products on our website, a great number of which we have improved with more extensive specifications, images and accessory data.
Improved Search Results – We have updated our product search facility, now showing products images, and allowing you to sort your results by price, product or even stock order. A cleaner, crisper look also when you search for product by category.
SMS,Text / Email Notification – Stay informed of your order shipments by opting to receive email or text message notifications.
Comprehensive ‘Workflow’ process – www.macwarehouse.co.uk can be built to match the order process within your own organisation. Approval or requisition only functions can be set for your users. Adding a financial limit too can ensure an even more secure process for buying on-line.
Online Links With Your Account Manager – Your account manager(s) can link their details to your account for you to quickly view their contact details, view posted information custom to your account and ‘chat’ online too.
Read on for more information on our site’s features.

 

1. Logging In

The starting point for all our customers ordering via the internet is the home page at www.macwarehouse.co.uk

Logging in to www.macwarehouse.co.uk gives you access to ‘Your account’ information directly from our back office systems. Data such as price and stock availability are fed in real time to our site to ensure that the latest information is at your fingertips. Even channel and distribution stock figures can be viewed. Ask for this from your account manager.
To access you account online you will need to log in.
If you do not have a username and password, you can create one immediately by clicking the ‘My Account’ link and ‘New Customer’. Or connect to the page here: http://www.macwarehouse.co.uk/ec/register-user.jtp
Further details on how to obtain a password are provided in section 2.
If you already have a username and password, click ‘My Account’ and enter your details into the drop down login boxes and click the Login button.

2. Registering For A Username

To gain access to www.macwarehouse.co.uk individuals within an organisation simply register as users against their company account number. After clicking the ‘My Account’ link and then ‘New Customer?’, you will be taken to the ’Register…..’ page.
The registration process asks for your key contact details and validates those details before creating your username and logging you in. Your username will be your e-mail address.

3. Home Page

 

Upon logging in, a ‘Welcome back….’ statement can be seen in the top left of the screen, along with your Macwarehouse account number. You can return to this screen at any time whilst logged in by clicking the ‘Home’ icon, link or Macwarehouse logo(top left).

 

3.1 Products (Our catalogue)

 

Click the main photo links in the centre window or browse via the category search listed down the left hand side to begin accessing our full product portfolio.

More help relating to searching can be seen in section 4.

3.2 My Account Link

(Top right; shows all of your account admin functions here)

 

Clicking the ‘My Account’ link allows you to access the many administrative features open to you as an account holder. Such options as:
View your Order History.
View Your Invoices.
Look back at Saved Baskets & Quotes which you may not yet have actioned or your account manager has created for you.
Add to or update your list of ‘Favourite’ & ‘Bundle’ products.
Select Invoice (the account you bill to) Address or Delivery Address updates.
And more……………..
Details about all of the above are listed in the following sections of this document.

4 Product Searches

There are a number of ways in which you can use our site to find the products that you are looking for. These range from generic free text searches, to specifying precise components of a machine using our product search assistants (see section 5).

4.1 Browsing the Hierarchy

 

 

You can ‘drill into’ our product sections using the links on the left hand side of the homepage or clicking the photo links in the main window. We show generic ranges such as ‘Communication’ or ‘Computers’. This allows you to then open up more options as you progress. As you browse the hierarchy, at any point you can use the ‘Search’ facility in the right-hand column to specify extra search criteria and search within a category.

 

4.2 Standard Text Search –

Our standard text search facility allows you to enter an Macwarehouse product code, manufacturer’s part number, or free text into the search field box located top right or in the right-hand column of the product search pages. Results for a free text search are displayed under categories, indicating how many results are contained within each. At this stage or after clicking through to the category itself for a product listing you may wish to use our ‘Refine results’ facility to narrow down your findings further.
If however you are placed in a category that is not relevant, simply select an alternative one or click the ‘more…’ link to be redirected.

 

 

4.3 Advanced Search

From the homepage use the Advanced search facility, bottom left column to look for products by maximum price, stock availability, brand and keyword.

 

4.4 Refine Search

Using the ‘Refine Search’ facility when you have received search results, you can narrow down your results by brand, price, stock availability, weight and keyword, in the same way that you would use the Advanced Search. In fact keep an eye on this right-hand column as it’s intuitive manner offers search options specific to the product type you are browsing.

 

 

4.5 All Products

The ‘All Products’ link accessed from the ‘homepage displays a top level style content list of all products and services featured within the Macwarehouse portfolio.

5. Product Configurators (Product Search Assistants)

Our configurators make choosing products and accessories easy. Reach these by clicking this link at the bottom left list of the homepage.

 

Crucial / Kingston Memory Assistant

Quickly and easily find the right memory. You can specify your make and model of hardware, ranging from desktop PCs to mobile phones, and our wizard will find the compatible memory. You can also search by type of memory, and manufacturer’s part number.

 

Office Supplies Assistant 

Find the compatible supplies for your printer, fax or multi-function device. Simply select the make and model, and our wizard will quickly find the compatible supplies.

 

Projector Lamp Assistant

Our projector lamp assistant makes finding the correct bulb unit quick and easy.  Simply enter your projector type and model to obtain the part number required.

 

Laptop Power Assistant

The correct power and battery accessory for your machine can be located by specifying your computer make and model.

 

6. Comparing Products

The compare facility enables our customers to select a number of products from a search result, and compare the technical details.
Checking the ‘compare’ box alongside each product, and then clicking the compare link will display the comparison.

 

 

7. Product Technical Specifications

 

By clicking a product code from a search result or by searching for a specific product code, users can see product technical specifications with, in most cases, an image of the product.
On many of our products we have improved our technical data to show more comprehensive information, including extended list of specifications, accessories, gallery, jargon help and often a ‘users who bought this have also bought…’ option. On this page you will also see our up to the minute pricing and stock availability along with on many products, compatible options. Use the Tabs in the main window to get the details you need.

 

 

 

8.         Ordering Products

 
The ordering process works like many websites, with a basket system. Simply click the ‘Add to basket’ or ‘Add’ button when viewing a product and this will be added to your basket page.
You can then find other products and add these to your basket until you have all the products that you require. To change the quantity of a product when in the basket, enter the quantity required and click the refresh arrow box to the right. Products can also be deleted from the basket by clicking the wastebasket.
If you leave your basket at any point to go to another part of the site, or leave the site altogether, your items will remain in the basket for when you return.
To proceed with the purchase select the ‘Pay by card’ or ‘Pay (Requisition) on account’ link as required.

NB.      Pay/Requisition on Account – we will send you an invoice for your order
Pay/Requisition by credit card – Pay for your goods online, also ideal for procurement or purchasing cards.

 

9. Completing your Order

The final part (checkout) of the ordering process is to select the delivery address for the goods, enter who the goods should be delivered for, and enter your Purchase order number (if you do not have a PO number, input a reference of your own).
If you are a business account holder to change the delivery address for your order, simply click ‘Change Address’, to select from our list of your addresses. Only addresses that have been added to your account on our back-office system will appear in the list.
A ‘Find Address’ option is available allowing a postcode look up to search for and select the correct alternative address.
If you need to add or change a delivery address on our database for future use, click the ‘Back’ button on your browser, select the ‘My Account’ link from the ‘Your Basket’ and click the ‘Manage Delivery Addresses’ option.
Once you have chosen your delivery address, enter the name of the person to whom the delivery should be made, and enter your PO or reference number.
Tabs along the screen allow you to view the Delivery Details, Payment Summary and Order Summary. Checking the box relating to our Terms & Conditions and clicking ‘Place order’ will complete the transaction. You will then be given a confirmation number, which should be noted down should you need to contact us.
Other options here also allow notification of order despatch: by SMS (text message) or email. The email addressees entered would be in addition to the default email sent to the user generating the order.

 

10. Checking the progress of your orders

 Orders placed on your account can be tracked using the ‘Order History’ link, found on the ‘My Account’ link menu when logged in. After clicking this option all orders placed on your account, both online and placed conventionally, i.e. fax or email, can be seen with any delivery date information. This screen also shows expected date information for any outstanding items.
By default the page will display all orders placed on your account in the past 30 days. At the top of the screen there is an order search filter, which allows you to search for orders by Customer Purchase Order Number, Macwarehouse Web Order No, a Period filter, Order Status and Date. Even a search by ‘User’ is available.

 

 

11. Parcel Tracking & Proof Of Delivery

On orders which have been despatched, a tracking ‘Click here’ link will appear on the ‘Order History’ page which enables you to track your parcel after it has been despatched from our warehouse.
For each shipment that has been made for this order, a consignment number link will appear. Click on these links to find out the current Parceline delivery status. If the parcel is still in transit, it will give the current progress.
For orders which have been delivered, signature information will be available.
If shipment has been made by a method other where our manufacturer or distributor does not provide tracking details, help can be obtained by emailing customerservices@macwarehouse.com.

 

 

12. View Invoices Credit notes etc.

To view and print invoices for your account, click the ‘View Your Invoices’ link, found on the ‘My Account’ menu when logged in. By default the page will display all invoices produced for your account in the past month.
The search filter at the top of the screen can be used to find invoices by invoice number, order number, period, date and customer purchase order number.
Once the relevant invoice has been found, click the ‘View Invoice’ link to open the view in a new window. From here you can print the invoice or credit if required.
Customers who are set to receive statements from Macwarehouse may also view these in the same way.
If the relevant invoice is not available, details can be obtained by emailing customerservices@macwarehouse.co.uk

 

13. Account Finances

Quite simply, clicking this link from the ‘My Account’ page displays a quick summary of your available credit, credit limit and outstanding balance.

This function can/may be restricted for privacy purposes. Contact
e-commerceteam@dsgibusiness for more information.

 

14 Favourite Products

www.macwarehouse.co.uk gives users the opportunity to create and manage lists of their favourite or standard products. When viewing a product, there are two links in the right-hand column, offering you the chance to ‘Add to Personal Favourites’ or ‘Add to Account favourites’.
Personal Favourites is a list of products only visible to the user who created it.
Account Favourites is a list of products viewable by all users on an account.
To access either list of favourite products, simply select ‘View Your Favourites’ from the ‘My Account’ menu. You can add, remove and reorder (drag and drop) products in the favourites lists by clicking the ‘Edit Account/Personal Favourites’ link. You can even create sub-headed sections, and move those around by clicking ‘Edit Account/Personal Favourites’ and then selecting ‘Add New Section’ from the bottom of the page.
If a product becomes obsolete, it will be highlighted as no longer available but not deleted so that you can choose an alternative product.

 

 

15 Your Account Team

For the majority of Macwarehouse customers you have the support of a dedicated Account Manager and in some cases external staff to liaise with also. Your Account Manager can ensure their contact details are displayed along with any extra information they may wish to publish to a ‘Your Account Team’ page, available by clicking on the link shown under the ‘My Account’ link or upon initial login.

If at the time of viewing your Account Manager is in the office and logged in too, you will see a link to invite them to ‘chat’, top right. A new window will open allowing a free text chat online.

16 Manage Stored Card Information

Allows customers to check details of any securely stored procurement or credit cards used for repeat purchases.

 

 

17 Manage Your Bundles

www.macwarehouse.co.uk gives users the opportunity to create and manage bundles of more than one item. When viewing a product users have the option to ‘Add to bundle’ from the right-hand column on any product page. To add another item to the bundle simply find the next product and repeat the process. Once the bundle is complete simply give the bundle a product code of your choice and a description and click the ‘Save bundle’ link. Those details will then be saved under the ‘My Account’ link and then ‘Manage Your Bundles’ link.
As with ‘Favourites’ it’s a great way to save items bought together for repeat purchases.

 

 

18 .Quotes & Saved Baskets

Within the site’s functionality, your Account Manager has the ability to create a quotation on our back office system which is then available for you to view, edit and add to basket to buy online.
Also if searching for products, once you have found the items that you require it may be that users need to gain authorisation to place an order, or check with a colleague on the technical suitability. To this end, we offer the ability to ‘Save a basket for later’ in the middle column of the ‘Your Basket’ screen. Simply click on this link, give the basket a description, and the basket will be saved for one month.
To access your quotes and saved baskets simply click this link from the ‘My Account’ menu.

 

19 Your Invoice Addresses

For customers who have the need to buy for more than one account, it is possible to switch between different business accounts without the need to have multiple passwords or to log out and then log back in again. By clicking on ‘Add/Switch Invoice Addresses’ on the ‘My Account’ link menu, the user is given the option to select the relevant business and if necessary feature it as a default address too.

 

 

20 Manage Delivery Addresses

Requests can be made to add, edit or delete delivery addresses on the site. This can be done by clicking the Manage (Delivery) Addresses link from the ‘My Account’ menu. Here users may also select a default address which they use more than others.
For customers who require instant delivery address updates, please contact your account manager so that necessary security checks may be undertaken before we apply this feature.

21. User Details

This is the bit that really does exactly what it says, click this link under the ‘My Account’ link to Change Your Password, to Manage Your Credit Card details Update Your Personal Details. Above this you may change your Email Confirmation Preferences; the email(s) that are sent by us to confirm receipt of your order.
Upon placing an order, Macwarehouse will send by return an e-mail confirming the details of your order request i.e.
Products
Current Stock Status
Purchase Order Number
Delivery Address
Invoice Address
Total Cost

You may add any number of recipients to receive a confirmatory email upon Macwarehouse’s receipt of your web order. To add additional email address, use a comma and a space to separate the email address details please, not a semicolon.

 

 

22. E-mail a Basket or Product Specification to a Colleague

Users have the option to e-mail either a basket of products or an individual product specification to a colleague at any time. On both the ‘Your basket’ screen, and the product specifications screens, users will see links offering this functionality in the middle window.
This means that if validation is needed from a colleague that items are suitable, the exact detail can be sent via email.

 

23. Review A Product

www.macwarehouse.co.uk gives users the chance to add product reviews and give feedback on reviews which have been posted. Simply click the ‘Read review / Write review’ link located in the right-hand column of any product page.

 

 

24. Recently Viewed / Viewing History

This link is displayed in both the ‘All Products’ and ‘My Account’ screens giving you a quick summary of all products historically viewed on the site.

 

 

 

25. Requisition Approval System

Via www.macwarehouse.co.uk we can help customers to map their web ordering to their own purchasing process.
We understand that within organisations there are:
Some people who specify but cannot buy.
There is a hierarchy to approving IT buying.
Requirements to restrict user access to our website  

The Requisition Approval System provides a basic requisition approval system.
This functionality recognises that within an organisation different users will have different purchasing rights and responsibilities. Some users will be purely specifiers and will never be able to buy directly. These users will fill a basket with their required items. This is then forwarded to their manager or purchaser who will approve the basket and complete the order process. In fact multiple levels of approval can be built along with fiscal limits per order for users.
If you require any further information on this functionality please contact our eBusiness Development Manager, Steve Reeves at steve.reeves@dsgibusiness.com

 

 

26. Customised Pages For Account Holders

By customising a standard ‘landing’ page for our customers, we can display unique information to users from that company. This may include your account team, their contact details and even an overview of each persons responsibilities and much more.
The requirements for your customised pages can be discussed with your account manager in more detail. Or contact our eBusiness Development Manager, steve.reeves@dsgibusiness.com

27. E-Commerce Solutions

Beyond our website, Macwarehouse has extensive experience in integrating with e-commerce solutions.
Many of our customers are now implementing their own e-procurement strategies, and we have played an instrumental part in the deployment of those technologies.
We are currently working with customers who are working with organisations such as:
Ariba
Biomni
Oracle
SAP
Elcom
Procserve
@UK
Also many of the emarketplace organizations in both public and private sectors.

Whether you plan to implement a locally hosted catalogue solution, or an integrated ‘punchout’ solution, Macwarehouse have the knowledge and experience to work with you as a supplier on such a project. For more information please contact your account manager and ask for guidance from the eCommerce Team. Contact steve.reeves@dsgibusiness.com