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support:account_setup
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support:account_setup [2011/02/05 14:25] jshellhaas |
support:account_setup [2015/10/12 10:15] (current) seyers |
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| ====== Accounts ====== | ====== Accounts ====== | ||
| ===== Overview ===== | ===== Overview ===== | ||
| - | Like Pricing Templates, the Accounts section is one of the main repositories ("homes") for critical information upon which the rest of DispatchDirectTM depends. The decisions made in setting up an Account will set the initial course for how new calls for the account are processed. Accounts is the "authoritative source" for the information it conatins. Unless there is a manual over-ride, the entries in Accounts will be the basis and starting point for other processes in DispatchDirectTM. | + | Like Pricing Templates, the Accounts section is one of the main repositories ("homes") for critical information upon which the rest of DispatchDirectTM depends. The decisions made in setting up an Account will set the initial course for how new calls for the account are processed. Accounts is the "authoritative source" for the information it contains. Unless there is a manual over-ride, the entries in Accounts will be the basis and starting point for other processes in DispatchDirectTM. |
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| The three major categories of information for an Account relate to contacts/addresses, pricing (formulas, rates), and the dispatching process. The listing of all Accounts is in a window that slides out from the right side. Associated Pricing Templates are in a window that slides up from the bottom. Each of the major categories of information are described in turn after first highlighting the role of the Cash/Call-In Account in DispatchDirectTM. | The three major categories of information for an Account relate to contacts/addresses, pricing (formulas, rates), and the dispatching process. The listing of all Accounts is in a window that slides out from the right side. Associated Pricing Templates are in a window that slides up from the bottom. Each of the major categories of information are described in turn after first highlighting the role of the Cash/Call-In Account in DispatchDirectTM. | ||
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| + | {{:support:account_overview.jpg|}} | ||
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| ===== Cash/Call-In Account ===== | ===== Cash/Call-In Account ===== | ||
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| The information entered in the Cash/Call-in account will be used to automatically populate fields in all other accounts that are created. The purpose is to again streamline the set-up process. Any information that is automatically populated can and should be changed to get the right information entered for the particular account. | The information entered in the Cash/Call-in account will be used to automatically populate fields in all other accounts that are created. The purpose is to again streamline the set-up process. Any information that is automatically populated can and should be changed to get the right information entered for the particular account. | ||
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| + | {{:support:cash_account.jpg|}} | ||
| ===== Contacts/Addresses ===== | ===== Contacts/Addresses ===== | ||
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| - | **Code** - is intended as a "short-code for an Account. For example a short-code for Bedford Collision Center could be "BCC". The code id is user-defined and is intended to help expedite call taking. DispatchDirectTM provides a drop-down menu of customer Accounts for the call taker. As call takers gain experience and familiarity with Accounts, it will often be faster for them to simply type in the Account short-code, rather than using the drop-down menu. | + | **Code** - is intended as a "short-code for an Account. For example a short-code for Bedford Collision Center could be "BCC". The code id is user-defined and is intended to help expedite call taking. DispatchDirectTM provides a drop-down menu of customer Accounts for the call taker. As call takers gain experience and familiarity with Accounts, it will often be faster for them to simply type in the Account short-code, rather than using the drop-down menu. Another important consideration, is the short code is used for linking to quickbooks, so once these codes are established, they should not be changed. |
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| **Category** - segments all Accounts into three "buckets": Customers, Suppliers, and Networking. DispatchDirectTM is not a sophisticated CRM system, but does allow you to maintain records on other business relationships and organizations (i.e., also "Accounts") that are not, strictly speaking, "customers". In Job Entry, the drop-down box for selecting an Account only shows Accounts that have been categorized as "Customers". | **Category** - segments all Accounts into three "buckets": Customers, Suppliers, and Networking. DispatchDirectTM is not a sophisticated CRM system, but does allow you to maintain records on other business relationships and organizations (i.e., also "Accounts") that are not, strictly speaking, "customers". In Job Entry, the drop-down box for selecting an Account only shows Accounts that have been categorized as "Customers". | ||
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| - | + | ||
| **Type** - provides an option to sub-divide "Category" into meaningful groups. The use of this field is optional, and its primary value is as a variable/filter in running reports - e.g., how much business am I doing with auto dealers? Useful sub-groups could be, for example: | **Type** - provides an option to sub-divide "Category" into meaningful groups. The use of this field is optional, and its primary value is as a variable/filter in running reports - e.g., how much business am I doing with auto dealers? Useful sub-groups could be, for example: | ||
| * Customers: Auto dealers, body shops, mechanical repair, auction yards, police, motor clubs, insurance cos., individual clients | * Customers: Auto dealers, body shops, mechanical repair, auction yards, police, motor clubs, insurance cos., individual clients | ||
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| ===== Pricing templates associated with the account ===== | ===== Pricing templates associated with the account ===== | ||
| - | As mentioned previously, Accounts is the "authoritative source" for information - including the appropriate pricing for an Account. There are three important ideas to remember when configuring the pricing for an Account: | + | As mentioned previously, Accounts is the "authoritative source" for information - including the appropriate pricing for an Account. There are four important ideas to remember when configuring the pricing for an Account: |
| - | * Pricing for all Accounts is defined in Pricing Templates (see Pricing Templates - Overview) | + | * The //rates// for pricing for all Accounts is defined in Pricing Templates (see Pricing Templates - Overview) |
| - | * Unless otherwise configured, the pricing for an Account will use the "List" pricing for the company ("Class/offering default") - typically specified in Cash/Call-In Pricing Templates (see Pricing Templates - Overview) | + | * Unless otherwise configured, the //rates// for an Account will use the "List" pricing for the company ("Class/offering default") - typically specified in Cash/Call-In Pricing Templates (see Pricing Templates - Overview) |
| * Account-specific pricing (different than the company "List" or Cash/Call-In templates) must be specified as a separate Pricing Template (see Set-Up: Creating New Pricing Templates). A Pricing Template for a specific Account, would ideally be applicable to other Accounts as well - e.g., other auto dealers. | * Account-specific pricing (different than the company "List" or Cash/Call-In templates) must be specified as a separate Pricing Template (see Set-Up: Creating New Pricing Templates). A Pricing Template for a specific Account, would ideally be applicable to other Accounts as well - e.g., other auto dealers. | ||
| + | * The pricing //approach// - particularly as it relates to Mileage - is defined by Account | ||
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| Once appropriate Pricing Templates have been created, they need to be linked with the Account. Note: if the Account will use the company "List" pricing ("Class/offering default") there is no need to create a linkage in the Account - DispatchDirectTM will automatically use the "List" Pricing Templates if a more appropriate alternative has not been "associated with" the Account . | Once appropriate Pricing Templates have been created, they need to be linked with the Account. Note: if the Account will use the company "List" pricing ("Class/offering default") there is no need to create a linkage in the Account - DispatchDirectTM will automatically use the "List" Pricing Templates if a more appropriate alternative has not been "associated with" the Account . | ||
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| - To remove, if necessary, click on the "Remove?" box at the end of the row, and confirm this choice in the dialogue box | - To remove, if necessary, click on the "Remove?" box at the end of the row, and confirm this choice in the dialogue box | ||
| + | {{:support:assoc_templates.jpg|}} | ||
| ===== Dispatch Defaults ===== | ===== Dispatch Defaults ===== | ||
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| **Dispatch default destination address** - provides an opportunity to enter the most common Destination/Drop location for a repeat customer. For example, police calls might typically be towed to the city impound lot, or an auto dealer may have a service facility where they want incoming vehicles to be dropped. These fields are optional entries. In cases where there is a "usual" drop location, it can be entered in these fields. When a new call is received from this Account, DispatchDirectTM will automatically populate the Destination address in Job Entry with this information. | **Dispatch default destination address** - provides an opportunity to enter the most common Destination/Drop location for a repeat customer. For example, police calls might typically be towed to the city impound lot, or an auto dealer may have a service facility where they want incoming vehicles to be dropped. These fields are optional entries. In cases where there is a "usual" drop location, it can be entered in these fields. When a new call is received from this Account, DispatchDirectTM will automatically populate the Destination address in Job Entry with this information. | ||
| \\ | \\ | ||
| - | | + | |
| **Dispatch defaults** - are intended to streamline call taking by pre-defining common characteristics of new calls that are received from the Account. For example, the City and State fields will fill in the corresponding fields in the Incident address. If incorrect, the call taker can easily over-ride these fields and enter the correct information. Many of these fields are populated from the entries in the Cash/Call-In Account (in effect the Company defaults). These entries can/should be modified as appropriate. If there is no common pattern for an Account, the fields can be made "blank", and the call taker can start "from scratch" for every new call. | **Dispatch defaults** - are intended to streamline call taking by pre-defining common characteristics of new calls that are received from the Account. For example, the City and State fields will fill in the corresponding fields in the Incident address. If incorrect, the call taker can easily over-ride these fields and enter the correct information. Many of these fields are populated from the entries in the Cash/Call-In Account (in effect the Company defaults). These entries can/should be modified as appropriate. If there is no common pattern for an Account, the fields can be made "blank", and the call taker can start "from scratch" for every new call. | ||
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| **Mileage defaults** - specify the appropriate approach for determining mileage charges for the Account (see Pricing Templates - Pricing Parameters - Mileage). For pricing purposes, mileage can be determined based on odometer readings from the truck ("rolling miles"), or based on turn-by-turn directions from Google Maps ("calculated miles" - automatically calculated in DispatchDirectTM for geocoded locations). The rates for the mileage charges are set in Pricing Templates. The approach for determining the miles that are to be billed - "rolling" vs. "calculated" - is set for each Account . Setting the appropriate pricing approach for an Account requires: | **Mileage defaults** - specify the appropriate approach for determining mileage charges for the Account (see Pricing Templates - Pricing Parameters - Mileage). For pricing purposes, mileage can be determined based on odometer readings from the truck ("rolling miles"), or based on turn-by-turn directions from Google Maps ("calculated miles" - automatically calculated in DispatchDirectTM for geocoded locations). The rates for the mileage charges are set in Pricing Templates. The approach for determining the miles that are to be billed - "rolling" vs. "calculated" - is set for each Account . Setting the appropriate pricing approach for an Account requires: | ||
| * Specifying whether pricing will be based on "truck odometer" inputs ("rolling miles") or the "Geocode calculation" - for both Unloaded and Loaded miles | * Specifying whether pricing will be based on "truck odometer" inputs ("rolling miles") or the "Geocode calculation" - for both Unloaded and Loaded miles | ||
| - | * For companies with more than one base, choosing the appropriate starting point for the "Geocode calculation" of Unloaded miles. For example, many motor clubs expect that Unloaded mileage charges will be based on the "calculated" distance from a particular base - often the main location (home base) of the company. In other cases, an Account will expect that mileage charges are based on the "closest base" to their business location. These expactations are set in selecting the "Starting base". | + | * For companies with more than one base, choosing the appropriate starting point for the "Geocode calculation" of Unloaded miles. For example, many motor clubs expect that Unloaded mileage charges will be based on the "calculated" distance from a particular base - often the main location (home base) of the company. In other cases, an Account will expect that mileage charges are based on the "closest base" to their business location. These expactations are set in selecting the "Starting base". |
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| + | {{:support:dispatch_defaults.jpg|}} | ||
support/account_setup.1296933955.txt.gz · Last modified: 2011/02/05 14:25 by jshellhaas
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