Integrator

Onboarding Step-by-Step Guide

October 19, 2023

Welcome!

Thank you for choosing DCKAP’s Integrator to connect and automate your valuable data and day-to-day processes.

Life of a Distributor is never easy, we’re here to help you make it simpler!

Overview

DCKAP Integrator, an enterprise ERP integration tool connects and synchronizes data across various platforms.

With real-time synchronization of data from ERP to eCommerce, CRM, EDI, and other marketing tools, DCKAP Integrator makes multi-platform integration simple and robust.

Implementation Approach

DCKAP uses a joint-delivery approach, which means that both DCKAP and the customer are responsible for making sure the DCKAP Integrator implementation goes smoothly. Both sides will be involved in this implementation, and DCKAP and the Customer will work together to manage it.

It is very important that the Customer provides necessary resources and access/credentials listed below.

Collaboration is crucial for the successful and on-time implementation of the product.

Weekly Status Calls

DCKAP operates under a shared-resource model, which means that your DCKAP resource(s) work on multiple projects concurrently. They are not solely dedicated to your implementation.

During the kick-off call, the DCKAP Integrator and the Customer teams can decide a mutually convenient time to conduct weekly status meetings.

Weekly status meetings are conducted to discuss the progress of the implementation and for other general updates.

All DCKAP meetings will be conducted online.

Sandbox Environment

DCKAP recommends that the Customer purchase a sandbox subscription (for test/development) environment for development and testing. Ideally, each system impacted by the solution should have a sandbox environment.

Delivery Methodology

1

Initiation and Planning

This phase lays the groundwork for the DCKAP Integrator implementation. Together with the Customer, DCKAP initiates the kick-off call, explains prerequisites, gathers mapping requirements, and establishes an implementation strategy and plan.

Weekly status meetings are scheduled, and documents like SOW, BRD, project set-up, sample data mappings, project tracker, learning, and knowledge base are shared with the Customer.

The Customer is responsible for providing access to relevant systems and APIs, assigning team members, evaluating requirements, and finalizing the implementation plan jointly.

DCKAP uses BaseCamp to create, store, and share project documentation to the Customer. If Customer prefers a different project collaboration tool, they need to provide access to the same.

DCKAP uses Passbolt app to securely share the credentials

2

Implementation and Testing

During this phase, the solution is iteratively tested. DCKAP configures or develops the agreed-upon solution, tests it, and verifies its performance. Transferring knowledge to the Customer prepares them for User Acceptance Testing (UAT).

The Customer is responsible for active participation, responding to DCKAP’s inquiries, escalating problems for prompt resolution, and configuring their systems to support the solution.

3

UAT

The customer must conduct User Acceptance Testing. The detected issues must be recorded as support tickets. DCKAP collaborates with the customer to resolve the issues. Issues outside the project’s scope are resolved through change requests or future initiatives.

DCKAP will support deployment and go-live. DCKAP provides a concluding knowledge transfer and aids the customer during the go-live phase of the implementation.

After a predetermined duration of post-go-live support, the project concludes and the Customer transitions to DCKAP Customer support.

Roles and Responsibilities

This is a list of project roles, not individuals, required to execute the Project. Depending on the scale of the Client’s organization and the functionality being implemented, a single person may assume multiple roles.

Customer Team Role Description Responsibilities
Project Manager Provides leadership for the project.
  • – Serves as the point of contact for day-to-day project operations and status updates
  • – Attends all meetings
  • – Coordinates customer project team members
  • – Manages customer tasks and assignments
  • – Manages decision-making processes
  • – Acts as the gatekeeper for project issues log
  • – Manages and participates in user acceptance testing
Network Engineer Responsible for the setup
  • – Needed in calls during the initial set-up of the system
  • – Provides information that is needed by the DCKAP team for setting up the integrator
  • – Provides Server/Systems Access for DCKAP Team to install DCKAP Integrator
IT Specialist or someone who will be managing the system Responsible for post-go-live
  • – Attends all meetings
  • – Completes project action items
  • – Learns and becomes familiar with the solution design and functionality
  • – Performs user and system testing
Executive Sponsor Responsible for project escalations
  • – Optionally attends weekly status meetings
DCKAP Team Role Description Responsibilities
Business Analysts Develops and deploys the solution.
  • – Serves as the point of contact for day-to-day project operations and status updates
  • – Conducts weekly status meetings with the customer’s project team
  • – Works with the customer project team to define requirements
  • – Designs the solution
  • – Addresses project issues
  • – Ensures solution is tested before the customer’s UAT
  • – Attends all meetings
Technical Consultant Provides technical assistance
  • – Implements technical solutions at code-level based on the needs of project and directions from the Business Analyst or the Product Manager
Product Manager Provides project leadership
  • – Manages DCKAP resources
  • – Ensures adherence to the project plan and Proposal
  • – Addresses risks and project issues
  • – Manages scope, timelines, and budget
  • – Occasionally attends weekly status meetings
  • – Serves as a point of escalation
Executive Sponsor Responsible for project escalations
  • – Optionally attends weekly status meetings

Access and Credential Requirements

The application access or Database access may vary based on the systems that are being connected with the DCKAP Integrator.

For Cloud Systems

  • Grant DCKAP team access to the systems that you need connected to the Integrator
  • Ensure to grant them a Role of an Administrator or a near equivalent access role.
  • APIs – Subscribe to the APIs available to your systems and hand over the API credentials to each of the systems in a secure fashion*.

System Requirements for On-premise Integration

  • IP Whitelisting – This is an important step in making sure that data automations to be setup within the Integrator stay secure within your virtual walls.
    • To integrate DCKAP Integrator and your systems, DCKAP needs to authenticate and connect to them. If these systems have access limitations like IP whitelisting enabled, DCKAP won’t be able to connect to them unless you’ve provided access.
      Determine who handles firewall configuration for your organization, such as a network or security IT administrator.
    • Working with your network person and DCKAP Business Analyst, determine which access requirements are needed. Explain that the IP addresses need to be allowed (whitelisted) through your organization’s firewall so that your integrations hosted on the DCKAP Integrator platform can function correctly.
    • Confirm with the Business Analyst you are working whether the IP addresses have been allowed (whitelisted). IPs to be whitelisted:
      • 18.188.15.22
      • 3.12.63.50
      • 106.51.1.254
      • 52.86.51.63
    • The IP details may vary based on the project.
      Please talk to your Business Analyst about the same.
  • Advanced/Customized Setup – This applies only if you are attempting to connect a custom in-house system/API.
  • Navigate to the linked document to review more information and guidance on the additional steps
  • VPN Access may be needed in a few project implementations.

Knowledge Base

Glossary of Terms

Video Tutorials

Documentation

ERP Integration made simple for Distributors.

Transform your commerce journey by creating an integrated experience for employees and customers.