Synchronize Data: PitneyBowes Sync

The PitneyBowes Sync Settings page is available from the Synchronize Module located on the Main Admin page.

The PitneyBowes Sync Settings page lists the Main Dealer and each sub-dealer account (defined as an account with a dealer user assigned as the primary contact) as a separate row in the account grid.  This allows you to configure each with a different PitneyBowes Fleet Asset Manager (FAM) Gateway server connection settings and/or push/pull frequencies.  Placing a check in the appropriate Select row, performs a 2-way sync with all child accounts.  All sub-dealer accounts by default inherit the PitneyBowes server connection settings configured for the Main Dealer, unless otherwise specified.

During a FAM Gateway PULL; defined as the extraction of data from the FAM Gateway, the following information is extracted and imported into Central:

1)  Accounts; FAM Gateway accounts and account branches that have devices assigned to them

2)  Devices; FAM Gateway devices which are on an active contract

The accounts imported from the FAM Gateway are compared to those which already exist in Central.  Accounts are mapped based on FAM Gateway account names and by cross referencing the device serial numbers and equipment id's.  The remaining FAM Gateway accounts which are not mapped are referred to as Account Orphans.  Using the Account Orphans page, accounts may be mapped to unlike names, or selected individually thereby creating new Central accounts.

Optionally, you can combine the Central Meter Validation results, allowing the meters extracted using Onsite, WebAudit or Viewer to be pre-approved by either the end-user or dealer employee prior to a PUSH; defined as the submission of data to the FAM Gateway.  This process helps to reduce DSO (Day-Sales-Outstanding) by providing accurate and timely billing.  The Meter Validation & Submission process works in conjunction with a per-account meter submission schedule, therefore overriding the global push frequency.

If FMAudit Central is offline and misses multiple syncs, then it only performs the last scheduled sync when it comes back online.

PitneyBowes Server Connection Settings
Minimally, the Main Dealer account requires the server connection settings to be specified.  To view another sub-dealer account and/or modify these settings, select the sub-dealer account from the Dealer Account drop-down list.  Modifying the PitneyBowes Server Connection Settings and selecting the Save Connection Settings button, applies those settings to the current sub-dealer account and all child accounts, no longer inheriting the settings from the Main Dealer.

FTP Service URL (or local folder)
The PitneyBowes FTP Service URL value is used to connect to the FAM Gateway.  If Central is hosted externally, this must include the external IP or domain path, i.e. ftp://famgateway.dealerwebsite.com/.  If both Central and the FAM Gateway are hosted internally, this may be the internal LAN IP or server name, i.e. ftp://172.1.120.3/, or ftp://famgateway/.

Authentication
The FTP requires a User name and Password for authentication.  These values entered into the Central PitneyBowes Sync must match those configured for the FTP.

Meter Name Mapping
FMAudit products use static meter names, therefore the PitneyBowes Sync allows you to specify the associated FAM Gateway meter names.  Fields are left blank for any meters which are not specified and used by the FAM Gateway application.

  Meter Examples
  FMAudit Field Name FAM Gateway Meter Name Description
  Total Pages Total Count Specify the FAM Gateway meter name equivalent to the FMAudit Total Pages
  Mono Pages Total Black Specify the FAM Gateway meter name equivalent to the FMAudit Mono Pages
  Color Pages Total Color Specify the FAM Gateway meter name equivalent to the FMAudit Color Pages

Map accounts by name
With this option checked, accounts with like names to those in Central will be automatically mapped and selected for synchronization.  Accounts which are not mapped, are referred to as Account Orphan accounts.  These accounts may be manually mapped via the Pitney Bowes Orphans page.  In the case where an audit is performed on an end-users WAN (Wide Area Network) therefore containing results from multiple branch offices, and the associated FAM Gateway accounts are split, multiple FAM Gateway accounts may be combined and mapped to a single Central account.  The account names are separated with a semi-colon ";".

Map accounts by EquipID's and S/N's
With this option selected, FAM Gateway accounts; even with different names, are automatically mapped to the appropriate Central accounts.  Devices are auto-mapped based on a Serial Number or Equipment ID.  These devices may be manually mapped or edited via the ERP Equip ID column located on the Device Management Views page.

Create accounts using Orphans
With this option selected, a Central account will be created automatically for each FAM Gateway orphan account, based on the information extracted from the FAM Gateway.  To individually select which FAM Gateway accounts to create in Central, deselect this option and refer to the Account Orphans page.

Managed Devices
Devices which are automatically mapped via a Serial Number or Equipment ID are flagged in Central as Managed Devices, unless this option is set to Manual.

Push and Pull Frequencies
Separate push and pull frequencies may be configured as appropriate, i.e. Pull new accounts and devices from the FAM Gateway every 1 week, and Push meters from Central every 1 day.  These settings apply to all child accounts.  Each push will submit the updated meters since the last interval, i.e. previous day.

We recommend overriding the global Push frequency, and Push the meters on a per-account basis 1 day before the meters are due for billing.  Refer to the Account Settings page for more information.

Send results via email
With this option checked, a summary email will be sent to the selected contact upon completion of a push or pull from the FAM Gateway.

 

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