Introduction

Ford FOCALpt is a web-based showroom product that integrates with Ford's internal systems including VISTA (vehicle location and ordering system) and CUPID (CRM database), and the Kerridge Autoline DMS. FOCALpt searches the DMS for customer details and facilitates CRM database synchronisation with CUPID. When a deal has been configured for a customer who is known to both CUPID and the DMS, a sales order is printed within FOCALpt and the details are passed to Autoline. We call the data contained within this sales order transmission a Vehicle Order Acknowledgement.

Communication between FOCALpt and the Autoline system is handled by a dedicated FOCALpt daemon. Messages are exchanged using a SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) style interface, and data is XML encoded. The DMS FOCALpt daemon waits for a request and responds accordingly. The messages exchanged are:

• SearchCustDetails: FOCALpt>DMS

• ReturnCustDetails: DMS>FOCALpt

• SetCustDetails: FOCALpt>DMS

• ReturnCustUpdateStatus: DMS>FOCALpt

• SendVehOrder: FOCALpt>DMS

• ReturnVehOrderStatus: DMS>FOCALpt

• Fault: DMS>FOCALpt

Set-up

Before you can use FOCALpt, you must ensure that the Autoline system is set up correctly. This is normally carried out by, or on advice from, a consultant.