Bypassing Current Serial Number Restrictions on Retail Device Sales

Current wireless retail functionality in the IDI platform supports configuring devices (Handsets) by Technology Type. In doing so, the system enforces business rules for the expected serial number (Equipment ID) formats per the Technology Type (15 or 16 numeric characters maximum, no alpha characters allowed).

Some carriers now offer a home internet setup with wireless routers. These devices may use a different Equipment ID format that prevents them from being sold in POS as a traditional wireless equipment associated to a service. To support the sale of such devices in POS Make Sale this enhancement lets you bypass Equipment ID business rules for handset Technology Type by associating a retail product SKU with an equipment type created in the Inventory web module. This changes the business rules for the Make Sale Wizard [Product Name} Detail page where you enter the Equipment ID. This version of the Product Detail page supports Equipment ID values of up to 50 alphanumeric characters.

In IDI Desktop Client and Customer Care you can view the retail device with associated equipment type and Equipment ID on the service. This lets you see devices on a service (other than handsets) that may contribute to charges on the service.

If the product is returned the association is removed such that the serial number is available for use on another service.

Setup

This functionality requires the following setup:

• Create Equipment Types in the Inventory web module. Follow the instructions in Inventory web help (available on E-Support > Help Resources page). There are no specific requirements for these equipment types.

• For each device that needs to bypass handset Equipment ID restrictions, associate an equipment type (and Inventory) to a serialized retail product. This is done in the IDI Desktop Client Product Catalog as described below.

Associating an Equipment Type on a Retail Product SKU

The Add/Edit Retail Product form in the Product Catalog has a new set of Equipment fields that let you associate the product to an equipment type created in the Inventory web module.

Note:

These fields are only enabled when the Serialized check box is checked; otherwise, they’re disabled.

To make the association, with the Serialized checkbox checked:

• Check the Assign to Service level by Default check box. This setting is a required to support the equipment association.

• In the Equipment section make your selections in the Type and Inventory drop down menus.

POS Make Sale Wizard

When you sell a retail product associated to an equipment type as described above, the Make Sale Wizard [Product Name] Detail page lets you enter a serial number of up to 50 alphanumeric characters.

• Start by selecting a guided sales flow that includes the retail product you created to bypass the current expected maximum number and alpha character restrictions and proceed as normal.

The Product Detail page is presented before the Service Option page unless your guided flow is configured to Select Service First. The title for this page is the name of your retail product SKU followed by the word Detail (for example AR8751 Detail).

• On this page fill in the Equipment ID and Inventory Status. The Equipment ID field accepts from 1 to 50 alphanumeric characters. The equipment ID supplied cannot be associated to any other service.

  

• Then finish in the wizard as normal.

Viewing Equipment Associations for a Service

Once a retail product with an equipment type association is sold out to a service, the system creates a record for this association in the IDI database. The information stored in this record enables you to view the equipment association in both the Client as well as Customer Care. This lets you see devices on a service (other than handsets) that may contribute to charges on the service.

Note:

For database replication purposes, the name of the table where these records are stored is InventoryItemAssociation.

IDI Desktop Client – Customer Management

In the Client, in the Customer window go to the Services tab. When you right click on a service, there is a new submenu option in the View menu. Right-click on a service and choose View > Equipment Associations.

This displays the Equipment Associations view that lists the Equipment Type and Serial Number of the device now associated to the service.

You can also see a history of the transaction on the Retail History tab.

Customer Care

In Customer Care, this equipment association can be found in the Device Information section of the Services and Features page, as well as the Device section of the Service Details page. In the customer menu select Services > Services and Features. Then on the Services and Features page select the service in the left pane and select View > Device Information in the right pane.

Or click service number link and select the DEVICE tab.

Returns

The device associated with the service number can be returned by right-clicking the line item in the Retail History tab and selecting Return. This is not new functionality. Returning the device will DELETE the association record between the service and equipment inventory item. This means there will not be a history of equipment associations, and the serial number will be freed up for use on another service.