Client Bridge functionality in Customer Care supports seamless transitioning from the web application to these IDI Desktop Client applications:
Customer Management – Customer window > Summary tab.
POS Make Sale – With an account open in Customer Care, you can open the Make Sale form with the account information pre-loaded.
Generic Make Sale – This opens a blank Make Sale form where you need to enter the customer information to initiate a sale for a new customer.
POS Make Quick Sale – This also opens a blank Make Sale form.
POS Tender Bill Payment – With an account open in Customer Care, you can open the Tender Bill Payment form with the account information pre-loaded.
In all cases, if browser recommendations (below) are followed, there is no need to log in on transitioning to the IDI Desktop Client.
Prerequisites – Enabling Integrated Security
Integrated Security must be enabled in the environments where you intend to use this functionality. This requires assistance from an authorized IDI associate. For more on Integrated Security and how to enable, refer to the IDI Knowledge Center article here.
Browser Recommendations
To use the IDI Desktop Client Navigation links, IDI recommends using the Microsoft Edge browser for the best user experience. If using Google Chrome, users will need to install a Chrome ClickOnce extension. Using Chrome without the extension will require you to re-log in and use Customer Search to open the applicable account.
Note:
You may also add a Chrome ClickOnce extension to Microsoft Edge. This further streamlines transitioning to CostGuard Client by eliminating an Open this file warning/step.
Customers can download any ClickOnce extension from the Chrome store. The following Chrome ClickOnce extensions have been tested for use with this functionality. Note: These are third-party extensions and are not created or supported by IDI.
Option 1: Meta4 ClickOnce Launcher – Link
Option 2: Breeze Click Once 4C – Link
Option 3: Logalty ClickOnce – Link
Note:
If your organization has special security concerns and places any restrictions on Windows default behavior for ClickOnce functionality, you may need to consult with your IT team to ensure Client Bridge functionality works properly in your system. This applies whether you use Microsoft Edge (with or without extensions) or Google Chrome.
Setup
Enabling Client Navigation Links in Customer Care
There are two settings that must be enabled to make this functionality available in Customer Care. The settings are located under MANAGE > Settings > General > CostGuard Client Navigation.
One setting is for navigation to Customer Management. The other is for navigation to POS Make Sale and Tender Bill Payment. To enable these settings, click the associated edit (pencil) icon, then check the associated check box and click SAVE.
Note:
Once enabled, you can subsequently disable one or both settings if needed by editing and unchecking the associated check box.
Transitioning to Account Management in the Client
When you have an account open in Customer Care, the icon tray in the upper right area of the Customer page (all views) provides a View Customer in Client icon. This icon provides access to account management functionality for that account in the IDI Desktop Client.
After clicking this icon, your browser will open a new tab while it makes the transition. The tab will remain open until you choose to close it.
If you’re using Microsoft Edge without a ClickOnce extension, you’ll see a prompt to Open this file. Click Open. Note: You can eliminate this prompt by adding a Chrome ClickOnce extension in Microsoft Edge. See Browser Recommendations.
If you’re opening IDI Desktop Client for the first time following an upgrade to a new version, the launcher will need to download files and you’ll see the following.
On subsequent instances of opening the client you’ll see the Loading message briefly, followed by the IDI Desktop Client window.
When the client opens, how you proceed depends on the result of a username/environment check.
If user name and environment match, the client will open the Customer window for the applicable account with the Summary tab selected.
If there is a mismatch, you’ll need to search for the customer account.
Transitioning to POS Make Sale and Tender Bill Payment
The Client Bridge provides two methods for transitioning to client-based POS functionality.
When you have an account open in Customer Care, the POS menu lets you navigate seamlessly to Make Sale or Tender Bill Payment for that account in the IDI Desktop Client.
In both cases the Customer window is also opened in the background and information for the customer whose account is open in Customer Care is automatically loaded in the Make Sale or Tender Bill Payment form and Customer window on transitioning to the client.
The POS Front Office menu in the left navigation pane opens Make Quick Sale or generic Make Sale in the client.
These options open a blank Make Sale window where you need to enter customer information.
