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DDMS® Business Management System

ECi Software for Office Furniture Dealers

DDMS electronic order processing with manufacturers

DDMS Office Furniture Edition is a Microsoft Windows-based business system designed specifically for office furniture dealers.

DDMS Office Furniture Edition is a robust yet easy-to-learn business system that incorporates all functions of a furniture dealership into one comprehensive, integrated system. DDMS helps you manage sales operations and automate core business functions like order entry, purchasing, and accounting.

For dealers who sell more than just office furniture, DDMS can manage sales of office products, business equipment and other products, eliminating the costs and complexity of redundant software packages.

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Learn more about what our software can do for furniture dealers, or schedule a demo. Learn More >>

Features

Order Entry

Tailored to the specific needs of the office furniture dealership

Purchasing

Purchasing is fully integrated with the order entry process, enabling you to automate some or all purchasing functions.

Electronic Purchasing with Manufacturers

Internet-based purchasing with major furniture manufacturers as well as national and regional wholesalers and buying groups

Salesperson Commissions

Create and manage effective compensation programs for your sales force.

Accounts Receivable

Simplified customer account management and payment processing, including customer deposits

Reporting

Hundreds of standard sales and management reports, a powerful report-writing tool and the ability to export data into third-party reporting applications

Payroll

Integrated payroll application eliminates the need for outsourcing or additional software.

Point-of-Sale

Use DDMS for walk-in sales or to manage a complete retail operation.

Customers

Manage customer data, preferences, contracts, buying history and more.

Shipping

Optimize shipping processes and delivery routes for maximum efficiency.

Warehouse Management

Reduce costs by streamlining warehouse processes.

Proof-of-Delivery

Optional delivery management system with UPS-style electronic signature

Specification Software Integration

Import .SIF files from all popular specification programs.

Project Management

View and manage important information about a project in one convenient, easy-to-read screen.

Faxing/E-mailing

Fax or e-mail statements, invoices or purchase orders directly from your business system.

Accounts Payable

Automate payments to suppliers and vendors. Track and manage deposits to vendors.

Credit Card Processing

Automated Level I, II or III credit card processing available

Financial Management

Complete financial oversight of your company, including a “President’s Screen,” giving managers instant access to your current financial information

General Ledger

Complete G/L application supporting drill-down review of financial date and responsibility center accounting

Automated Tasks

Automate routine operational and maintenance procedures.

Vendors

Track supplier and vendor information, contracts, payment terms and more.

Inventory

Inventory control and complete supplier pricing records

Employees

Track and manage salespeople and employees.

Designed by Dealers

ECi business systems are software designed by dealers, for dealers.

Industry Relationships

ECi plays a major role in the OFDA Standards Committee, and maintains relationships with numerous manufacturers, wholesalers and buying groups.

Support

When you need help with your DDMS systems and storefronts, take advantage of our technical support system’s customer Web interface at support.eci2.com to request assistance from your friendly ECi Technical Support Team.

The portal will not replace your support team, who still operate during normal business hours. The portal simply:

  • Provides you with best-in-class, convenient access to support for your ECi software.
  • Consolidates in one secure place all ticket-related attachments, conversations between techs and customers, and linked development issues.
  • Streamlines the way you manage your support tickets, and make access to your issues transparent.

Business Hours

ECi Technical Support is available during regular business hours in Fort Worth, Texas, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time.

24/7 Support Services are available on a billable basis outside of regular business hours, 7 days a week.

Holiday Closures

ECi facilities will close on the nearest weekday to observe the following U.S. national holidays:

  • Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 1, 2008)
  • Thanksgiving Days (Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27-28, 2008)
  • Christmas Day (Thursday, Dec, 25, 2008
  • Christmas Eve (shift to Friday, Dec. 26, 2008)

E-mail Addresses

  • ECi Technical Support:
  • O/PUS Technical Support:
  • BPIR Download Support:
  • KeyOps Newsletter Comments:
  • Documentation Corrections:

To update your company’s address, phone, fax, keyop contact information, or company name in our records (Please include your correct e-mail address, company name, account number and phone number for validation purposes):

To unsubscribe from certain e-mails, change your e-mail address, or add additional recipients to an e-mail subscription (Please include your correct e-mail address, company name, account number and phone number for validation purposes):

Phone Numbers

  • Toll-Free: 800-366-4778
  • Phone: 682-831-0827
  • Fax: 682- 831-9919

Shipping Address

To ship hardware or other items to ECi Technical Support, please use the following address:

ECi Technical Support
eCommerce Industries, Inc.
4400 Alliance Gateway Frwy, Suite 154
Fort Worth, TX 76177

Accounting

Accounting and Remittance are handled by ECi headquarters:

To contact ECi Accounting:

  • E-mail:
  • Phone: 800-959-3373

To Remit Payment to ECi, please use the following address:

eCommerce Industries, Inc.
PO Box 200164
Pittsburgh, PA 15251-0164

Training

DDMS Training Classes

ECi offers training classes for both new and existing DDMS users. Individual classes focus on specific topics and may include hands-on practice with the DDMS software. These classes are typically held at ECi’s Fort Worth, Texas facility.

These classes are the perfect training opportunity for:

  • Dealers who are new to the DDMS system
  • Dealers who are preparing to convert from text-based to graphical applications
  • Dealers who want to use the graphical Order Entry, Purchasing, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable applications
  • Dealers who want to learn Report Writer
  • Dealers who want to learn period-end procedures, including Day End, Month End, Year End and O/PUS

The seminars supplement the ECi Virtual Classroom program with live instruction in a traditional classroom setting. Software training on ECi products is also available at our regional and national users meetings.

While no DDMS training classes are currently scheduled for the remainder of 2008, be sure be sure to check our site regularly to see if additional classes have been announced. We regularly add classes to the schedule in response to customer demand.

You can also e-mail and request Personalized Remote Training or On-site Training on a specific topic.

DDMS Virtual Classroom Training

Training is essential for a successful software implementation, but travel costs and time away from your business can be significant obstacles — especially when you want to provide training for a large number of employees.

ECi’s Internet-based Virtual Classrooms provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional classroom training. Class content is displayed via the Internet, while you interact with the instructor and the other students over the telephone.

Potential benefits include:

  • No travel or lodging costs
  • Minimal time investment – attend live classes without leaving your desk
  • Watching software demonstrations while interacting with the trainer and other students
  • Asking questions in real time
  • Hearing other student’s questions and comments

Virtual Product Training

ECi offers general product orientation/overview classes designed for new and beginning DDMS customers, as well as more in-depth training on DDMS and related ECi software applications. Currently, Virtual Classroom training for DDMS customers is available for the following products:

DDMS Onsite Training

For most people, face-to-face instruction is still the most effective training option. ECi can provide personalized DDMS training right at your site with a curriculum personalized to your specific objectives and business requirements.

This type of training can be especially effective for larger companies who need to train multiple employees. Conduct formal classes for your employees right at your site to minimize business disruptions, or have the consultant give individualized instruction to specific employees in key areas of your company.

Onsite training offers other advantages as well. In addition to conducting classes, trainers can:

  • Assist with software implementation
  • Configure software applications to meet your business needs
  • Integrate new software applications with your existing business practices
  • Demonstrate how to use specific software features

To get more information about onsite training, or to schedule training for your company, contact Dean Kim at (800) 959-3367 x3236, or e-mail .

Custom Programming

ECi’s DDMS business system is not only robust enough to manage multiple lines of business, it’s flexible enough to support multiple operational flows. Extensive preference and option settings enable you to tailor the software’s operation to meet your needs.

While most companies implement DDMS without any custom programming, some may need specialized software designed to meet specific business requirements or optimized for a unique operational flow.

ECi can alter or enhance existing product functionality — or develop completely new applications — to match your company’s needs. Projects can be as simple as a unique report customized for your company, or as complex as a complete new business system application.

We follow the same rigorous implementation methodology for custom software that we use for other ECi products, with detailed specifications and project planning that integrates custom software development with your overall project implementation.

ECi offers custom programming to meet the needs of wholesalers, buying groups and manufacturers as well as individual dealers, distributors and resellers.

For more information on custom programming services for ECi’s DDMS business systems or related products, contact Dean Kim at 800-959-3367 x3236 or .

System Requirements

To run DDMS® (General Release Version 8.10.0 or higher), the recommended configurations are below:

Additional products and services have their own requirements:

DDMS® is a very powerful and versatile business system. To get the most out of it, you need computer hardware that can handle the demands you’ll place on the system, and give you reliable, efficient performance.

To run DDMS® (General Release Version 8.10.0 or higher), the recommended configurations are below:

Small DDMS Business System Server Recommendations

Up to 15 Concurrent Users; DDMS 8.16+ will install SQL Server 2005 Express for reporting.

Recommended Hardware
  • Windows 2003 Standard Server, SP2, 32-bit platform only, installed as a stand-alone, member server, not a domain controller (can use downgraded media with purchase of Windows 2008)
  • Comply with the Microsoft® hardware compatibility list Windows 2003 Standard Server.
  • Twin 2.0 GHz CPUs, each Quad Core, 1333 system bus
  • 2 GB RAM memory
  • Two 72 GB hard drives, mirrored, each 15000+ rpm Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)
  • 32x DVD-ROM drive (reads CDs as well)
  • 36/72 GB backup tape drive
  • Broadband Internet connection for remote diagnostics, Web integration, and supplier communications.
  • Network interface card (NIC) must be SNP compatible for Windows 2003 SP2
  • (Optional per your customer or supplier communications needs) One of these modems:
    • MultiTech MT 1932ZDX 19.2 Kbps
    • MultiTech MT 2834ZDX 28.8 Kbps
    • MultiTech MT 2834ZDX 33.6 Kbps
Hard Drive Configuration

Before installing DDMS, the minimum configuration is to partition server’s hard drive into two units.

For best performance, we recommend that the D drive holding the DDMS data and applications be not just a partition, but instead a physically separate hard disk from the C drive holding the Windows operating system.

Drive C must have:

  • 10 GB of hard drive space allocated for the operating system.
  • Microsoft Windows® Server 2003 (SP2 with a SNP-Compatible NIC).

Note: We recommend installing the latest critical updates and security patches from Microsoft. However, because some Service Packs have introduced conflicts, please check our Windows Platform Notes.

Drive D must have the remainder of your hard drive space allocated for DDMS applications and data files.

Third Party Software

You must install, configure, and test the following before loading DDMS:

  • Latest release of PcAnywhere–Host version
  • TCP/IP network protocol
  • Ataman™ TCP Remote Logon Services software
  • Internet access

Medium-Large DDMS Business System Server Recommendations

Some special circumstances place serious demands on your server’s system processor and memory. Do you:

  • Employ more than 15 concurrent users?
  • Operate in multiple verticals (supplies and/or furniture and/or equipment)?
  • Report on more than 4 GB of SQL data? (For example, do you look at more than two years of sales history to determine your pricing? Do you have hundreds of customer records with multiple departments and attentions? Does your item database contain thousands of custom items and substitutes?)

To ensure responsive performance, your DDMS server may require one or more of the following optional upgrades. Contact ECi DDMS Sales to discuss your business needs.

Recommended Hardware
  • All of the hardware recommendations above
  • Additional or faster Quad Core CPUs, each:
    • 2.4+ GHz faster processing speed
    • 400 MHz faster bus
    • 512 MB more cache
  • Bigger RAM, operating system: 4 GB with Windows 2003 Standard Server (still SP2, 32-bit platform only, installed as a stand-alone member server, not a domain controller)
    OR
  • 6-8 GB RAM with Windows 2003 Enterprise Server (still SP2, 32-bit platform only, installed as a stand-alone member server, not a domain controller)
  • RAID hard drive configuration:
    • Two 36+ GB operating system (C:\) drives (RAID 1), mirrored
      AND
    • Four 72+ GB data (D:\) drives (RAID 5), two for data, one for parity, one for hot swap
    • Each 15,000 RPM
    • Each Hot-swappable
    • Each Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)
  • Two hot-swappable power supplies
  • Faster Tape Drive:
    • 36/72 GB DAT
      OR
    • 40/80 GB DLT
  • (For more than 4 GB SQL database) SQL Server 2005 Workgroup or Standard Edition
  • (For more than 200 users) Use Georgia Softworks Telnet Server software instead of Ataman

Multiple Locations Require Separate Terminal Services Server

If you have more than one physical location, you need Windows 2000 or 2003 Terminal Services to connect your remote locations to the main location. This software must be set up on a separate server. The Terminal Services 2000 server’s requirements and 2003 server’s requirements are fairly consistent. However, depending on how many remote users you have, the software makes serious demands on random access memory (RAM).

Windows Terminal Services server for up to 10 users:

  • Dual Pentium IV Xeon 2.4 GHz or better
  • Microsoft Windows® Server 2000 (SP3 or higher) or 2003 (SP2 with a SNP-Compatible NIC)

Note: DDMS supports the 32-bit platform for the Windows 2003 operating

  • 1 GB RAM

Windows Terminal Services server for 10–30 users:

  • Dual Pentium IV Xeon 2.4 GHz or better
  • Microsoft Windows® Server 2000 (SP3 or higher) or 2003 (SP2 with a SNP-Compatible NIC)

Note: DDMS supports the 32-bit platform for the Windows 2003 operating system.

  • 2 GB RAM

If you have more than 30 remote clients, you’ll need additional servers.

Client Workstations

Each client workstation must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Pentium IV 2.0 GHz
  • Windows Vista™ Business Edition, Microsoft Windows® 2000 (SP3 or higher) and higher or Windows® XP Professional or higher

Note: Windows Home Editions are NOT considered a business-calibre operating system, and will not run the DDMS Business System Software.

DDMS software will not install on Vista Home editions (neither Basic nor Premium). As a result, DDMS will not be supported on Vista Home.

Note: We recommend installing the latest critical updates and security patches from Microsoft. However, because some Service Packs have introduced conflicts, please check our Windows Platform Notes.

  • 1 GB RAM (This should increase if you run other software besides DDMS on the client)
  • 60 MB free space available on the hard drive

Network Topology

  • Network rated at 100 megabits
  • Category 5 cable
  • Firewall strongly recommended
  • Network anti-virus strongly recommended

Peripherals

One dot-matrix printer required: You must have at least one dot-matrix printer on your DDMS system. Some system reports can only be printed on dot-matrix printers.

Note: The Okidata 2410 dot-matrix printer does not work under Windows.

Serial printers should be connected to a print server:

  • DDMS does not support connecting serial printers to Specialix pads. While some customers have made this configuration work, many have experienced reliability problems. Instead of using Specialix pads, we recommend that you network serial printers by connecting them to a print server. This is an inexpensive solution that works well.
  • DDMS 8.14 and higher does not support “slave” printer configurations, where a serial printer is connected directly to a dumb terminal workstation and dedicated to only print the tickets, slips, invoices, or labels created at that terminal. Again, we recommend that you network serial printers by connecting them to a print server.

ECinteractive™ or Dealer Station® Web Storefront Requirements

ECi hosts a Web storefront that is more than a simple shopping cart; ECinteractive is fully integrated with your DDMS customer, order entry, inventory catalog, fulfillment and accounts receivable applications. Your customers get Internet ordering with the business-to-business (B2B) features they need, including customer budget controls and support for requisitions, purchasing authorizations, budget controls, custom pricing, quantity breaks, online payments and more. You get a rich mix of marketing tools in a customizable interface with user-friendly administration.

To connect your DDMS server to your ECinteractive or Dealer Station Web storefront, you must meet the following requirements:

  • You will need appropriate communication hardware (a modem, router, etc.) on your DDMS server.
  • Work with your telephone company and an Internet service provider to set up:
    • a dedicated Internet connection
    • a static IP address
  • You must have at least one e-mail account to receive customer feedback from the links on your Dealer Station site.
  • You will need to contact us to activate your site. While hosting services for your Web storefront are included in your monthly fee, there will be a modest, one-time fee to cover the costs of setting up your new Web site.

For more details, see our ecommerce FAQs.

AutoComm™ II E-mail and Fax Software Requirements

  • Server running DDMS 8.12.0 or later, TBL 6.21 or later
  • Separate AutoComm II server with:
    • Windows® XP Pro or 2003 Server (SP2 with a SNP-Compatible NIC)
    • Fax Services Windows Component enabled
    • Anti-Virus On-Access Scan disabled
    • Internet connection
    • Network or direct serial connection to the DDMS server
    • Compatible analog fax modem & line
  • E-mail account that allows SMTP forwarding

Note on Separate AutoComm II server: We do not recommend running AutoComm II on DDMS servers or clients. However, you can install AutoComm II on the same machine where you have installed AutoComm I or Approval Link credit card processing software, as long as it meets the requirements.

Note on Enabling Fax Component: Windows Fax is a component of Windows XP Pro or Server 2003. It may need to be enabled or installed and configured to work with your modem. Please consult your network administrator. See also Microsoft Knowledge Base Article # 306550: How to enable and configure the Fax service in Windows XP.

Note on TIF file association: Avoid installing additional software (including some browsers, office suites, photo or graphics publishing suites) on the machine where AutoComm II is installed. Other software may overwrite the TIF file association with Windows Picture and Fax Viewer with other programs, preventing AutoComm II from processing faxes.

Note on Disabling Antivirus On Access Scan: If you have an Anti-Virus service running on the machine where AutoComm II is installed, you must disable “on-access scanning.” Rest assured, we are not asking you to disable your scheduled periodic virus scan, nor are we asking you to disable your e-mail virus scanning; keep those in place.

Note on Compatible Analog Fax Modem: If you’re unsure if your existing fax modem is compatible with Windows XP Pro or Windows 2003 Server, see the Microsoft Hardware Compatibility List (www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/).

Note on E-mail Account with SMTP Forwarding: If you’re unsure if your existing e-mail account supports SMTP forwarding, please consult your e-mail provider, IT personnel, or Internet service provider. Free Webmail accounts such as AOL, Google Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo may not work as well with AutoComm II as internal or ISP-hosted e-mail servers.

For more details, see our AutoComm Fax and E-mail FAQs.

ApprovalLink™ Credit Card Authorization Software Requirements

ApprovalLink™ software connects your DDMS business system to POS-partner authorization software for quick, easy processing of procurement and credit card transactions.

Your DDMS server must have:

  • Internet Access via TCP/IP

Dealers in the United States require one of the following:

Dealers in Canada require:

For more details, see our Approval Link Credit Card Processing FAQs.

ECi Private Supply Network (PSN) Requirements

To transmit purchase orders to your vendors, receive vendor acknowledgements, perform stock and price checks, and receive some vendors’ invoices via the ECi Private Supply Network (PSN):

  • Microsoft Windows® Server 2003 (SP2 with a SNP-Compatible NIC) as the DDMS server’s operating system.
  • Internet access via an always-on, dedicated broadband connection (DSL, cable modem, or other permanent connection, such as a T1 line or frame relay).
  • The latest released software. Due to the ever-evolving nature of the PSN and continual enhancements to each vendors’ PSN services, we require the latest released version for new installations.
  • Activate Your Account.

For more details, see our Private Supply Network documentation.

O/PUS Catalog Updates via PSN Download Requirements

In order for your DDMS server to communicate with the O/PUS PSN, it must have the following:

  • Microsoft Windows® Server 2003 (SP2 with a SNP-Compatible NIC) as the DDMS server’s operating system.
  • Internet access via an always-on, dedicated broadband connection (DSL, cable modem, or other permanent connection, such as a T1 line or frame relay).
  • DDMS Version 7.4.0 or higher (graphical) business system software loaded on the server.
  • Activate Your Account, selecting the O/PUS PSN.

If you don’t meet the requirements for PSN, and must connect via dial-up modem, contact to request a PSN account ID and password.

Note: O/PUS®, the OPdb® multi-vendor database update and OPdb Toolbox, S.I.M.P.L.E., PSNControl, and Super Store Data Update are products or registered trademarks owned by Trade Service Corporation. On behalf of Trade Service Corp, ECi DDMS continues to provide technical support to DDMS customers for the O/PUS products.

Success Stories

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