|
|
 |
 |
|
Frequently Asked Questions
Basic Data Questions
Becoming a Customer
Customer Support
Data Security
Basic Data Questions
Q: What type of data does BDN provide to suppliers?
A: BDN collects, aggregates and delivers to suppliers:
Depletion Data (changes to wholesaler inventory due to receipts, sales,
transfers, adjustments, etc.) and Retail Account Data (wholesaler sales to
retail establishments, such as bars, restaurants, liquor stores, etc.).
Q: Can I purchase only depletion data or only retail
account data?
A: Depletion data may be purchased on its own. However,
retail account data is only available in conjunction with depletion data,
because of balancing that must take place between the two sets of data.
Q: How can I be assured that the data I receive is
accurate?
A: The data we receive from distributors each month is run
through multiple data integrity and balancing steps before it is released to
the supplier. Where questions arise regarding the accuracy of what was sent in,
we contact the distributor to address the problem. Occasionally a distributor
is asked to create a replacement data file to address identified problems.
Q: Does BDN add anything to the depletion data before
sending it to the supplier?
A: For depletion data, aside from making corrections that
have been identified with the distributor, and aside from assigning the
supplier’s own product and distributor codes to the data, the data integrity is
preserved.
Q: Does BDN add anything to the retail account data
before sending it to the supplier?
A: Retail account data is handled in a similar fashion as
the depletion data. However, BDN also provides an account master file, where
account attributes are assigned that assist the supplier in their marketing
analysis of this data. BDN-assigned attributes include: proprietary BDN Number
to link the same accounts across multiple distributors, chain code, trade
channel, license type, account type, etc.
Q: How soon will I receive my data each month?
A: Distributors are asked to submit their data to BDN by the
5th working day of each month. As soon as we receive a distributor’s data, we
begin working with it. Often, if there are no unusual data issues, we can turn
a distributor’s depletion / retail account data around the same day we receive
it. Typically, all distributors have been processed by the 3rd week of the
month.
Q: How is the data sent to my company each month?
A: Because of the large number of Spirits and Wines
companies who are our customers, BDN has developed multiple methods of
delivering the data. Methods we use are FTP, e-mail attachment, download from
website.
Back to Top
Becoming a Customer
Q: How do I get more information about becoming a BDN
customer?
Click Contact
Us to send us an email and we will be happy to answer any questions you
might have. Here is a summary of the customer set up process.
-
Review service options in detail and explain contractual terms and conditions.
-
Work with you to determine monthly transaction volume and cost to you and
execute a contract.
-
Contact your distributors to collect your depletion / retail account data on a
monthly basis.
-
Set up the communications required to deliver the data back to you.
Q: What exactly do I tell my distributors?
A: BDN will provide a letter to be sent from you to your
distributors, authorizing them to send your depletion / retail account data to
BDN on your behalf. BDN will then work directly with your distributors to
collect this data from them.
Q: How can I be assured that my distributors will send
their data to BDN?
A: Because BDN represents over 85% of U.S. Spirits and 60%
of U.S. Wines sales; we are probably collecting data from most, if not all of
your distributors for other suppliers. This makes things easier, as the
distributor simply needs to add your company’s data to the files that they
already send us each month. For those who are not on our current list of
distributors, our experience in bringing new distributors on over the years has
allowed us to develop an easy and straightforward startup process that
facilitates distributor cooperation.
Q: What technology do my distributors need to send data
to BDN?
A: BDN accepts files in multiple formats, including: upload
through BDN website, e-mail attachment, transmit via FTP (large distributors
only), keypunch from hard-copy fax (small volume distributors).
Q: How much will it cost to use BDN?
A: BDN pricing is based upon actual transaction volume for a
supplier’s products and is guaranteed to be no higher than that of any other
customer. Pricing will be determined upon review of your company’s monthly
shipment volume.
Q: Once I sign a contract with BDN, how long does it
take before I can begin receiving data?
A: From the time that the letters go out to the
distributors, directing them to send depletion / retail account data to BDN, it
usually takes 2-3 months to get all distributors up and running. However,
during that startup time, as distributors become available, BDN will begin
sending data to the customer.
Q: What is the length of a contract? Can I cancel the
contract?
A: Contracts are normally open-ended and may be cancelled by
the customer with 30 days written notice to BDN.
Q: Will I be required to send anything to BDN once
production has started?
A: At the beginning of each month, you will need to send to
BDN a file of shipment activity for the preceding month.
Back to Top
Customer Support
Q: What if I have questions or problems with the data
once I start receiving it? How easy is it to get someone at BDN to review it?
A: Every BDN customer is assigned an Account Manager for
ongoing support. You will be given the direct phone number and personal email
of your Account Manager, who is prepared to assist you in resolving any data
issues that arise.
Q: We have unusual packaging for some of our products.
How do we ensure that the data you receive from the distributors, especially if
they report in different case packs, can be used by us to correctly identify
case sales as we would recognize them?
A: Working with both the supplier and the distributor, BDN
is able to identify these and convert as needed to satisfy supplier
requirements.
Q: How will BDN know if I introduce a new brand?
A: When we receive your shipment file at the beginning of
each month, our system will automatically identify new brands, which will be
added to your product table.
Q: What if I purchase a brand from another supplier who
is a BDN customer? Will I have access to history that BDN already has in house?
A: BDN will need to receive a letter from the original
supplier stating that they have sold the brand to your company. BDN will then
reassign the historical data to the new supplier and send back data as
requested. This typically takes two months to complete.
Q: Is it possible to get depletion / retail account data
earlier in the month (i.e. before the month is closed) for forecasting
purposes?
A: Yes. Customers can opt to receive data on a daily, weekly
or mid-month basis, before the month has closed.
Q: I have multiple distributors that sell to the same
retail account. Will I be able to consolidate retail sales data between those
distributors?
A: BDN assigns a proprietary BDN Number to all unique retail
accounts. Multiple distributors selling to the same account will have the same
BDN Number associated with the data. Along with the retail sales data that is
sent to you each month, you will receive a master reference file with the BDN
Number, which will allow you to pull this data together.
Q: How do I know each month how many of my distributors
have been processed and when I have received all of the data?
A: Throughout the processing cycle, BDN produces status
reports that identify who is expected, who has been received, and who has been
processed or is in process. These are either delivered via e-mail, or can be
downloaded from our website.
Q: If my status reports are posted on the BDN website,
won’t other companies be able to look at them?
A: No. Status reports are only accessible by signing into
our secure site via BDN issued User ID and password. BDN uses SSL (secure
socket layer) technology to ensure complete security in any transmissions to
and from this site.
Q: Besides providing data, does BDN market data
management software or reporting tools?
A: BDN focuses on data and does not market data platforms.
However, there are other organizations that market reporting and analytical
products that work very well with the BDN-format data.
Back to Top
Data Security
Q: What reassurances can BDN give me that my data will
be kept confidential?
A: For nearly twenty years, our commitment to integrity and
data confidentiality has led to complete customer trust. Our contract speaks
specifically to data confidentiality. Customer data is treated as if it were
our own and is held in total confidence between BDN and the customer.
Q: How does BDN insure good data backup and consistent
delivery of data, especially in light of potential power interruptions?
A: BDN’s computers are located off-site at a secure
facility, which is considered to be the number one provider of disaster
recovery services worldwide. Onsite power station and generators, multiple
communication lines, redundant software and hardware components, and 24 hour a
day staffing combine to provide the highest level of security and backup
possible. Data “snapshots” are also taken every 20 minutes. Additional backups
are taken in the morning, at mid-day and each evening, with multiple daily
backups held in storage for additional levels of backup.
Back to Top
|
|
|
|