Overview – FAQ

Frequently asked questions on operating SPPS are summarised under FAQ.

General information

What is SPPS used for?• SPPS provides price information without access to further systems without any problems• SPPS is for the management and calculation of maintenance and repair packages• The preparation of price campaigns can be carried out easily• Different types of calculations can be used in SPPS, e.g. group calculations

What technical prerequisites are there for using SPPS?The technical prerequisite for using SPPS is the provision of a PCs with Internet connection; Single sign-on via PAI: XENTRY portalOperating system and browser configurations • Microsoft® Windows® 7 with Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 8 to 10• Microsoft® Windows® XP (SP3) with Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 8• JavaTM 7ADSL Internet connection Screen resolution optimized for 1280 x 800 pixelsAdobe® Acrobat® Reader® 7

Where are frequently asked questions on SPPS answered?

Process

Who is responsible for the configuration of an SPPS user and the assignment of the corresponding rights?Activation process: • To activate SPPS, the SPPS system must have been rolled out in your market. Please contact

your MPC for creating accounts or for market-specific release or authorization processes MPC.

The DPM is to create a new branch in SPPS at the dealer. What needs to be taken into account?To create a new dealer branch, the number of the branch must match the number in GSSN.The benefit is that the work value and the part replacement can be automatically applied.However, it should be taken into account that to create a branch, no deviating part replacement and no alternative work value charge rates can be created/changed.

How many SPPS managers should there be in my market?At least one SPPS manager per MPC is required. In the event of a large MPC, the separation of the responsibilities into IT and frontline operations is recommended.

I require market-specific packages. Who can I ask?The contact for packages that deviate from the standard package portfolio is SPPS product management. Please send any questions to mbox_spps_hq@daimler.com.

Updates

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On which data are the package contents based?Information on part numbers and part quantities are searched for in the parts determination system (EPC) and transferred to the packages. Which parts must be added to a package is determined according to the maintenance sheets and repair instructions in WIS. ASRA is the data basis for labour operation numbers and working hours.For this reason, SPPS can only be as up-to-date as the systems mentioned above.

How often must the package master data be imported into my system?The package master data must be imported with every HQ supply of packages in the context of the package update process to SPPS. The package master data must also be imported after every change to the DMS (e.g. in the event of changes to the charge rates or prices, or recalculations).

How often are the packages updated in SPPS and what is the update sequence?The packages are updated once every three months. The updates are imported in a defined sequence in succession to the markets, to reduce the load to the system. For this purpose, a preliminary information is sent to the corresponding market in order that it can prepare itself for the update.After the update, the new packages must be accepted by the market and released to the dealers. Afterwards, the new packages must also be checked in at the dealer.

After an update, some packages have a white spot in the incoming package area. What needs to be done?Packages with a white spot have one or more part numbers not included in their local price file. In order that these packages can be accepted, it is necessary to import a current price file of the market into SPPS or add the missing data manually, or to replace these parts with their locally used parts (e.g. oil).

How and on what basis are packages deleted in SPPS?Prior to each package update, a deletion record is automatically imported by the headquarters into the markets. Faulty and invalid packages are thus deleted.

What is the replacement of parts for? Packages in the incoming package area with a white spot have a placeholder (e.g. Q number). That indicates that a package published by HQ/MPC has not been completely defined. These placeholders must be replaced with the dealer's own parts or operation number. Marked packages are only then complete.They are displayed in the package management system with a green spot and can be accepted by the MPC administrator or DPM. Then, the packages can be released for the special version.

What are the primary components of a price file?• Part numbers (must match the MB item numbers; procedural instruction: V 999 80 04)• Package texts/ensignations in own national language• Prices• Supplementary code 1 (ES1); two-digit, numeric• Supplementary code 2 (ES2); four-digit, numeric

Why are there deviations in the part numbers between the part determination system (EPC) and SPPS?• Prior to each package update, part replacement file is imported into the package creation system.

That ensures that the package update includes the latest part numbers.• Different update cycles of the part determination system (EPC) and SPPS system may result in

delays in the up-to-dateness of the replacement of parts in SPPS. The part determination system (EPC) is updated on a monthly basis. The SPPS update cycle is every three months.

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• The purchase order in the logistics bus ensures that the current part is delivered, even if obsolete part numbers are used. Only the different update cycles of the systems can result in delays in the replacement of parts in SPPS.

Import/export

The market-specific price files cannot be imported. What could be the reason for this?• Please note that the price files to be imported should have the "UTF8 format“ in order that the

contents can be applied correctly. However, that depends on the characters of the language in which the part names are imported.

• More information is provided in the description: "Example of the structure of an SPPS price file". (see download)

The package export requires a very long time. Can this process be accelerated?• The package export after a package update cannot be accelerated, as a very large number of

packages are provided, which takes a long time. • From SPPS Release 6.2 and higher, the package export takes place on the server. That means

that the client can be used again immediately after starting the package export.

How is the package description imported as txt. file to SPPS? (spps_text.txt)With every package update, you are given new SPPS package texts (spps_text.txt) for import to your system. The package texts are created in German and English by default. To use the package texts in other languages, the texts must be translated by the MPC first.

User interface

How can a closed message window be opened again?The message window in SPPS can be opened via the higher-level menu bar under "Notices".Alternatively, the message window automatically displayed by SPPS is displayed again by clicking on "Shoe again" during a restart of SPPS.

Workplace

When and how do you create your own price group for charge rates?

How can a general markup or discount of part prices be defined?

Package management

How are package groups created and used?

What is the extension and reduction of packages for?The extension and reduction of packages is the option of adding additional work or parts to an existing package or removing them.The advantage of this function is that the package number remains the same, even if a change is imported from the headquarters. Packages with this adjustment are displayed in the incoming folder: "Accept modified packages".

Why are there differences between the package texts and the texts in the package search?The texts defined in ASRA for the corresponding operation number are used for the texts in the package search. The package texts are defined individually by the creator of the package.

Some of the package texts for the maintenance services include the addition: standard oil or premium oil, some do not. Why?

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For vehicles with engines for which several engine oils of different quality are approved, a cheaper engine oil and one of very high quality are offered.Packages for vehicles with engines for which only a single engine oil is permitted do not contain this additive, as no distinction is necessary.

What is the difference between a group calculation and a direct package calculation? • In the event of a group calculation, the calculation rule is assigned to the group. All packages

assigned to this group, are given this calculation rule in addition to the standard calculation. A package can thus have several prices. These calculated prices are not transferred with the package export and are currently not forwarded to the XENTRY portal either.

• In the event of a direct package calculation, the calculation is not carried out directly at the package. The newly determined price is the only price for these packages. The standard price is thus replaced with the calculated price. The newly calculated price is transferred to the package export file and sent to the XENTRY portal.

Why can a package not be found in SPPS, although there is an operation number in ASRA without labour time?Operation numbers without labour time, called ZM items, cannot be offered in SPPS at present for technical reasons. As soon as the missing working hours are available, the corresponding package is imported into the markets with the next possible package update.

Service management

Why do red lines appear in the service management system of the dealer?Red lines appear if SPPS could not find a package for an operation number. There may be several causes for this:• The package was not accepted by the MPC and/or released to the dealers• The package was not accepted or deleted by the dealer• For this work, there is no valid package for the entered vehicle context (FIN).If the error still applies after inspection and ruling out these causes, we ask you to create an XSF ticket for us.

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Question:

Where are frequently asked questions about SPPS answered?

Answer:

Click on the "Help/Help" menu bar.

SPPS – User Documents opens.

Click on the "FAQ" tab.

All FAQ articles are listed in the "Overview - FAQ" .

The individual FAQ articles can be clicked on via links or the tree structure .

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Workplace

When and how is a separate price group created for the labor rates?

Answer:

A separate price group is always created when the standard labor rates are deviated from. The "Labour rates" tab allows for the maintenance of the standard labor rates and the creation of new price groups.Specific construction groups and work can be assigned to these.

Example:

A dealer wants to make its model series 203 customers an attractive offer and offer the maintenance for these vehicles at a lower labor rate. Aseparate price group must be created for this purpose.

Click on the "Labour rates" tab in the "View/Workplace" menu bar.

First, a new price group must be created.

For this purpose, click on "New".

The "Create labour rate" window opens.

Enter the name of the price group, purchase price and net list price and confirm via "OK".

The price group has been created.

A new Labour rate mapping must now be created.

To do so, click on "New...".

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The following entries must be assigned to the price group:Model (baumuster)

The model (baumuster) must be 6-digit. Missing digits can be replaced by *.

Construction group (= design group)Operation number

If **** is entered, for example in the operation number, the entry is valid for all operation numbers of the enteredconstruction group (= design group).

Assign the corresponding divisions to the price group via the pull-down menus and confirm via "OK".

In the example, the passenger car division is assigned to the newly created price group.

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The labor rate mapping has been created.

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Changing the standard labor rate or a labor rate mapping means that the package must be recalculated/updated.

The package price is calculated (in this example more favorably) with a corresponding labor rate due to the assignment of model(baumuster) 203 and construction group (design group) 00 to a price group.

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Package management

How are package groups created and used?

Answer:

Package groups are used if a calculation that differs from the standard calculation is to be offered.For example, this could be actions (= campaigns) such as winter services, special offers for brakes, vehicle check before vacation, etc. or actions(campaigns) for special customer groups such as fleet customers, taxi companies, tradespersons, etc.Individual calculation specifications are saved with package groups.

If a package group is created on the MPC level, this is visible to all dealers via the icon . If a package group is created on the dealer level, this can be seen only by the dealer and all branches via the icon

.

Example for the creation of a package group:

A "Taxi" order group is created.

A package group "Special offer for brakes" with a 10% discount is created in this for all work on the brake system DG (= construction/designgroup) 42 for the period January to April.

Click on "Group management" .

Create the "Taxi" order group: To do so, click on "New group".

The "New group" window opens.

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Select "Order group".

Enter name and description and confirm via "OK".

The order group "Taxi" has been created. It is a container, and various package groups can now be assigned to it.

Order group created by the MPC.

Order group created by the dealer.

Create the package group "Special offer for brakes": To do so, click on "New group".

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The "New group" window opens.

Select "Package group".

Enter name and description .

Select the order group "Taxi" in the pull-down menu "Groups".

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This is a mandatory field, but it is currently not being used. Recommendation: Enter "-".

Enter the special offer ("action") from and to validity period.

The special offer is valid for an unlimited period if the validity period "from" and "to" are left blank.

Select "Package discount [%]" as the calculation specification, enter 10 as the discount and confirm with "OK".

The package group "Special offer for brakes" has been created in the order group"Taxi".

If calculation specifications have been assigned to a package group, the following icons are shown: package group created by MPC. package group created by dealer.

Enter the filter DG (= "design group"/"construction group") 42.

If needed, additional filters can be used.

Select the desired entries and confirm via "OK".

To do so, use the context menu via Ctrl+A or Ctrl+Shift or the right mouse button.

The packages are loaded .

Select the desired entries and click on "Change group...".

The "Select group" window is shown.

Select "Special offer for brakes" and confirm via "OK".

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The packages are assigned to the package group "Special offer for brakes".

Example for using the package group:

To do so, click on the "Information" .

Click on "All prices" for the desired package.

The window "Price information" opens.

Here the service adviser can select either the package group with the campaign (action/special offer) price or the DMS price .

In the example, select the package group with the campaign price and click on "Place selection in the shopping cart".

The campaign is not shown if the validity period has ended.

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WorkplaceHow can a general markup or discount on part prices be defined?

Answer:In addition to the individual package calculation, a general markup or discount can be defined for part prices at the dealer level.In order that dealers can define a general markup or discount for part prices, the MPC must activate the corresponding function for connected dealers.If the function is activated for dealers, the markup or discount can be defined individually.

After defining a markup or discount for the part prices, the package master data is updated.

MPC:To enable the connected dealers to define a general markup or discount for part prices, under "MPC options" > "Basic settings" the MPC must activate theoption "Activate markup or discount for part prices" .

Dealer:If the function is activated for dealers, whether a markup or discount is to be calculated and with which value can be defined under "Dealer Options" >"Basic settings" > "Settings for increase/reduction" .

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The value entered in the "Value" input field is equivalent to a percentage value. Only numbers between 1 and 100 without decimal place can beentered.

The defined markup or discount is listed in the "Basic settings" report.

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