Searching for Interchange Parts

Interchange enables you to search for the same part from different suppliers. One part usually has a different part number from each supplier even though it is the same part. Interchange allows you to look up part numbers and find the same part at multiple suppliers.

NOTE: Each supplier is a coverage you configure in Smart eCat Configuration. When you search a supplier, you are searching the supplier’s coverage.

Accessing Interchange in Smart eCat

You access Interchange inside Smart eCat.

When Opened Standalone

You can open Smart eCat and then Interchange when no ticket is open. You can search for parts and transfer them to Smart eCat; however, you cannot post parts to any ticket - new or existing.

The vehicle in the line at the bottom of the window is entirely independent of Interchange; it has no impact on searches.

This is the vehicle selected in Smart eCat’s vehicle selector. Smart eCat requires a vehicle and opens to its vehicle selector when you open Smart eCat standalone. If you do not select a vehicle, Smart eCat selects the first vehicle in the Smart eCat vehicle selector list.

When Opened from a Ticket

You can open Smart eCat and then Interchange when from an open ticket. You can search for parts, transfer parts to Smart eCat, and post parts to the open ticket.

The vehicle in the line at the bottom of the window is entirely independent of Interchange; it has no impact on searches. If you plan on posting parts from Interchange to the open ticket, make sure the parts you search match the vehicle on the open ticket.

Searching by Part Number

All searches in Interchange are based on the part number. You search for a part number one supplier at a time.

Complete these steps:

1. Open Smart eCat from an open ticket.
2. Click the Interchange button in the Smart eCat toolbar .
3. Check the supplier in the Supplier dropdown list.

4. Enter a Part Number.

   

5. Leave Auto-All checked.
   
   • Auto-All searches enabled manufacturer lines within all part types by default.
     
   • If you uncheck Auto-All, you need to select the part types and manufacturer lines. For details, click the following link: To Search All Lines.
     

6. Click the Lookup button.

   If the cursor is in the Part Number field, you can press the ENTER key to launch the search.

   For details, click the following link: Interchange Tab in Smart eCat.

7. The enabled manufacturer lines with matching parts appear in the middle of the window.

   

   NOTE: Responses from Epicor appear in the Message section above the search results.

8. To see the parts in the manufacturer lines:

   • Click the + or - buttons to expand each manufacturer line.

     

   • Click the Expand button to expand all manufacturer lines.

     

9. To search another supplier by the same criteria, select another Supplier in the dropdown list. Interchange searches that supplier by the same criteria automatically.

NOTE: The Sell and List Prices on this window depend on the source of the part. Supplier parts do not reflect actual pricing to the customer, but local inventory parts do.

For more information about the search results, see

• Interchange Search Results
• Local Inventory in Search Results

To Search All Lines

By default, Interchange searches only for manufacturer lines that are enabled for the part category and supplier. Items are enabled and disabled in Smart eCat Configuration on the Setup Coverages window.

Searching all lines searches allows you to search for both the enabled and disabled manufacturer lines. In Interchange, you cannot search all lines before you search; however, you can search all lines after the initial search.

Complete these steps:

1. Click the Interchange button in the Smart eCat toolbar .
2. Search by Part Number with Auto-All checked.
3. After the search results return, click All Lines.
   • If Epicor finds too many results to return, you are prompted that you cannot search All Lines. Click OK on the prompt.

   • If you can search All Lines, the window pops up where you can select the manufacturer lines you want to search.

     

     Click OK and Interchange searches those lines.

4. The manufacturer lines with matching parts appear in the middle of the window.

For more details, click the following link:To Enable and Disable Items in Supplier Coverages.

To Perform a Wildcard Search

You can do a wildcard search by adding an asterisk (*) to the end of a part number you enter in the Part Number field.

When you click Lookup or press the ENTER key to launch the search, the Part Number Selection window opens displaying the part numbers that begin with the characters.

Select the number and click OK.

To Search Again

If you have completed one search and want to search another part number, you do not need to clear the search results from the previous search.

Complete these steps:

1. Click inside the Part Number field.
2. Type in another part number.
3. Click Lookup or press the ENTER key.
4. You can also select another Supplier in the dropdown list. Interchange searches that supplier immediately.