Knowledge Base - Connect

Providing answers to commonly asked questions, solutions to known problems, and more...

Trading Partners


Category: Sending/Receiving Code Pairs

My trading partner does not have the sender/receiver code I use to identify him. What do I do now?
After you have concluded that the trading partner's sender/receiver code is not available in Covisint Connect, then select "Request to add a trading partner" from the search page. This request page will prompt you to enter information about the trading partner so a Covisint Connect Specialist can contact the trading partner, and/or add this trading partner's sender/receiver codes. Refer to the Connect Administrator Guide >>>
Why do I have to pick "code pairs" in a trading partner relationship?
The system allows trading partners to identify unique, valid relationships at the sender/receiver code level. To enable this feature, trading partners must identify the sets of Sender code/Receiver code pairs that are acceptable for transmitting messages under this relationship. For example, a sender / receiver code may designate a plant. So, when setting up a relationship, a trading partner can set up the "plants" that can exchange documents (allowing a trading partner to limit transmission of documents to only those with valid, current contract relationships).
Why would anyone suspend a code pair?
A trading partner might suspend a code pair when this is no longer a valid relationship. For example, when a plant no longer supplies a customer with parts. Either the trading partner sending documents (a sending code pair) or receiving documents (a receiving code pair) can suspend a code pair.
Why are the carbon copy rules grouped by "defined attributes"?
Rules are pre-ordered based on the specificity (the number of defined attributes) of the rule. For example:
  • A rule with three defined attributes: "IF the sender code is 123, AND IF the receiver code is ABC, AND IF the document type is EDIFACT DELFOR, THEN carbon copy to trading partner X."
  • A rule with two defined attributes: "IF the sender code is 123, AND IF the document type is EDIFACT DELFOR, THEN carbon copy to trading partner X."
The system automatically implements rules with more defined attributes. If it did not, some rules would never be implemented. In the examples, the first rule must be run before the second rule.

Category: Other

I can't find my trading partner. What do I do now?
If you cannot find your trading partners, they may not be in the Covisint Exchange. Before you request to have a trading partner added, please attempt the following:
  1. Search for variations of the trading partner's name. Search for only part of the name and find all trading partners that have similar names.
  2. Search for the trading partner's sender/receiver code. After you determine that the trading partner is not available in Covisint Connect, select "Request to add a trading partner" from the search page.

Complete the steps in the Trading Partner Relationships section of the Connect Administrator Guide >>>

This request page will prompt you to enter information about the trading partner so a Covisint Connect Specialist can connect this trading partner either through a direct connection or through a VAN interconnect.
Why do I need to select a "payment relationship" for each trading partner?
While most trading partners each pay for their own transaction charges, some customer-supplier relationships involve one partner paying for both sides of the transaction charges. Only select "100%" pay or "0%" pay if you know you have one of these customer-supplier relationships.
What should I do if I have requested a trading partner relationship, but my trading partner has not responded?
If your trading partner has not responded to your request, you should contact this trading partner to determine why you haven not received a response.
Why would I send a carbon copy?
When you have a business reason to send the same transaction to different trading partners, Covisint Connect can do this by creating carbon copy rules.
Why would I require custom processing?
Your internal systems may process documents in a manner so unique that it is difficult to create and read documents exchanged with trading partners. To ease these circumstances, the Covisint system can process documents on your behalf, according to your specifications. Examples of custom processes include embedding business processes, parsing, clipping or culling, non-standard splitting, customer-specific logic based on sender/receiver code or document type, duplicate checking and customer-specific security algorithms.