FTP Data Feed

This article will explain details of FTP Data Feed/s and what the Dealership needs to do, to get one setup and going 

What is a FTP Data Feed

An FTP data feed is a regularly updated data file, such as stocked unit data that is transferred from Blackpurl to a server using File Transfer Protocol (FTP) 

FTP is a standard method for moving computer files between a client (Blackpurl data) and a server over a network

Once the data is sitting on FTP Server, your Third Party Provider / Dealership can use the data as required ie update their website etc 

What Blackpurl will be responsible for

Blackpurl is responsible for the data file to be setup and sent but what the Dealership / Third Party Provider does with the data, is up to them

Setup 

Step 1 - Dealership needs to complete

Blackpurl will need to obtain authorization from the Dealership to allow us to share your data with Third Party Provider

Please click on this link and complete the form to give Blackpurl authorization - FTP Permissions - Please complete this form

In the form, the Dealership will need to provide to Blackpurl with the contact details for your Third Party Provider - we would ask that you provide full details as Blackpurl will be reaching out directly to them

Step 2 - Blackpurl needs to complete 

Blackpurl will also need your FTP information so Blackpurl will be reaching out directly to your Third Party Provider to obtain the information we need

The information we will requesting directly from your Third Party Provider is:

• FTP server IP/site address
• Username and password
• Upload directory (optional) 
• Data feed frequency (daily/weekly & preferred time)
• File name convention

Once we have the additional information, we will finalise the setup and both the Third Party Provider and the Dealership will be notified that setup is complete and the data file transfer has commenced

Additional information 

• Here is a link to the Blackpurl Stock Unit FTP Sample data sheet in case your Third Party Provider asks for it

If no Stock Unit data sheet is provided - then we will use this standard Blackpurl template but Blackpurl will be discussing that directly with your Third Party Provider 

• Please note that we also setup to send url addresses for unit images but you would need to check with your Third Party Provider if they can use them.  Keep in mind the following points about url of images:

• the Dealership will first need to have the images loaded on the relevant Unit Records within Blackpurl -  How to Add Images on Unit Records / How to Delete Images from Unit Records
  
• all images loaded onto the relevant Unit Record, will be sent over as a url
  
  Dealership cannot select which images they want to send - all images  loaded on a Unit Record will be sent over as a url
  
  Dealership is to control the order of how they want the images to be sent.  The order is determined by the order in which the images are imported onto the Unit Record in Blackpurl 

• Your Third Party Provider may also be required to whitelist the Blackpurl IP address - 52.15.173.142

• Your Third Party Provider will need to provide the correct credentials - uppercase / lowercase is important as it makes a difference to setup and connectivity - for example you could provide us with the password as SERVICE (all caps lock uppercase) but the actual password is Service then the FTP will fail to be received by your Third Party Provider (FTP Server)

Your Third Party Provided will also be asked that they also not have any characters in your username like an apostrophe (') or ampersand (&) eg Username: Cathy's or F&C - it should be Username: Cathy or FC

After Setup 

Once the data feed has been setup, it will be scheduled to automatically send as per the frequency requested

There are a few things that the Dealership will have control over:

• On the Unit Records that you don't want to be part of the data feed, you can uncheck the Publish on Feeds checkbox by going to on the relevant Unit Record
  
  

• If Dealerships want to see the status of the 'Publish on Feeds', we have a column that can be added to the Part Inventory and Unit Inventory Reports so you can see the status 

Simply run the relevant Part or Unit Inventory Report > add the column - Publish in Feeds

The report will then listing each Parts or Units and the Publish in Feeds what the Publish in Feeds status is as per the relevant Part Record / Unit Record ie YES it is marked as Publish in Feeds or NO it is marked as not Publish in Feeds