Release Notes

Notes on new releases for autoecat.com

December 2022 - Release 20221231

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 786               
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,202,545,604
Total Images - 4,541,327                    
Total Interchanges - 30,729,958             
OEM Application Listings - 52,372,142       
Interactive Vector Images - 193,453
Fluid Spec Listings - 960,415
Total Non-Application Products - 746,351   

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors (3)

Updated Vendors (95)

November 2022 - Release 20221130

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 784
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,194,980,222
Total Images - 4,531,676
Total Interchanges - 30,381,080
OEM Application Listings - 52,372,142
Interactive Vector Images - 189,882
Fluid Spec Listings - 958,661
Total Non-Application Products -759,096

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors (2)

Updated Vendors (147)

October 2022 - Release 20221031

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 782               
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,197,942,316
Total Images - 4,516,868                    
Total Interchanges - 30,381,080             
OEM Application Listings - 52,372,142       
Interactive Vector Images - 189,882         
Fluid Spec Listings - 957,228               
Total Non-Application Products - 976,416   

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors (1)

Updated Vendors (106)

September 2022 - Release 20220930

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 780               
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,187,259,777
Total Images - 4,516,211                    
Total Interchanges - 30,381,080             
OEM Application Listings - 52,372,142       
Interactive Vector Images - 189,882         
Fluid Spec Listings - 956,553               
Total Non-Application Products - 976,416   

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors (1)

Updated Vendors (106)


August 2022 - Release 20220831

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 780
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,206,789,783
Total Images - 4,507,352
Total Interchanges - 30,055,358
OEM Application Listings - 52,372,142
Interactive Vector Images - 189,882
Fluid Spec Listings - 956,179
Total Non-Application Products - 700,804

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

autoecat.com Desktop Application Released

We have released a desktop application for autoecat which provides smoother, quicker browsing as well as a more integrated way for your customer to launch the catalogue.

For users of Counterpoint, this new desktop application is used with Counterpoint Version 6 to launch your F6 internal catalogue

To download the app, simply go to the downloads section on the autoecat front page

image-1662143741031.png

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors (2)

Updated Vendors (141)

 

July 2022 - Release 20220731

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 778
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,212,083,237
Total Images - 4,484,843
Total Interchanges - 30,055,358
OEM Application Listings - 52,013,657
Interactive Vector Images - 189,882
Fluid Spec Listings - 956,855

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

VIEROL joins the Autoecat.com network

Autoecat partners can now access standardized product information of VEMO, VAICO and ACKOJA brands though autoecat.com. VIEROL has developed via its brands more than 40,000 part references for the aftermarket.

To support customers in the best possible way, VIEROL develops various smart repair shop solutions: Expert Kits+. Customers get all the parts needed for a repair in just one box. How to use such an Expert Kits+ can be checked our here:

How to maintain the 6-speed DSG DQ250 transmission:

6-speed DSG DQ250 transmission VW PASSAT / Golf VI / Golf VII / Audi A3 | EXPERT-KITS+ V10-86-0005 - YouTube“

Please feel free to adjust this press release as needed. You can also add following VIEROL image video:

VIEROL AG - We provide mobility | EN - YouTube

New Vendors (19)

Updated Vendors (170)

 

June 2022 - Release 20220630

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 773
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,198,887,838
Total Images - 4,475,487
Total Interchanges - 26,585,157
OEM Application Listings - 52,013,657
Interactive Vector Images - 189,882
Fluid Spec Listings - 956,576

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors (12)

Updated Vendors (165)

May 2022 - Release 20220531

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 743
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,208,693,691
Total Images - 4,473,840
Total Interchanges - 26,558,568
OEM Application Listings - 52,013,657
Interactive Vector Images - 188,894
Fluid Spec Listings - 956,169

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors (12)

Updated Vendors (159)

April 2022 - Release 20220430

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 731
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,198,376,683
Total Images - 4,472,690
Total Interchanges - 26,558,568
OEM Application Listings - 52,013,657
Interactive Vector Images - 188,894
Fluid Spec Listings - 956,169

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors (5)

Updated Vendors (156)

March 2022 - Release 20220331

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 726
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,161,797,706
Total Images - 4,461,042
Total Interchanges - 26,558,568
OEM Application Listings - 51,104,787
Interactive Vector Images - 188,894
Fluid Spec Listings - 954,561

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors (0)

Updated Vendors (115)

February 2022 - Release 20220228

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 726
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,176,039,201
Total Images - 4,454,849
Total Interchanges - 26,553,947
OEM Application Listings - 51,104,787
Interactive Vector Images - 185,571
Fluid Spec Listings - 954,624

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

- New VINMobile app was released! Read more here

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors (1)

Updated Vendors (106)

February 2022 - Release 20220217

Enhancements

Our VINMobile VIN decoding app has been re-released!

We have re-vamped the old autoecat VINMobile application and it is now available for download on the Google Play Store!

Download it here!

The app allows your customers to use their mobile device to scan a vehicle's VIN barcode and load the scanned vehicle information directly into their Scanned Vehicles list, available under the 'Last Vehicles' section of autoecat. In this latest version, we have made a few enhancements:

Simply download the app from the google play store and you can get started right away! 

button to display your VINMobile registration code.

Then, open the app and tap the settings icon in the top right corner. The settings page will display any currently registered accounts you may have. 

image-1645060547427.png

Tap the 'Register Account' button at the bottom to add an account. You may have multiple accounts registered to a single app. If you have multiple accounts, any scanned vehicles will be populated under all registered accounts.

Once you have registered, the app will display your accounts in the settings page as well as a notice on the main app page indicating that vehicles will be uploaded to autoecat when scanned.

To scan a VIN, just press the SCAN VIN button on the app homepage.

image-1645060581046.png

 

Bug Fixes

Accessing part detail screen

We have fixed the bug where you were unable to access the part detail screen for certain items with a substitute

Substitutes in application listing 

A bug was found where certain substitutes were not showing under their primary part in the application listing. This has been resolved.

 

January 2022 - Release 20220131

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 725
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,200,221,074
Total Images - 4,454,849
Total Interchanges - 26,553,947
OEM Application Listings - 50,303,977
Interactive Vector Images - 185,571
Fluid Spec Listings - 954,624

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

No major enhancements this month

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Minor bug fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors (1)

Updated Vendors (134)

 

January 2022 - Release 20220107

These updates are currently scheduled to be released on January 7th, 2022

Enhancements

Expanded product descriptions

Product headings now have a new 'help' icon which, when hovered over, will display extended product information for that product type

image-1640979794795.png

Product Aliases 

We have added in a large number of product name 'Aliases' to help in the searching for product within autoecat. These are common name aliases for the product classifications used within the non-application catalogue. Some examples are:

These aliases will be considered when looking product up in the non-application catalogue:

image-1641507706546.png

as well as when searching for products via the autoecat 'multiples' screen keyword search

image-1641333538969.png

With these new aliases, we hope that users are able to find their desired products easier by using more common terms to describe them.

Bug Fixes

Warehouse Onhand

We fixed a bug wherein the warehouse availability was not showing for non-stocking, warehouse only, items.

Vehicle Subgroups in Application Listings

A number of vehicle listings were showing an incomplete list of submodels which the part would fit. A number of these instances have been handled and are being addressed ongoing.

Warehouse Pricing Display

For autoecat counter users, the pricing returned by the warehouse lookup was not properly resolving to 2 decimal places for parts with a price ending in zero. This has been fixed.

image-1641413034070.png

Customer Pricing in Warehouse Lookup

Bug had been reported that the decimal places were off in the warehouse lookup launched from the part search screen. Customer price was showing with the decimal place moved to the left one number. This has been resolved.

image-1641502325454.png

December 2021 - Release 20211222

The Current release of autoecat includes a number of major updates.

Enhancements

SSL Security Update

image-1637096075881.png

autoecat.com will now operate with proper HTTPS security, preventing up to date browsers from posting warnings about potential data sharing. This also ensures secure traffic to and from the autoecat server as well as your web servers.

Industrial Catalogue

The most impactful update of this release from a feature standpoint is the full redesign of our industrial catalogue. We have reviewed our approach, which previously only included stocking items. The new release of the industrial catalogue includes all items we currently receive data from, which totals over 700,000 unique parts.

The Data

image-1635873105707.png

The setup for the industrial catalogue is also much more streamlined. Simply add your desired vendor code into the Catalogue Vendor field of your category maintenance, and the catalogue will be updated to reflect the new vendor.

autoecat application based vendors will still need to be maintained via the catalogue preferences

All product classification and updates are handled by AMS and the catalogue is updated on a monthly basis

Searching Product

We have also enhanced our search capabilities within the industrial catalogue. There are two primary ways to filter down or search for product. 

Filtering By Class / Subclass

The more traditional option to search would be by filtering down the Class / Subclass options:

image-1640035650451.png

Clicking next to any class will filter the items displayed to be only items within that class. You can then filter further by clicking one of the sub class options. This will filter down the results to only be items within the selected subclass(es).

image-1640035623694.png

Searching For Product via the Search Bar

The more flexible option to find product would be via our enhanced search bar function. This will search for any items that match ALL of the terms you enter. When searching the non-application catalogue, the search will interrogate all of the following when trying to find a match

This allows you to search as broad 

image-1640035517991.png

or as specific a term you like...

image-1640035560734.png

The product search results are weighted and sorted based on where the matching terms were found. Terms matching in the product classification or part number will show before an item with a term matching in the product attributes.

Quicker Warehouse Availability

We have updated the application listing screen to now include a sponsor's primary warehouse in the on hand drop-down to save the user from clicking on the warehouse lookup button

The check warehouse button is still available and can be used to search all available warehouses

image-1639074529311.png

The warehouses cannot be selected as a potential ordering source, but any items ordered will indicate local availability when printed out as per your out of stock message settings.

Shopping Cart Redesign

We have updated the look and feel of our shopping cart pages to be more user friendly and help us prepare for future updates such as taking online payments.

image-1635873437992.png

image-1635873465139.png

Image Count

Image thumbnails now include a small count to tell users how many images are available for the item.

image-1635874125044.png

Order Splitting

Previously, when a customer selected a secondary branch from within the shopping cart, the order would be split and sent to the respective branch. With more customers having locations out of market and recent updates around the ability to customize comments on the order based on branch and corporate availability, we have modified this behavior.

image-1637801326274.png

Now, when a customer selects a secondary branch from within the shopping cart, the entire order will be sent to the customer's servicing branch, but a there will be a comment line below any numbers where stock is in a secondary branch . This comment will match your Invoice Transfer Message as set in your website settings.

image-1637801014536.png

Eco Fees

For all items that have an applicable eco-fee, the eco fee price will be listed in autoecat. This includes application listings, part search listings and the shopping Cart

image-1639009069069.png

Retail Pickup Customers

Shopping Cart

The shopping cart for retail pickup customers has also been updated

image-1639009640272.png

Customer Email

Optionally, when the retail pickup customer submits an order, they will now receive a confirmation email providing a list of items ordered as well as the web reference number. A sample of this email can be seen below:

Hi XXXXXX,

Thank You, we have received your order for the following items and it is currently being processed.

[EHT537H] Disc Brake Pad Set - Qty: 1
[MGD948CH] Disc Brake Pad Set - Qty: 1

When coming to collect your items, you can reference your web reference #00000575 or our internal order #1200381

In COUNTERPOINT, staff can recall web orders quickly and easily by opening an invoice session using the online retail account. Once opened, the invoice screen will prompt that there are open orders. Selecting to view the open orders, you can enter in the customer's "web reference" number to recall the order.

Alternatively, you can recall the order directly if the customer provides you with the "internal order #"

Default Transaction Setting

We have updated the system to properly handle the customer's 'Default Transaction' type.

image-1639010668040.png

Changing this setting in the Dealers preferences screen will modify what transaction type will be used when the customer submits a web order.

Default Landing Page

We have updated the default landing page setting to add an option for the default landing page to be the new 'non application' catalogue

image-1640035832812.png

Bug Fixes

User comments on substitute items

The error in which user entered comments would disappear on items with a substitute has been resolved

image-1635885546022.png

Suffix exclusion on long part numbers

A bug had appeared where part numbers longer than 10 digits would not respond to suffix based exclusions. This has been addressed and fixed. 

Incorrect sorting on multiple heading selection

When picking multiple part types, the subsequent listing of products would only follow the manufacturer's ranking for the last product type listed on the page. We have modified the code to ensure that all product types follow to the rankings set in the catalogue preferences.

Price Breaks Displaying on Substitute Items

We have fixed a bug where price breaks would display on a substitute item when it should have only applied to the primary item

image-1640212361703.png

 

November 2021 - Release 20211130

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 719
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,154,577,749
Total Images - 4,389,234
Total Interchanges - 26,551,927
OEM Application Listings - 50,303,977
Interactive Vector Images - 165,746
Fluid Spec Listings - 952,906

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

No major enhancements this month

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Minor bug fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors (1)

Updated Vendors (130)

 

October 2021 - Release 20211031

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 719
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,159,600,572
Total Images - 4,381,104
Total Interchanges - 26,529,441
OEM Application Listings - 49,390,792
Interactive Vector Images - 165,746
Fluid Spec Listings - 952,100

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

No major enhancements this month

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Minor bug fixes

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors

Updated Vendors

September 2021 - Release 20210930

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 719
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,159,559,457
Total Images - 4,381,104
Total Interchanges - 26,529,441
OEM Application Listings - 49,390,792
Interactive Vector Images - 165,746
Fluid Spec Listings - 952,100

Catalogue Feature Enhancements

No major enhancements this month

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Small back-end fixes to address page failures

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors

Updated Vendors

 

 

August 2021 - Release 20210831

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 717
Total Catalogue Applications - 1,208,871,367
Total Images - 4,377,417
Total Interchanges - 26,528,042
OEM Application Listings - 49,390,792
Interactive Vector Images - 165,746
Fluid Spec Listings - 952,101

Catalogue Feature Enahancements

Reduced the amount of listings that show in the order review screen to help speed up page load time.

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Small back-end fixes to address page failures

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors

Updated Vendors

July 2021 - Release 20210730

Catalogue Summary Overview

Total Catalogue Vendors - 711
Total Catalogue Applications - 1179313765
Total Images - 4377338
Total Interchanges - 26480254
OEM Application Listings - 48585402
Interactive Vector Images - 165746
Fluid Spec Listings - 951756

Catalogue Feature Enahancements

This month, we added the ability for customers using JDispatch to have their autoecat users be able to check the status of their delivery. In the 'Order Review' screen, a new button will show beneath the delivery status (if enabled) image-1627666182934.pngbutton will show beneath the delivery status (if enabled).

Clicking the button will present the user with the status of their invoice, and ETA if the order is in transit and the location of either the current driver location (for in transit invoices) or the delivery location (for delivered invoices). Delivered invoices will also allow the user to click the status button to see a copy of the signature taken.

Catalogue Bug Fixes

Fixed a bug where some parts looked up via a part search did not have the proper onhand coloring applied to the branch location dropdown. In this scenario, all items showed red drop-down boxes, even if stock was available.

Catalogue Data Updates

New Vendors

Updated Vendors

 

June 2021 - Release 20210630

New Catalogue Vendors ---

Cup Holder Hero [CUPHLD]

Catalogue Data Updates ---

 

May 2021 - Release 20210530

New Catalogue Vendors ---

None

Catalogue Data Updates ---

 

Update 2019/12/28

This update includes a number of new features and enhancements, as well as some aesthetic changes. Please forward this email along to any users who you feel may be interested in knowing what will change.

A little polish

The most visible change in this update will be noticed in the look & feel of the catalogue. We have adopted some more modern design concepts and adjusted the colour scheme of the catalogue. We have not made any dramatic changes to the way you can look up product, but have added in some additional functionality to what was already available. These changes will be detailed further below.

Additional Users

When autoecat.com was first launched in 2001, a single user account was good for the majority of our customers. As with everything, we have outgrown this restriction and, as a result, have updated autoecat to now allow multiple users by account. This allows multiple users to be logged in at the same time, for the same account, without conflicts in vehicle lookups, stock order listings, or shopping cart items. For any of your larger shop customers this will be a very useful function to have. Not to worry though, all of the current user accounts will still stay as they are. Moving forward, your in-house catalogue manager as well as your customer will have the tools within dealer maintenance and user profile to expand on the legacy accounts.

A picture is worth 1000 parts

We are very excited to announce the beta release of our vector graphics and integrated part lookup via picture. Signing up for this premium service will give your counter-staff a leg up when trying to find those hard to describe add-on products. By licensing the most comprehensive set of interactive vector images on the market, autoecat is striving to take all of the guesswork out of finding products, ensuring you can find the right part the first time. What the feature will provide is a small link within the 'multiples' search screen and on all application listing headers that will pop up an interactive, application specific, image of that product's assembly. This means, along with that coil spring, you can also view the various bumpers, mounts, and bolts that are associated. For more information on the cost of this new premium feature and for a demo, give us a call.

Lookup vehicles with your keyboard

Your users will now have the option to search for their Year/Make/Model with their keyboard. Within the year field, they need only type the last 2 digits of the year. For the Make/Model, simply begin typing the name. As soon as a match is found, the catalogue will make the selection for you. This feature has been built on the current selection method, so any users who want to still use their mouse will see no change.

We have gone back through and updated our related parts database to provide users with a more concise list of related parts. When selecting applications, your related parts drop down, shown in the product headings, should now be more accurate to the specific vehicle you are looking up.

Order Uploads

Within the scratch pad / stock order page, users now have the ability to upload items/quantities directly to the scratch-pad for quick import to their shopping cart. Just click the 'Upload' button on the scratch-pad page to get started

Parts from all angles

More and more vendors are now providing us with interactive 360 degree images of their products. With this release, you will begin to notice our 360 icon in the footer of the image viewer and within the product information page (accessible by clicking on the part number within the catalogue). The images can be accessed via the product detail page and allow you to manually rotate the image and zoom in on specific features.

Mobile Users

We have implemented a number of changes to allow your users to more easily navigate the application lookup when on a phone or tablet. Changes have been made to all screens involved in the Year / Make / Model / Application lookup process to be more responsive on these mobile devices.

VIN Codes on invoices

For orders where a VIN is used to look up the vehicle, the VIN code will be passed back to and printed on the COUNTERPOINT invoice for reference.

Retail Users

The final update to autoecat introduces a 'Retail' type customer account. This account allows for public users to access the catalogue (via a link on your website) and place orders for pickup. These retail pickup orders are placed in a queue on the system that can be recalled from the invoicing screen, using the current Shift-F6 function and their email to access the order for invoicing.