IDS Connect
Integrierte Daten-Schnittstelle · trade and wholesale · version 2.5
IDS Connect is an interface through which trade software opens a wholesaler's online shop, searches for items there, checks prices and availability and takes the cart into the software. IDS stands for Integrierte Daten-Schnittstelle (integrated data interface); ITEK GmbH developed it for the German associations BVBS, DG Haustechnik and ZVSHK, mainly for the building services trade of plumbing, heating and air conditioning. The current version is 2.5.
Last updated:
- Developed by
- ITEK GmbH for BVBS, DG Haustechnik and ZVSHK
- Current version
- 2.5, backward compatible with 2.0 and 2.3
- Actions
- WKE, WKS, ADL, AS, LI
- Trade
- Building services (plumbing, heating, air conditioning): trade and wholesale
- Related
- Punchout, SAP OCI
/01
How IDS Connect works
The trade software opens the wholesaler's shop with a form that carries the trade business's login data, the requested action and a return address (hookurl). The shop logs the business in and opens the matching page. When the tradesperson hands over the cart, the shop posts it to the hookurl as an XML document, with item number, quantity, unit, short and long text and prices for each item.
/02
The actions
The action decides what a call does: WKE takes a cart from the shop into the software, WKS sends a cart from the software to the shop, ADL opens the page of a specific item via a product deep link, AS starts the product search in the shop, and LI retrieves the information needed to log in. The product search was added with version 2.5.
/03
Where IDS Connect is used
In the building services trade, IDS Connect links wholesale with the trades: plumbers and heating engineers calculate quotes in their trade software and fetch items, prices and availability straight from their wholesaler's shop. The interface is developed further by a working group of experts from the associations involved.
/04
IDS Connect and punchout
IDS Connect follows the same pattern as a punchout with SAP OCI or cXML: a program of the customer opens the supplier's shop and gets the cart back. The difference lies in who takes part: SAP OCI and cXML connect companies' procurement systems to their suppliers, IDS Connect connects trade software to specialist wholesalers and brings actions of its own such as product search and deep link.
/05
IDS Connect with orcamultimedia
orcamultimedia offers IDS Connect version 2.5 as an extension for Adobe Commerce, Magento 1/2, Shopware 5/6, OXID eShop and WooCommerce, with sending and receiving carts, product deep link and product search.
/06 questions
What does IDS stand for in IDS Connect?
IDS in IDS Connect stands for Integrierte Daten-Schnittstelle, German for integrated data interface. The interface links trade software to a wholesaler's online shop.
Which version of IDS Connect is current?
The current version of IDS Connect is 2.5. It is backward compatible with versions 2.0 and 2.3, which are also in use in the market.
Who uses IDS Connect?
IDS Connect is used mainly by building services businesses, for example in plumbing, heating and air conditioning, through their trade software, and by the wholesalers whose online shops offer the interface.
