Before you begin using RFMS E-Commerce, make sure your system environment and user access are properly configured. The following requirements outline what's needed to ensure a successful connection between RFMS and your participating suppliers.
RFMS E-Commerce is available to all customers on an active RFMS subscription Professional Tier or above.
- Your system must be up to date with the latest RFMS release.
- Updates are distributed automatically through the subscription model.
- If your system is not subscription-based, contact RFMS Support to discuss upgrade options.
Keeping RFMS current ensures that you receive all performance and security enhancements related to E-Commerce connectivity.
E-Commerce requires an active internet connection to communicate with supplier systems though the Flooring B2B network.
- Any workstation or hosted environment where E-Commerce is configured must have reliable access to the internet.
- No special network ports or firewall changes are typically required.
- If your organization restricts outbound internet traffic, ensure that RFMS applications can connect to supplier endpoints.
Only authorized RFMS administrators can configure and manage E-Commerce.
Administrative permissions are required to:
- Access Utilities > System Options
- Manage E-Commerce Setup and Communication Properties
- Add or update supplier configurations
If you do not have administrative rights, contact your RFMS system administrator before attempting to set up or modify E-Commerce settings.
RFMS E-Commerce functions as a bridge between your business and B2B-enabled suppliers.
To participate:
- Your suppliers must be members of the Flooring B2B (FCB2B) network.
- Some suppliers may require a Trading Partner Agreement (TPA) before electronic transactions can be exchanged.
- For a current list of participating suppliers and details about the B2B standards, visit fcb2b.info.
Most RFMS customers run in hosted environments such as Azure, Isogent, or other managed virtual servers. These setups remove the need for an in-store server and provide consistent performance.
For on-premise installations, make sure all workstations that use E-Commerce can access the RFMS database and have an active internet connection.
The former requirement to designate a single "download workstation" was removed beginning in version 22.1 and no longer applies in current versions.
E-Commerce uses communication properties to identify each supplier, store, and ship-to location in your RFMS system.
These settings are manage under:
E-Commerce > Utilities > Setup > Communication Properties
Your RFMS Account Manager will help configure these during initial setup or when new supplier connections are added. Once configured, these properties enable automated data exchange for product catalogs, purchase orders, and invoices.
For full functionality, ensure that the following RFMS modules are active and properly configured:
- Products and Inventory - to receive and manage catalog data
-
Order Entry:
- Purchase Orders - to send and track supplier orders
- Receiving and Costing - to match shipments and invoices
- Accounting - to process electronic invoices
- (Optional) Reporting - to review E-Commerce activity and status
E-Commerce relies on these modules to process transactions from start to finish.
Before setting up E-Commerce, confirm that the following items are complete:
☑ You have an active RFMS subscription with the latest updates installed.
☑ You have administrator rights to access E-Commerce setup areas.
☑ Your workstation or hosted environment has internet access.
☑ Your suppliers are registered with FCB2B and have provided connection credentials.
☑ Communication properties have been configured with the help of your RFMS Account Manager.
☑ The Inventory, Products, and Purchase Order modules are active and accessible.
Next Steps
Once these requirements are confirmed, proceed to E-Commerce Activation to begin configuring your first supplier connection.
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