Overview
This document gives an in-depth look at the AlarmBiller to Manitou Integration. This is one direction only right now.
For compatible versions and a quick look at functionality, please refer to the Release Strategy Document.
AlarmBiller to Manitou
The integration from AlarmBiller to Manitou allows new customer site/systems in AlarmBiller to be either pushed or linked to Manitou. This reduces the amount of data entry that is required as well as allows AlarmBiller to view information from Manitou and put accounts On-Test.
There is currently not an integration to push Manitou customers into AlarmBiller. This is simply an integration to help initial data entry efficiency currently.
Setup
We have the option to use either Individual User authentication or Dealer Level authentication. This will be something each Central Station will need to understand and decide.
User Level = each AB user would need their own Manitou BNN webmembership user and would have to do the setup in AB.
Dealer Level = only one Manitou BNN webmembership user needs to be created and can be configured in one place.
Manitou BoldNet users can exist on multiple entities. For example, the same user can be on two different dealers. This configuration is NOT supported by the AB to Manitou integration at this time. The Manitou user must be in a unique context.
Host Portal
We suggest that the Host Setup > Third Party Services be set up to allow both.
These should not have a default URL and they should not be enabled for all dealers.
Then in the Individual Dealer in the Host portal under the Services tab, you can enable whichever one the customer wants to use.
Dealer Portal
After this, Dealer can then navigate to setup, central stations, and add a central station for Manitou (if not already added), ensuring that the service selected for the Manitou Central Station is the desired option we enabled for them.
If a customer is using Dealer level authentication, add the username and password here.
The URL should be set to their BoldNet base path. This is NOT the /manitou path that we use to access the BNN Client. But you can test to make sure that it is accessible.
Important! The URL in AlarmBiller MUST have the trailing / at the end of the URL. You will be able to get an OAUTH token (validate the connection) but it will not pull data correctly.
If they are using User Level authentication, then each user will then need to click on their username up top and, in the services area below their user information, add a new record for Manitou, entering the Username and Password utilized to login to Boldnet Webmembership user. This step will need to be completed by each user that would like to utilize the integration
Using the Integration
All major functionality exists at the AB System level. This will explain how you can use this integration to:
- Link to existing Manitou Customers
- Push a new Manitou Customer
Linking Existing Customers
First, you want to identify the Manitou Customer you’ll want to link to the AlarmBiller site. In Manitou, identify the customer. You’ll want to take note of the Customer ID field.
Then, identify the System in Manitou. You’ll want to also take note of System No.
In AlarmBiller, navigate to the System you want to link to Manitou. In order to make the link, the System must be associated with a Manitou-enabled Central Station by hitting edit on the system and selecting the Manitou option in the central station field.
In the next screen, select the “Link” option
In the resulting form, fill the Customer ID and the System No from Manitou respectively into the Customer Number and Account Number fields. Click Ok when you’re done.
After the System saves the integration, you’ll notice two things: First, the Ext. Customer # and Account Number show under the Central Station field; second, there is a new tab that corresponds to your Manitou-enabled central station (here, it’s called “Bold”). Clicking the new tab will show you the linked information.
The Details tab shows you the basic information about the account: the name, address, etc. of the Manitou Customer. Likewise, from here you can activate or deactivate Test Mode (Out of Service). On this and the rest of the integration tabs, the ‘circled-I’ icon in the bottom right will show additional information that isn’t shown directly in AlarmBiller.
The Contacts tab will show you the Contact List in Manitou.
The Zones tab will show you the zones for that System.
The History tab will show you the history for that Customer.
Since this process requires linking the AlarmBiller Site and System, you’ll notice a new tab on the Customer System view. Under the Utilities tab, we’ve added an ‘External’ tab (visible only to Administrator Users). This tab shows the linkage to the Manitou Customer, and can, at a future date, show other integrations with this record. Deleting this record will render your integrations with this Site (and its Systems) inoperative, so only delete it if you’re sure you no longer wish to have this Site and its Systems integrated with Manitou.
If you try to link additional systems attached to this site, the Link/Add window will prepopulate the Customer Number field, you will just need the account number to add
Adding New Customers
If you’d like to add a new customer and system, click “Add” on the Link/Add window instead.
Like our other Central Station integrations, you’ll be able to fill out a form to send the Customer and System to Manitou. Customer Number is directly associated with the Customer ID in Manitou. You will then want to make sure you select the proper system type, dealer, and monitor type for the system that will be created in Manitou. Once you’re done, click “Ok.”
The Contacts and Zones pulls from the AlarmBiller System level Call List and Zones. Populate those before creating the Manitou account through the integration if you want them to be pushed over.
Once it’s saved, you’ll see that the System now shows the Ext. Customer # and Account Number under the Central Station (like it does with the Link), and the Central Station tab (here called “Bold”).
You’ll see the same information provided from linking on the Integration Tabs after adding:
(No history is shown when adding because there’s no history on a customer and system that was just added in Manitou yet)
If you want to push more Systems for this Site, just follow the same steps as before. The Customer Number will already be filled in for you.
You’ll see in Manitou that your customer has been added (AlarmBiller Site)
And it’s Systems (AlarmBiller’s Systems)
DataFlow Diagram
AlarmBiller lets you link your Customer’s Site/Systems to a corresponding Customer/System in Manitou. You may either link to an existing System, or you may push your Systems from AlarmBiller into Manitou.
Field to Field Mapping
This provides a quick look at what fields can be expected as part of this integration.
AB Site/ Manitou Customer Mapping
|
Manitou |
AlarmBiller |
|
Dealer |
Available to determine upon push |
|
Time Zone |
Available to determine upon push |
|
Customer ID |
Available to determine upon push |
|
Name |
AB Customer Name (can be edited on push) |
|
Customer Address |
Site Address |
System Mapping
|
Manitou |
AlarmBiller |
|
System No |
System Number |
|
Description |
System Name |
|
System Type |
Available to determine upon push |
|
Monitoring Service |
Available to determine upon push |
|
Passcode |
Available to determine upon push |
Contact Mapping
|
Manitou |
AlarmBiller |
|
Order |
Sort Order |
|
Name |
First/Last Name |
|
Password |
Passcode |
|
Type |
Available to determine upon push |
|
Phone |
Phone |
|
|
|
Zones Mapping
|
Manitou |
AlarmBiller |
|
ID |
Zone Number |
|
Description |
Description |
|
Area |
Always pushed over as “*” |
Questions
Q: Can I add one system and link another?
A: Yes. You may add additional Systems after a System has been linked; likewise, you may add additional Systems in Manitou and link them to AlarmBiller Systems after initially pushing the Customer/System through AlarmBiller.
Q: Can I associate a System with a different Manitou Customer than the other Systems for that Site.
A: No. Each AlarmBiller Site must correspond to a Manitou Customer, and its Systems correspond to a Manitou System.
