PunchOut via the IDS-Connect Gateway | Create OCI and cXML PunchOut Catalogues | PunchCommerce ![](//analytics.punchcommerce.de/matomo.php?idsite=1&rec=1) PunchOut via the IDS-Connect Gateway ==================================== What is IDS Connect? -------------------- IDS Connect is the standardised interface protocol for the German wholesale trade - particularly in the sanitary, heating, air conditioning (SHAC) and electrical sectors. It enables trade businesses and specialist companies to search for and select products in a supplier's catalogue directly from their industry software and add them to their own shopping basket. In contrast to OCI (SAP environment) and cXML (Ariba, Coupa), IDS Connect is specially tailored to the requirements of technical wholesalers in Germany. **New:** PunchCommerce now supports IDS Connect as a fully-fledged PunchOut protocol in gateway mode. --- How does the IDS Connect Gateway work? -------------------------------------- In gateway mode, PunchCommerce acts as a bridge between your customer's industry software and your existing online shop: 1. **Call:** The buyer starts the PunchOut from their industry software (e.g. an ERP or merchandise management system with IDS Connect support). 2 **Forwarding:** PunchCommerce receives the IDS Connect request and forwards the buyer to your shop. 3 **Product selection:** The shopper browses your shop, selects products and adds them to the basket. 4 **Return:** On completion, PunchCommerce transfers the shopping basket back to the industry software in IDS Connect format - including all relevant product data. --- Supported IDS Connect actions ----------------------------- The IDS interface (version 2.5) defines seven actions. PunchCommerce supports all actions with the exception of **Send heating label (HLS)**. Action CodeActionSupportedDescription`WKE`Receive shopping basket✅Transfer a shopping basket from the shop to the trade software.`WKS`Send shopping basket✅Transferring a shopping basket from the trade software to the shop.`ADL`Article deeplink✅Call up an article detail page in the shop using the wholesale article number.`AS`Article search✅Call up the article search in the shop with search term transfer and return of the selected articles.`LI`Login information✅Query which login parameters (customer number, user name, password) are required by the shop.`SV`Interface version✅Query the supported versions of the IDS interface.`HLS`Send heating label❌Transmission of an article list to a platform for calculating the ErP composite label for heating systems.### Why is send heating label not supported? The 'HLS' action is used to transfer article lists to an external platform for calculating ErP energy labels for combined systems (heating, hot water, combi). This function requires a specialised calculation platform and is outside the PunchOut catalogue context. --- Supported shop systems ---------------------- IDS Connect in gateway mode works with all PunchCommerce plugins: - Shopware 6 - Shopware 5 - Magento (Adobe Commerce) - Spryker - JTL Shop - Vendure - Medusa IDS Connect can also be implemented with individual shop or catalogue solutions via the PunchCommerce API. --- Setup ----- ### 1. install and connect plugin If not already done: Install the PunchCommerce plugin in your shop system and connect it to your PunchCommerce account. Instructions can be found in the respective plugin documentation. ### 2. create new customer Create a new customer in PunchCommerce and select **IDS Connect** as the protocol. ### 3. configure connection data Enter the IDS Connect-specific parameters that you have received from your customer. These include, among others: - **HOOK-URL:** The return address to which the shopping basket is sent back after the PunchOut has been completed. - **Customer number / user name / password:** The access data for automatic login to the shop. You can see the exact fields directly in the configuration mask. ### 4. check field mapping Use the field mapping to assign your shop attributes (e.g. EAN, article number, short text) to the corresponding IDS Connect fields. PunchCommerce provides sensible default values - in many cases, no customisation is necessary here. If a mandatory field in your shop is not filled in, the configured fallback value automatically takes effect. ### 5. test connection Use the integrated **PunchOut simulator** to test the IDS Connect connection - without having to wait for your customer's IT department. The simulator shows you which data is transferred and whether the configuration is correct. --- Technical details ----------------- ### Data transmission IDS Connect uses HTTP-POST with `multipart/form-data` as encoding. The shopping basket data is transferred as an XML structure in the `shopping basket` parameter. The character set is specified in the XML declaration - the default is UTF-8. ### Interface version PunchCommerce supports the IDS interface in version 2.5. The supported versions can be queried via the action code `SV`. ### Back communication The return transfer of the shopping basket to the trade software takes place via the HOOK URL transferred during the call - analogue to the OCI interface. --- Frequently asked questions -------------------------- ### What distinguishes IDS Connect from OCI and cXML? OCI is the standard for SAP procurement systems, cXML is used in global procurement networks such as Ariba or Coupa. IDS Connect was developed specifically for the German specialised wholesale trade and is geared towards the requirements of tradesman software and industry solutions in the HVAC and electrical sectors. ### Can I use IDS Connect and other protocols in parallel? Yes, PunchCommerce supports OCI, cXML and IDS Connect at the same time. You can specify which protocol is used for each customer individually. ### Do I need a different plugin for IDS Connect? No. The existing PunchCommerce plugins support all three protocols. If your plugin is already installed, you can use IDS Connect immediately - no additional installation required. [ PunchCommerce® ist ein Produkt der ![Netzdirektion GmbH](https://www.punchcommerce.de/static/netzdirektion-logo.png "PunchCommerce® ist ein Produkt der netzdirektion | Gesellschaft für digitale Wertarbeit mbH") ](https://netzdirektion.de) [Give feedback now - your opinion helps us to become even better!](https://easy-feedback.de/umfrage/1883200/5FuM95 "Your opinion helps us to become even better!")