AGIIS uses address standardization software to return potential match candidates in an Add or Update request. The software selects potential candidates for a match, and if there is more than one, a prioritization process is used to determine the best match. The prioritization match criteria follow:
An AGIIS subscriber pointed out that the match returned was sometimes that of an inactive entity, yet the return file provided an active, replacement GLN to the inactive entity. To eliminate manual research, the subscriber requested that AGIIS simply return the active entity GLN in the return file.
With this enhancement, the “Active” status of an entity was incorporated into the existing prioritization criteria. Now, if multiple records are identified as a match, AGIIS will place a higher priority on an Active entity over that of an inactive entity.
On Saturday, November 23, 2019, AGIIS was enhanced to include Representational State Transfer (REST) API to support both Entity and Product Lookup functionality.
Subscribers wishing to utilize the REST services should contact Member Services to obtain user login credentials.
Swagger documentation has been added to the Links menu in AGIIS underneath the Tech Tools sub-menu, by clicking on the Rest Web Services link. Swagger is a set of rules or specifications for a format describing REST APIs. The format is both machine-readable and human-readable, therefore can be used to share documentation among product managers, testers and developers, but can also be used by various tools to automate API-related processes.
The following Swagger resource guide will help users who want to test basic REST functionality.
Swagger Resource Guide
For more detailed testing and implementation, users can also use Postman. Download Postman HERE. Below is a helpful resource guide to help users implement this testing resource.
Postman Resource Guide
This enhancement is a recommendation of the 2018 Post Deduplication Analysis. Each year the AGIIS Member Services team performs an analysis of the Annual De-duplication process and looks for improvements in the process. This year the team identified a legacy business rule (The Master EBID Rule) that was no longer applicable to the De-duplication process. The rule was harboring potential duplicate sets in the AGIIS system.
The EBID Mater Rule was created to prevent EBID's from being replaced by an entity that does not have an EBID in the Annual Deduplication process. This rule only applied during the Annual Deduplication process. The legacy rule was established when EBID identifiers were being populated with Duns Plus Four Numbers and GLN's were based on a GS1 Prefix (like they are today). At that time the rule was more pertinent because there would be situations where an entity with an EBID and GLN were going to be replaced by an entity with only a GLN. If that entity with an EBID was replaced it was not an absolute that the Duns number value would stay the same without confirming with D&B so that is why the decision was made to exempt these entities from the Annual Dedupe process.
Over the past several years the system and process has evolved to meet Subscribers needs and the benefits of the Master EBID Rule has declined and, in many cases, causing a negative impact to AGIIS by harboring duplicates. One of the major changes is the value of the identifier's has changed to be the same value (EBID's and GLN's are both based on the GS1 Prefix and are always the same value). It is also important to point out that over the last 5 years the Directory Oversight Committee has made many improvements to the Annual Dedupe process and the system in general to prevent duplicates from entering the system, but the Master EBID Rule is preventing entities from even being considered to be evaluated during the Annual Dedupe.
This Enhancement will be in place for the 2019 Annual Deduplication process and the impact of improvement will be measured in the 2019 Post Deduplication Analysis.
On Saturday, June 29, 2019, AGIIS was enhanced to incorporate several web interface features and modifications. These changes were suggested by subscribers as part of the AGIIS modernization initiative.
Several physical changes were made to the AGIIS search page. First, the Identifier Search field has been moved from the bottom of the page to the top. Additionally, the "Identifier Value" search field has been simplified by modifying the search logic to consider all identifiers (GLN and EBID) and removing the associated identifier drop down box.
By default, the search includes both EBID's and GLN's as shown below in the, "Include Entities having" section. To modify this criterion, simply check or un-check these boxes to fit your search criteria.
This "Identifier Value(s)" field now also allows for multiple identifiers to be searched by separating each with a comma.
Results containing just one entity will be presented on the Entity View page. Multiple results will appear on the Entity List page as shown below.
Another new search feature is the ability to use a wild card when performing a Prop Code search. In the example below, a search is being performed to return all entities that are cross-referenced to the subscriber beginning with the value, "724940".
Because there are multiple returns, the results appear on the Entity List page. A single return would appear on the Entity View page. In the image below, AGIIS returned all entities that are cross-referenced to the subscriber that begin with the value, "724940".
Another new feature is the addition of Google search help. Two new Google icons, map search and web search, have been added to the Entity Search and Entity Add/Update/Activation pages. Because not all addresses are deliverable or are able to be standardized by the United States Postal Service, this feature has been incorporated to help validate an address.
The Google Maps icon will locate the address within Google Maps based on the address, city, state and postal code entered, as shown in the images below.
With a name and address entered, pressing the Google Search button will perform a web search using both name and address as shown in the two images below.
Lastly, search logic is being updated to perform a search on both address lines 1 and 2, of both physical and mailing addresses. Today, the search is performed using address line 1. This will better help locate entities that may have an "In care of" name in address line 1 and the street address in line 2.
If you have any questions regarding the upcoming release, please contact Member Services at Member.Services@AgGateway.org, or call (866) 251-8618.
Product Search, Inactivation/Deletion Enhancement - PCR #219
The Product Search, Inactivation/Deletion Enhancement provides product manufacturers the ability to search AGIIS for products by primary category, variety/hybrid or product ID to perform a mass deactivation or deletion. Based on the input criteria, a list of products is displayed for review. This list allows users to remove one or more products from consideration prior to performing a mass deactivation or deletion. The following images outline the steps to utilize this new functionality. In this example we are performing a mass deletion.
From the Company View page, click ”Update Information“.
The Company Update page below is displayed. Click on, "Mass Deactivation/Delete".
The Mass Deactivation/Delete Page below is displayed. This page allows you to review a product subset based on your input criteria and allows you to remove one or more products from consideration prior to performing the mass deletion.
You must choose to either Deactivate or Delete using the "Operation" radio buttons. Deleting a product will take it out of AGIIS altogether, while deactivating a product will keep the product in AGIIS, but in an "Inactive" status.
Choose either "Last Verified" or "Last Modified" to delete products last verified or last modified prior to the date entered.
Choose to see all products or those under a primary category by clicking one of the Primary Category radio buttons.
A product identifier can be entered into the Product Identifier field to review products under a specific product ID. Likewise, a Variety/Hybrid can be entered to mass deactivate or delete products matching the variety/hybrid entered. In this example, we are leaving these fields blank.
Once all information is entered, click on the "Search" button.
The page below shows all of the products that matched the input criteria. Notice there are several products highlighted in yellow. These products are in another subscriber's product subset and can't be deleted until the subscriber removes these products from their subset. When performing a Deactivation, this rule does not apply.
Clicking on the hyperlink in the "Subscriber Subsets" column will display a page similar to the one below. The subscriber(s), along with the email address of their company contact, and the Product GTIN is displayed. This information is provided so that you can contact the subscriber and request they remove the product from their subset.
To remove one or more products from being deleted, check the appropriate box the "Remove" column and click on the, "Remove Selected Items from Results" button. It is not necessary to remove those products highlighted in yellow as they are exempted from being deleted.
Once the product grid contains only those products you wish to delete, click on the "Delete" button. In this example, there are two remaining products eligible for deletion.
Finally, a confirmation page displays providing the number of products deleted.
CSV EBID/GLN Entity Subset Extract Creation Enhancement - PCR #220
The CSV EBID/GLN Entity Subset Extract Creation enhancement provides AGIIS subscribers the ability to generate a full entity subset extract in a CSV file format. Other format options are XML and fixed length text.
To schedule an EBID or GLN subset extract in the new CSV file format, hover over the "Files" menu in AGIIS and click on, "Schedule Extracts". The following page appears. Click on the, "Request Entity Subset Extract" button.
On the following page, choose either EBID or GLN Subset from the Subset Type drop down menu. Choose, "CSV" from the Extract Format drop down menu. Click, "Submit". You will be notified via email once the extract is complete.
Below is a link to the CSV Entity subset extract file layout.
CSV Entity Subset Extract File Layout
A complete set of release notes for both enhancements will be sent out on Monday, April 22, 2019. If you have any questions, please contact Member Services at Member.Services@AgGateway.org, or call (866) 251-8618.
Release Notes
[PDF] 2021
[PDF] 2020
[PDF] 2019
[PDF] 2018
[PDF] 2017
[PDF] 2016
[PDF] 2015
[PDF] 2104
[PDF] 2013
[PDF] 2012
[PDF] 2011
[PDF] 2010
[PDF] 2009
[PDF] 2008