With the DistributorCentral order system, each Distributor and Supplier has access to a proofing system.
A Distributor or Supplier can upload proofs to any order in DC and send those through the system to the Distributor from the Supplier or to the Customer from the Distributor.
The proof should be uploaded to the order as a pdf file. Once it is sent to the Customer (in the Distributors case) or the Distributor (in the Suppliers case), that customer has the capability to send an approval, comments or even ask for changes and a new proof.
The typical proof process works like this:
1. The Customer or the Distributor enters the order requesting a proof and artwork and sends it to the Supplier through DC
2. When the Supplier receives the order, their graphics department creates the art and either uploads the art to DC or they send the art to the Distributor.
If they upload the art to the DC order, the Distributor will receive a notification to view the proof.
If they send the art to the Distributor directly, the Distributor can go to the order and upload it to the order in their account.
3. Once the proof is attached to the order, the Distributor can send a notification to the customer to view and approve the proof back to them (the Distributor)
To send the proof to your customer, click on the #1 in the Order Summary in the image above, then click on Send to Customer in the below image.
4. When the customer has approved the proof, the Distributor gets a notification email and they can log in and approve the proof to the Supplier.
5. Once the Distributor has approved the proof, the Supplier gets a proof notification email as well.
If the Distributor has entered the proof themselves, they would need to email the proof notification of approval to the Supplier that is not using the DC system.
Below are key notes to remember:
The Distributor will need to take action to send the proof to the customer and then to also approve the proof to the Supplier.
Once a proof is uploaded to an order, it stays with that order unless it is deleted.
A Distributor can upload a new proof if changes are needed.
A customer can access the proof if the Distributor allows them to log into the My Account area of the Distributors website. See this Guide regarding Customer Order Tracking.
If the Distributor forwards the proof notification email from the Supplier directly to their customer, when the customer approves the proof, the notification would go directly back to the Supplier.
