NCR RSD Atlanta 7710GA2 Electronic Pricing Transmitter User Manual Chapter 2

NCR Corporation, RSD - Atlanta Electronic Pricing Transmitter Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Pre-Installation Procedures
Overview of the Installation Process
This chapter provides an overview of the planning and installation
processes. The basic steps are:
• Survey the site and develop an installation plan based on the
customer’s needs
• Develop SmarTalker overlays
• Contract the purchase of SmarTalker mounting rails and clips, and
schedule labor for installation, or purchase SmarTalker II mounting
clips from NCR and schedule contract labor for clip installation
• Install the DecisioNet hardware and DecisioNet software
• Install the SmarTalker tags
• Validate the quality of installation
Note: This chapter provides an overview and does not contain every
detailed step for every installation. An NCR representative will work
with each customer to address every detail of a particular installation.
2
2-2 Pre-Installation Procedures
Phase 1: Survey Site and Plan the Installation
Once the customer has requested installation services, a number of
activities are required. These activities consist of gathering, recording,
and preparing information for presentation to the customers and the
DecisioNet support team. The information gathered is used to
formulate a strategy and identify the steps necessary to create a proper
environment for operation of the DecisioNet System.
Phase 1 consists of the following tasks:
• Meet with the customer to determine requirements
• Survey the site
• Develop Software Integration plan (pilot only)
• Determine overlay design (Refer to the next section, “Phase 2: Scan
the Site and Develop SmarTalker Overlays.”)
• Determine a Hardware Installation Plan. (This includes CBSs,
cabling, SmarTalkers, rails and clips, and all other related
hardware components.)
• Establish an Installation Schedule
• Prepare a site installation plan
• Confirm the schedule with Manufacturing
• Review the plan with the customer
Note: For more information on Phase 1 tasks, see your NCR
representative and reference the DecisioNet System Implementation
Guide (497-0002329). For more information on site certification, see
your NCR representative and reference the following documents:
• B005-0000-1138: DecisioNet Support Tools Reference Guide
(document)
• G370-1182-0000: EPL Implementation Package for Windows 95/NT
(disk media containing the EPL RF Certification Package)
Pre-Installation Procedures 2-3
• 497-0410343: Certification/Re-certification Site Survey Procedure
(to document site configuration for support purposes)
Phase 2: Scan the Site and Develop SmarTalker Overlays
During the pre-installation phase, NCR works with the customer to
design the paper overlays to be applied to the SmarTalker tags.
Customers determine what details (such as UPC numbers, bar codes,
re-order numbers, and product names) are to be printed on the
overlays. After scanning the customer’s existing price labels, NCR
provides the overlay supplier with a file containing:
• A list of PLU item numbers to be managed by the DecisioNet
System in each store.
• Product “location in the store” information. This position
information is used to sequence the SmarTalker tags for
installation.
• Overlay print data information.
• The supplier prints overlays that meet customer specifications and
applies an overlay to each tag. For more information, refer to
Chapter 9, “Loading the Pre-EPL File.”
2-4 Pre-Installation Procedures
Phase 3: Contract the Purchase of SmarTalker Mounting
Devices and Schedule Labor for Installation
Mounting rails are not part of the NCR-delivered system, but during
the pre-installation phase, customers are referred to a SmarTalker rail
supplier to begin the rail purchase process. Clips for SmarTalker II tags
are purchased from NCR, but they are installed by an outside
contractor. Keep these important points in mind:
• Consult the site survey developed during Phase 1 to determine
what type and quantity of mounting materials are needed.
• When choosing or recommending types of mounting materials for
a specific site, note that the primary considerations for customer
satisfaction are security, durability, and ease of maintenance.
For more information, refer to Chapter 10, “SmarTalker and Rail
Installation” or Chapter 11, “SmarTalker II and Rail Installation.”
Pre-Installation Procedures 2-5
Phase 4: Install the DecisioNet Software and Hardware
Infrastructure
The tasks in Phases 4 and 5 are often occurring in parallel but certain
infrastructure tasks must be completed before the SmarTalker tags can
be installed at a site. Phase 4 consists of the following tasks:
• Install the CBS infrastructure (Refer to Chapter 4, “Installing the
Hardware Infrastructure.”)
• Install Electrical outlets for CBS power supplies
• Install the CBS power cable to CBS(s)
• Install the communication cable from the EPL controller to the
RS-232/RS-422 Converter
• Install the CBS(s) and their antennas in the ceiling
• Install communication cables from the converter to first CBS
and from CBS to CBS
• Load DecisioNet software (Refer to Chapter 5, “DecisioNet
Software on a Windows NT System,” Chapter 6, “DecisioNet
Software on an NCR UNIX System,” or Chapter 7,“DecisioNet
Software on an SCO UNIX System.”)
• Use the EPL Administration application Base Hardware
Configuration screen to define the hardware CBS, power supply
and receive antenna configuration. (Refer to Chapter 8,
“Configuring the DecisioNet System Environment.”)
• Test the CBS and RF infrastructure (Refer to Chapter 12, “Testing
the System.”)
• Accomplish site certification. For more information on this
procedure, see an NCR representative and reference the
Certification/Re-certification Site Survey Procedure (497-0410343).
2-6 Pre-Installation Procedures
Phase 5: Install the SmarTalker Tags
Although physical placement of the SmarTalker tags is one of the last
tasks to be completed, preparation is occurring in parallel with Phase 4
of the installation. The SmarTalker installation consists of the
following tasks:
• Develop a pre-EPL file in cooperation with the overlay supplier
(Refer to “Phase 2: Scan the Site and Develop SmarTalker
Overlays” in this chapter, and Chapter 10, “SmarTalker and Rail
Installation” or Chapter 11, “SmarTalker II and Rail Installation.”)
• Install the SmarTalker rails and clips according to instructions
provided by the manufacturer.
• Install the SmarTalker tags (Refer to Chapter 10, “SmarTalker and
Rail Installation” or Chapter 11, “SmarTalker II and Rail
Installation.”)
• Load the pre-EPL file and initialize the SmarTalker tags (Refer to
Chapter 9, “Loading the Pre-EPL File.”)
Phase 6: Validate Quality of the Installation
The final phase of the installation process is to ensure the quality of the
installation. Refer to Chapter 12, “Testing the System.”
Pre-Installation Procedures 2-7
Example List of Install Tasks
The install process can be broken into distinct functions, but the
execution of these tasks must be carefully choreographed. The
following list gives an example of typical tasks. This manual explains
procedures involving software and hardware installation and testing.
For detailed information on tasks involving project planning, such as
site surveys, see your NCR representative and reference the DecisioNet
System Implementation Guide (497-0002329).
• Site requirements review meeting
• Survey the site to determine store square footage, types of shelving
in existence, types of POS applications used, number of PLU items,
etc.
• POS integration (1st site only)
• DecisioNet software configuration and customization (1st site only)
• Overlay print engine integration (1st site only)
• In aisle Radio Frequency (RF) handheld integration (1st site only)
• Coordinate contractor labor
• Planning meeting and overlay layout
• Scanning equipment arrives at site
• Scan product for EPL data
• Process scan data and send to overlay supplier
• Load EPL Software Base
• Electrical/data cable routing
• Install RS-422 adapter
• CBS and antenna mounting
2-8 Pre-Installation Procedures
• Test RF components and certify the site. For more information on
site certification, contact your NCR representative and reference
the following documents:
• B005-0000-1138: DecisioNet Support Tools Reference Guide
(document)
• G370-1182-0000: EPL Implementation Package for Windows 95/NT
(disk media containing the EPL RF Certification Package)
• 497-0410343: Certification/Re-certification Site Survey Procedure
(to document site configuration for support purposes)
• SmarTalker tags, pre-EPL file from overlay supplier, and
SmarTalker rails and clips arrive at site
• Load pre-EPL table to initialize the SmarTalker tags
• Install SmarTalker rails and clips
• Install SmarTalker tags
• Quality control meeting
• Post install training

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