<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Vehicles > V-8 Vehicle Uploads > Technical Details and Custom Uploads information

Uploads in Frazer

 

One of the questions that Frazer’s customer service representatives often get asked is whether Frazer can “auto-update” or “feed” to a dealer’s website. The answer is a resounding “Yes.” This guide will provide you the basics for how our uploads work and hopefully answer any questions you may have.

 

Understanding how Frazer’s vehicle uploads work

 

Frazer’s vehicle uploads rely on a fairly simple process. Processing an upload takes a snapshot of your inventory data, converts that data into a “.csv” or “.txt” file type and then transmits that file via FTP (or File Transfer Protocol). This file resembles a spreadsheet. If you have ever worked with one of Frazer’s customer service representatives on an upload issue, you may have even seen the rep open this file in a spreadsheet program on your computer (such as Microsoft Excel or any other open source spreadsheet program).

 

This spreadsheet file is then received on the vendor’s servers awaiting processing. Processing, in its simplest form, is when the vendor takes that spreadsheet and then converts it into your website listings in accordance with whatever your current templates stipulate. Sound confusing? Maybe a picture will help. (See screenshot on next page.)

 

The vehicle upload life cycle within Frazer. Vehicles in inventory are automatically processed and converted to a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is transferred over the internet using FTP or SFTP (Secure FTP) and then finally decoded and displayed on the vendor’s site.

 

This is the basic cycle whether you use an already partnered vendor OR a custom upload to a site you have built yourself. (More on that next!)

 

 

Uploading to an existing partner

 

Frazer has partnerships with many companies that offer dealership websites exclusively or as part of an available package (as well as various other listings type sites). For a more complete list of companies available to you check out: Frazer.com/integrations/

 

You may also navigate to Inventory > Vehicle Uploads or Vehicles > 8 – Vehicle Uploads for a list of available vendors.

 

The vendors listed here are already configured to work seamlessly with Frazer. Once an upload is processed automatically (or manually), the file is sent to the vendor and the vendor knows just what to do with it as each vendor has worked with Frazer to get their exact specifications programmed.

 

Custom Uploads

 

At this point you may be saying to yourself, this is great “stuff” to know, but what if the vendor I have my website through isn’t partnered with Frazer? Great question, and fortunately Frazer has a solution for that!

 

If you happened to scroll the list of possible vendors in-software, you may have noticed a series of four custom uploads that you can set up. Setting up a custom upload will require communication with the vendor or person who you have hosting or creating your website. The “feed” process will be exactly the same as a pre-configured partner, but will require you to input the finer details in the appropriate fields yourself.
 

Let’s go through the tabs one-by-one.
 
The FTP Server and File Details tab

 

On this tab you will need to work with your vendor to input all of the necessary information so that Frazer can find your vendor’s server and deposit the file on it. You will need to include information such as where the file should be sent, the Username and Password for the remote server, the file name and type of file to send, as well as how Photos should be handled.

 

 

Fields Selected for Upload

 

On this tab, you will select exactly what information should be sent to the vendor (and subsequently included on your website.) This tab is fairly straight-forward. Check the boxes for the information you would like sent with each vehicle.

 

 

Customization Options

 

This tab derives from previous requests Frazer has received in regards to vehicle uploads. Most of these options would be in-use at the request of your vendor. Frazer does not recommend changing anything on this screen without first verifying that it is necessary.

 

Items on this screen, that may concern you (and not the vendor) are included in the “Miscellaneous” box.

 

 

I did not quite catch what it is my custom upload vendor needs to do to update my website automatically.

 

This is where having a custom site can get tricky. Whereas Frazer has set up feeds to vendors that can process our spreadsheet file; YOUR vendor will need to set something up to do the same exact thing.
 
Your vendor will be tasked with creating your templates as well as the decoder to turn your Frazer generated spreadsheet into Vehicle Display pages. Frazer recommends sharing this document with your site provider and if need be reach out to Frazer’s customer service team at 888-963-5369 to learn more and/or to receive a sample file that your provider can work with.