Features

PICE's state of the art Internet-based credit exchange has many useful features, which are described below. Online Help. PICE recognizes that credit people are busy people, with little time to spend learning a new system. For this reason, the PICE credit exchange was designed so that even a novice can begin using it quickly, with little or no training. Help is abundant throughout the program, either on screen or accessible by a mouse click. Each user can set an experience level that determines the amount of help that appears on each screen, and the experience level can be changed as desired. Each data entry field has its own easily accessed help text, and colored icons explain each action. Clear and easy to read screens make the system a pleasure to use, encouraging maximum participation. Flexibility. Some users may wish to be notified of flash reports, credit inquiries or responses when they log in, while some may prefer to receive these notifications via their regular e-mail. This system allows each user to choose his or her own preference. Searching Options. There is a variety of searching options; not only name and address but even your own customer account number, once you’ve entered it into the system. Supplying Information. Furnishing account information is a requirement of membership, and PICE system makes it easy to do so. Information may be supplied in response to an inquiry or furnished through flash reports. Some members may prefer the ease and convenience of furnishing monthly aging reports. For those members the system will accept the data in a variety of formats, even an Excel file. Our Technical Support Report representative is available to discuss the format with you. Viewing Information. With a clear and easy to read report format, information can be viewed or printed. Reports can be viewed or printed either in detail or summary, and a printer friendly format avoids any unnecessary logos, pictures or text. Online Member Directory. Keeping in touch with your fellow members is made easy through the on line member information. View the member listing to get contact names and phone numbers, e-mail addresses and a host of other information about the company. Subgroups. If a segment of the membership finds it has its own core of mutual accounts, and this data is not applicable to the rest of the membership, that segment can elect to become a subgroup. This enables them to enjoy the benefits of membership, including the credit exchange, while focusing on their specific account information needs.

Additional Detail: Credit Features

	Checking for an existing account with a similar name is required before a member is permitted to create a new account. (Administrative approval is also required before a new account is added to the system.)

	Sharing of data with other groups is facilitated.

	There is unlimited free credit request reports. (Groups can choose to charge for excessive report usage if they desire.)

	Both long and short format reports are available.

	Flash reports allow both checkbox selection of reasons and member requests from a preapproved list.

	Credit reports include the options of: (1) returning only information currently on the system; or (2) polling subgroup members where appropriate.

	For some categories of flash reports, the user is allowed to specify details. (For example, chapter and case number for a bankruptcy, total amount and disputed amount for collections, etc.)

	The system administrator controls additions and deletions of accounts.

Additional Detail: Usability Features

	Color coded icons take the user easily to screens for creating experience, flash, or past due reports for an account.

	Multiple trade tape formats (comma delimited, Access, Excel, SDF, etc.) are permitted.

	Expanded member information is provided.

	A member can choose to receive an email whenever a credit request or flash report is made on any of their accounts.

	A member can opt to receive a daily summary of all credit requests, experience responses, or flash reports. These emails can include data for all accounts or only for accounts of that member.

	Members can send email messages to each other.

	Members can use their own internal account numbers to look up account information.

	DUNS, Federal Tax ID, and SIC information can be entered and tracked for an account. Searches cane be done using these criteria.

	A basic menu bar -- with only the most commonly used functions -- keeps the system simple to use.

	Account search results screens allow members to easily create a credit request, flash report, past due report, or enter credit experience for any displayed account. To begin, a user simply clicks on a color-coded icon.

	The system provides visual notification of existing flash reports when doing a credit search.

Additional Details: Appearance Features

	The system includes no banners, graphics, or other extraneous items, thus saving time and paper.

	Each user can customize their screens by choosing screen colors and fonts from a list.

	There is a "meeting report" list that flags accounts that PICE members wish to discuss at the next semiannual meeting.

Additional Details: Customization Features

	Member Subgroups - Members doing business with related customer bases are permitted to direct some requests and information exchanges only to other members in their subgroup.

	Private Account Experience Table - Members can control the release of some sensitive information by blocking their ID (i.e. who provided the data). Or the data itself can be blocked by the member and only released on a case-by-case basis.

	A member can edit any information they submitted to the system.

	The system permits multiple users per member company.

	It is easy for members to update their own profile information.