Broadcasting and Cable Solutions

Spotdata Electronic Invoicing (EI)

Read about Spotdata Electronic Invoicing (EI):

• Who uses EI?
• How will EI help me?
• How does EI work?
• If I sign up for EI, how much will it cost me to send my invoices?
• What are the Software Requirements?
• How do I Prepare for Spotdata EI?
• How do I know my data is secure?
• Okay, I'm interested! How do I get started?

Who uses EI?
EI is for all broadcasting and cable companies regardless of thetraffic system the station is using. To facilitate industry participation,we have published an open standardfor all traffic system vendors. Vendors will configure their media systemsto produce the invoice file format necessary for electronic invoicing andthe web delivery of invoices to agencies.

How will EI help me?
Business Managers
EI makes it easy for a business manager to send invoices to advertisingagencies and media buying services.

Sales Managers
With EI,you make it easier for agencies to do businesswith you. Your LOCAL agnecies can also sign up and receive electronic invoices as well as your National agnecies.

General Managers
Identify your station as a leader and innovator in the business ofElectronic Commerce.

EI means . . .

• National and Local Agency Participation
  EI is designed to support national and local agency participation. Broadcasting and cable companies send their invoices to the industry clearinghouse located at the Imagine Communications Operations Center for delivery to participating agencies.
• Fewer Data Entry Errors
  Invoice data is delivered electronically from the traffic system to the agency accounting system, which means no re-keying of data. Data entry errors are eliminated.
• Improved Agency Relationships
  With the elimination of data entry errors, discrepancies disappear, making for a smoother agency/station relationship.
• Faster Reconciliation
  With the electronic delivery of invoice data, agencies will be able to shorten the reconciliation process.
• Timely Payments to Stations
  EI means faster delivery of invoices to agencies, faster entry of invoices into the agency system, and the elimination of data entry errors. All of this potentially means stations will get paid faster.
• Paperless Environment
  EI opens the doors to an entirely paperless environment! No more printing, stuffing, or mailing.

How does EI work?
EI works in conjunction with your current traffic system to createinvoice files during your normal billing run. The invoice files arethen sent to our industry clearinghouse located at the Imagine Communications OperationsCenter. Once the invoice files are received at the Operations Center,they are sorted by agency. An email is sent to each agencynotifying them that their invoices are ready for download.

Using the user ID and password assigned to them during thesign-up process, the agency logs into the Subscribers Only area ofspotdata.com and downloads their invoices. The subscriber is also able toview and print their invoices from their web browser.

If I sign up for EI, how much will it cost me to send my invoices?
You will be billed $1 for every invoice sent to agencies.

What are the Software Requirements?
Traffic system requirements

• Contact your traffic system vendor.

• Invoice data cannot include semi-colon (;) characters.

How do I prepare for Spotdata EI?

• Familiarize yourself with your traffic system's electronic invoice features. (Your traffic system vendor should provide documentation.)
• Insert the Industry Data Base (IDB) number for all participating agencies into your traffic system agency records. (You will receive a list of participating agencies and their associated IDB numbers as part of the installation process. Please note that this list is subject to change. EI functions only with those agencies participating in electronic invoicing.)
• It may be necessary to transmit a test invoice to verify that the process is operational.

You are now ready to send electronic invoices!

How do I know my data is secure?
You can be assured that your data is secure. EI encrypts transmissionsto the industry clearinghouse and notifies the station once the data reaches the clearinghouse.

Just insert the Industry Data Base (IDB) number for each participatingagency into your traffic system and your invoices will be sent to the properagency. Only users from the designated agency will be able to view your invoices.

• A firewall protects the invoice data in the industry clearinghouse.
• We control access to the invoice download area of the web site and delivery of invoices to the proper agency by verifying the user's password every time the user logs into the secure area.
• Secure Internet protocols (HTTPS and SSL) ensure that the data is encrypted when transmitted over public Internet connections.

Okay, I'm interested! How do I get started?
To receive the benefits of electronic invoicing, select Sign Up to begin the sign-up process.

If you want more information before you sign up, you can Request More Information.