Toner Suppliers and SKUs

Where suppliers come in

When a printer runs low on toner, Plenix first tries to send a cartridge from your own stock (see How Toner Fulfilment Picks a Source).

If none is available, it orders one from a supplier instead. It can only do that if it knows which supplier sells the right cartridge for that printer. That's what a supplier SKU tells it.

What a supplier SKU is

A SKU links one printer model and toner colour to a supplier's product. It records:

• the printer model, as the printer reports it;
• the toner colour: black, cyan, magenta or yellow;
• the supplier's SKU code;
• the cost per unit.

A supplier can only have one SKU for each model and colour. If several suppliers can supply the same cartridge, one of them can be marked preferred.

How the supplier is chosen

1. The preferred SKU for that model and colour, if there is one.
2. If not, the cheapest SKU.

What happens when toner is ordered

1. The toner request is marked supplier ordered.
2. A purchase request is raised automatically. Its reference starts with TF- and its department is Managed Print. It's created already submitted, so it appears in your procurement queue.
3. The supplier is emailed "Toner Order Request — printer name", with the SKU code and a reference number.

When no SKU is set up

If Plenix can't find a supplier SKU for the printer's model and colour, it marks the request out of stock and opens a ticket. Nothing is ordered. Until that's fixed, source the toner another way, or allocate it from stock.

Getting suppliers and SKUs set up

At the moment, Plenix sets up suppliers and SKUs for you; there's no screen in your tenant for it. Contact Plenix support with:

• the supplier's name and the email address it takes orders at;
• for each cartridge: the printer model, the colour, the supplier's SKU code and the unit cost;
• which supplier is preferred, if more than one can supply the same cartridge.

The quickest way to get the exact model names is to send your list from Printers. Plenix matches SKUs using the model name each printer reports.

Where to go next

• How Toner Fulfilment Picks a Source
• Toner Allocation Queue
• Monitor Toner Levels