The Virtual Office is your online resource for ordering from the Allied Group. This user guide covers the main features of order entry and aims to provide users with a comprehensive overview of system use. For further information, please contact your Sales Representative.
Overview
Information for users on how to search for items, manage shopping carts and address books, place your order and view your order history.
Home
The home page is your entry point to the Virtual Office. From here you will be able to place orders, track shipments and access any account specific functions.
Account Message
The account message appears on the home screen. This message displays both system wide information, such as maintenance shutdowns or holiday shipping information, as well as any account related messages.
Account Specific Links
Optional functions available to your account will appear on the home page. These include such things as business cards, digital customer printing, or any custom apps for your account.
Place an Order
To place an order in the Virtual Office you can browse
through the catalog sections or search for an item.
Catalog sections are listed on the left side of the screen. Selecting a section will list the items to the right. You can change the quantity and place the item in your cart from here.
Search
To search for an item enter the criteria in the search box and click on [Go]. Any items containing the search criteria in the item number or description will be returned on the right side of the screen.
Viewing
You can change the sort order of items on a page, as well as the number of items viewed. You can also change between listing and thumbnail views of the items.Shopping Cart
Your shipping cart contains the items you have ordered. In the shopping cart you can delete items or change the quantity ordered. The cart will also display an item related messages such as maximum order quantity allowed or if an item is backordered.Once your cart is set, click on [Checkout].
Saved Carts
You have the option of saving carts for future use. To do this, click on the blue disk icon next to the “Your Cart” text. You will be able to name the cart and save it, or cancel out of the save option.To load a saved cart to your current shopping cart, click on Shopping Cart and then the (+) sign next to “Your Cart.” A drop down of your saved carts will appear. Select one and click [Load Cart].
Checkout
The checkout process will take you through several steps to collect order specific information such as shipping address, method, etc.
Custom Fulfillment
If your account is set up to allow customer fulfillment the first step of checking out will be to identify if this order requires custom fulfillment or not.
Shipping Address
Shipping addresses are verified against the USPS address database
for all United States addresses. The verification will also standardize
the address format.
Once
you have entered your shipping address, click on [Ship]. You have the
choice of using the starting address or suggested address for your
shipment if the USPS verification results in a different address.
Starting Address
The address will be prefilled with the information from your profile. This can be changed any time prior to shipping. You can click on [Reset Address] to clear the prefilled information.Saved Address List
You have the option to save your addresses for
future use. To do this, click on the blue disk icon next to the address
title. You will have the option to name the saved address, save it, or
cancel at this time.
To load a saved address select it from the drop down box at the top of the address verification screen.
Shipping and Billing Information
The last checkout page will allow you to enter billing and shipping carrier information.
Based
on your user settings you will have the ability to approve your order
or place your order in the system for approval by an authorizing agent.
Use My Account
If your account is set up for 3rd party billing the ship via will include a “Use My Account” option. Selecting this will provide a new area to select the shipping method and enter the billing account number.Credit Card Checkout
Accounts that are set up for credit card payment will be taken to a page to enter the required data and process the payment.
Order Approval
If your account is set up to require a second party to approve orders your order will go into a hold status until it is approved. The approver will be notified that an order is awaiting approval.
Order Confirmation
Once your order is submitted, you will be taken to the “Order Confirmation” page. This page displays all the details of your order including your order number. You will also receive and email with this same information.
Order History
Order history is where you can search for, review and track the shipment of your orders.
If you are an approving authority, orders by others waiting on approval will also be displayed here.
My Orders
My Orders shows the status and count of all your orders. Clicking on
a status will display the orders on the right side of the screen.
You can click on an order number to display the details of that specific order.
Package Tracking
If your order has shipped, clicking on the [Shipped] link or the status list will provide tracking info.
Alternatively, if you are reviewing the order details you can click on the package tracking link there.
Search
To search for an order, enter the order number, name, company or address info and the search will look across all data points for your criteria.My Profile
My Profile allows you to make changes to your personal information, saved addresses and saved carts.
User Information
From here you can change your default viewing style, name, default address and update your password.
My Saved Addresses
This area allows you to update your saved address.
X – click here to delete an address.
Name – type a new name for the address here and click on the disk icon to save.
Default – select an address as your default during checkout.
Edit
– click on the blue pencil to edit an address. Depending on permission
level you may edit “P” Personal, “G” Group or “A” Account level
addresses.
Save – click here to save changes to the name only.
My Saved Carts
My Saved Carts allows you to delete, rename or load a saved cart.
X – click here to delete the cart.
Name – type a new name for the cart and click on the disk icon to save.
Items in Cart – lists the count of items in the cart. Clicking on the count displays the contents of the cart.
Shopping Cart Icon – load this saved cart into your current shopping cart. This will remove any items currently in your cart.
Disk Icon – click here to save name changes to the cart
.