Step by step
Begin by uploading your list of products in the Specification tab of your BOM. You can refer to this article to upload your products.
In the Specification tab, click on the magnifying glass icon on each line item to open up the product finder and begin searching for alternates.
When you open the tool, the source datasheet will auto-assign to your basis of design, populating the searchable criteria below. PF 2.0 now prioritizes attributes from your entered model number for more accurate results!
Technical Attributes now use strict matching—only datasheets with identical attributes will appear. To adjust, click the X to remove a field or use the dropdown arrows to add more.
4. Select the manufacturers you’d like to search amongst then click Start Search. To create additional manufacturer lists for quicker results, check out the article here.
5.Sort your suggested results by Recommended, Lowest Cost (if Quoting is enabled), or Image Similarity. To refine your search, update your criteria in Technical Attributes and watch results adjust in real time. Use the Compare feature to view the source and alternate datasheets side by side, then click Select when you're ready to pull in your alternate!
5. For the final step, enter the model number of the product you're adding as an alternate. If Quoting or Inventory is enabled, you can view past costs or teammate selections. Choose to add it as an alternate (listed below your basis of design), as a new option in the table at the bottom, or overwrite the original line entirely. Click Add to BOM to reflect the change.
6. To update product specification status or export your full BOM, click the three dots in the Specification tab. To cross additional lines, click the magnifying glass to restart the process!
By default, alternate specifications are marked as 'Pending Alternate' and the original line is hidden. You can update this anytime by going to the Specification tab or selecting the line and clicking the eye icon to make it visible.
New Features
You can set up quick filters to narrow down your results.
Incentives: in your settings > manufacturer > company manufacturer you can specify which manufacturer there may be an incentive to utilize their products
Specifier Approved: for those with quoting access, this will narrow down any alternates if a specifier is indicated as a stakeholder and the BOM is marked as won for past jobs
Customer Ordered: for those with quoting access, this will narrow down any alternates for won BOMs with the same customer indicated
Access the Product Finder without having to go through a basis of design or uploading products.
