CMS rebuild
Discover why and how the CMS is being redesigned and find out the latest news on the rollout plan.
What is the CMS rebuild?
Our Contact Management Service (CMS) provides the ability for our DSC customers to query and update their data within their own portfolio.
It's currently supported by an ageing system, which needs to be re-built to improve our customers' experience.
Background
In late 2020, we engaged with customers, initially through a survey and then through a series of detailed workshops, mapping “as is” and “to be” processes.
The survey revealed:
- how customers used the CMS
- specific pain points with the business process and supporting system
- focus areas for improvements
Using this information, we set up over 50 workshops with 200+ customers to explore each process in depth. These sessions ensured our customers’ needs were clearly reflected and helped us identify where further refinements were needed.
More than 200 pain points were identified, leading to 500 requirements for the new system. Using this valuable insight, the ideal “to be” processes were then mapped. You can find more details in our pain points and requirements document.
Funding options were then discussed and voted on at the Contract Management Committee (CoMC). The CoMC decided to support our proposal to budget for a subscription-based funding model for the replacement system.
Continued customer collaboration
Collaboration will continue with customers as we move forward. We hold regular customer focus groups to provide progress updates, understand customer impacts, testing and training needs as the new processes are released.
We’ll share the agenda for each focus group seven days in advance.
You can view the dates and times for each focus group and download the minutes in the table below:
Customer focus groups schedule
Date | Start time | End time | Meeting minutes |
06/04/2022 | 11am | 12pm | download |
04/05/2022 | 11am | 12pm | download |
10/06/2022 | 10am | 11am | download |
06/07/2022 | 10am | 12pm | download |
09/08/2022 | 10am | 12pm | download |
09/09/2022 | 10am | 12pm | download |
14/10/2022 | 10am | 12pm | download |
08/11/2022 | 10am | 12pm | download |
09/12/2022 | 10am | 12pm | |
10/01/2023 | 10am | 12pm | |
07/02/2023 | 10am | 12pm | |
07/03/2023 | 10am | 12pm |
CMS delivery roadmap
We’re sharing the latest version of our delivery roadmap below.
This is subject to change based on prioritisation and industry discussions, target delivery dates are currently being defined and these will be shared shortly.
Latest news
Version 1.1 - December 2022:
We successfully implemented version 1.1 in December 2022, with the addition of the Duplicate Meter Point (DUP) Process and the new Set to Extinct (STE) contact code.
We also implemented Originator clarification (OC) and Configuration change (CC) functionality.
We’ve published Change Packs to ensure all customers are aware of these changes and can assess any impacts.
The following plan on a page details the activities planned for the December launch of Set to Extinct (STE) and Duplications (DUP).
CMS rebuild: plan on a page
CMS versions
The table below details the CMS versions, release dates and any associated release notes.
Version | Release date | Release notes |
1.1 | 12 December 2022 |
Version includes:
|
1 | 26 October 2022 |
System launched with Shipper MNC and Supplier Theft of Gas contacts. Please note that whilst the new Supplier Theft of Gas process has been delivered it is dependent upon a change in the REC Code to become operational. Two small items of functionality are being refined and need a workaround. |
CMS rebuild rollout
The table below explains which version of the CMS you will need to use to access specific Contact types and functionality.
CMS Contact type or functionality | Where can it be accessed? | CMS rebuild version | Additional information |
Shipper Meter Number Creation (MNC) | New CMS | 1 | XRN 5556 - CMS Version 1 |
Supplier Theft of Gas | New CMS | 1 | XRN 5556 - CMS Version 1 |
DUPS | Old CMS or manual process | 1.1 | XRN 5556B - CMS Version 1.1 |
Set to extinct | Old CMS or manual process | 1.1 | XRN 5556B - CMS Version 1.1 |
Functionality to upload multiple Contacts of multiple Contact types | Old CMS or manual process* | 1.2 |
XRN 5556C - CMS rebuild version 1.2 *The .QMP file should be used for bulk upload of Contact types still in the older version of CMS. You can't load any Contact types that have moved over to the newer version with the .QMP file. |
ISO | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
DTL | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
ADD | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
UNC | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
FOM | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
Network MNC | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
DMN | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
RFA | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
DMQ | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
CDQ | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
TOG | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
MUR | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
MUS | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
GSR | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
Swapped address | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
AGG | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
PSI | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
DMR | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
PRS | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
FLE | Old CMS or manual process | TBC | TBC |
Helpful documents and training material
Find the documents and training material we’ve published during the rebuild project below.
Access our e-learning course which contains helpful videos and user guides dedicated to the new Contact Management Service (CMS).
Pain points and requirements
This document includes all the requirements we pulled together from early customer workshops.
CMS rebuild – all pain points and requirements
Flow diagrams of ideal processes
The documents below show how each new process will flow.
Please note that XC refers to cross communication, DC refers to data clarification and PSC is a previously submitted contact.
Miro board content
These documents show how we developed ideas and collaborated through the rebuild project.
Shipperless and Unregistered - MUS
Shipperless and Unregistered - GSR
.
Common queries
You can access the new version of CMS here.
For any Contact types that have not moved over to the new version of CMS, you'll need to log in to the older version of CMS here. You can check which Contacts have moved over in our Contact types and functionality table.
You can also download our 'How to access the new CMS' guide below.
Log in to the new CMS
We're currently rebuilding the CMS, which is available alongside the old version.
Industry change programmes
Contact us
Please contact Joanne Williams, Product Manager or any one of the team if you need more information on the CMS rebuild project.
Register for a customer focus group
You can register for a customer focus group using the link below.