CMS rebuild

Discover why and how the CMS is being redesigned and find out the latest news on the rollout plan.

Page contents

    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.

    View


    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

    view

     


    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:

    • Duplicate Meter Point (DUP) Process and the new Set to Extinct (STE) contact codes
    • Originator clarification (OC) and Configuration change (CC) functionality
    • Functionality to remove workaround requirement (see version 1 release notes)
    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.

    Version 1 release notes

     

    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).

    New CMS training course

    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.

    ADD/UNC

    DUP

    FOM

    GSR (with requirements)

    GSR (no requirements)

    ISO/DTL

    MNC

    MUR

    MUS

    RFA/CDQ

    TOG (with requirements)

    TOG (no requirements)

     

    Miro board content

    These documents show how we developed ideas and collaborated through the rebuild project.

    ADD/UNC

    Consumption Adjustments

    ISO/DTL

    DUP

    Shipperless and Unregistered - MUS

    Shipperless and Unregistered - GSR

    Theft of Gas

    FOM

    MNC

    MUR

     

    .

    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.

    Download

    Log in to the new CMS

    We're currently rebuilding the CMS, which is available alongside the old version.

    Log in

    Contact us

    Please contact Joanne Williams, Product Manager or any one of the team if you need more information on the CMS rebuild project.

    Email

    Register for a customer focus group

    You can register for a customer focus group using the link below.

    Register