USA Central Integration Guide

Modified on Wed, 8 Oct at 4:22 PM

Overview

Cornerstone integrates with USA Central to make it easy for dealers to set up accounts in one location and either push or pull the account information including customer, site, contact list, and zones.

Recommendation: Continue to create the accounts at USA Central and then pull the data to Cornerstone.

The integration is sensitive to the required data fields by USA Central (e.g., at least one contact and phone number) and provides validated lists of selections for other fields (e.g., devices). You can sync data so that changes in Cornerstone go to USA Central immediately, and if you allow changes in USA Central directly, you can pull the updated info into Cornerstone.

Getting Started

Contact Cornerstone for assistance setting up the connection with you and USA Central.

Step 1: Verify Central Station Numbers

Make sure that you have your Central Station numbers in your accounts that include the dealer code before the assigned central account number, preferably without hyphens. This is the "linking" field between Cornerstone and USA Central.

If it needs to be tweaked, Cornerstone can help.

Step 2: Set Up API Access

Contact USA Central and tell them you would like to set up an API integration with Cornerstone
They should provide a username and password for Cornerstone to use
Give that along with your USA Central Site Account number to Cornerstone
Cornerstone will set up the handshake

Step 3: Determine Edit Protocol

Cornerstone has built the ability to push (new accounts or edits to the accounts) and pull the data (one-time pull for new accounts set up by USA Central or existing accounts in Cornerstone).

It can also push fields edited in Cornerstone to USA Central or pull/synchronize updated data from USA Central. You need to determine if edits need to flow only through your office/Cornerstone or if the subscriber can call USA Central directly.

Important: Keep in mind that the Central Station is the Main Record Keeper for the customer site, contacts, and zones.

How Edits Work:

Edits to any of the USA Central required fields in Cornerstone can immediately push the new field values to USA Central
If edits can be made at USA Central, it does not automatically communicate the change back to Cornerstone
Use the Get from Central Station button to pull information to update the record in Cornerstone when you open a customer to ensure you have the most recent information

Step 4: Tasks to Complete Directly in USA Central

Some things need to be done directly in/with USA Central:

Close Accounts / Take Them Off-Line

Closing an account in Cornerstone will only stop the recurring billing
Cancellations must be handled directly with USA Central in whatever is the established protocol
There is a Central Station Notice function in Cornerstone where you can email your request and have it recorded in the Correspondence log

Special Protocol Instructions

Some accounts may require special instructions that need to be handled/recorded directly with USA Central

Review of or Changes to the Responding Authority

When Cornerstone pushes the subscriber's site address (street, city, and zip code), USA Central produces GPS coordinates and the responding authority is automatically selected and stored at USA Central
If a valid GPS coordinate is not returned, you will get a warning that you need to review it with USA Central

Setup and Data Fields

System Configuration

Cornerstone will enter your Dealer/Site Account Number in two places:

System Header
Central Station List

User Defined fields 18 and 20 will be set to USA Central Device and Dispatch Type respectively.

Note: Multiple Central Station prefix numbers can be accommodated.

Accounts Monitored Elsewhere

If you have accounts that are monitored elsewhere or not at all, choose a Central Station option on the list other than USA Central so data changes to the account do not try to communicate with USA Central.

Creating an Account in Cornerstone

Accounts can be created in Cornerstone and pushed to USA Central, or if USA Central created the account, you can download the customer record from USA Central.

Recommended Approach: We highly recommend Option A where the accounts continue to get created in USA Central and then download the info to Cornerstone.

Option A: If USA Central Created the Account (Recommended)

This is the easiest method and does not change current processes.

Enter the Cornerstone Account number you want (if not auto-generated)
Enter the Central Account # (number assigned when USA Central created the account)
Click on the Download Customer button to pull the data from USA Central into Cornerstone

What Gets Downloaded: Download Customer will populate the account information in Cornerstone from the information that was entered in USA Central. You will also be prompted to download the contacts and zones.

Option B: Creating Account in Cornerstone to Push to USA Central

Enter a Cornerstone Account number
Leave the Central Acct # BLANK
Enter all of the customer data
Clicking OK communicates with USA Central to assign the next available Central ID number, records it, and then creates the account in USA Central

Note: You will need to assign a Cornerstone account number before getting the USA Central number, so you can number accounts sequentially (or use an alternative method).

Multiple Prefixes: If you have been assigned more than 1 prefix for your central station numbers by USA Central, you will be prompted to select the appropriate prefix. These additional central station number prefixes are device types and will require the appropriate device selection.

Important Notes About Multiple Prefixes

The communication link between Cornerstone and USA Central is the number in the 1st Central Station # Field.

If you have multiple prefixes for your USA Central station number, that means you have been assigned different numbers based upon the devices.

While the site info and contacts are shared between devices, the devices may have different zones. Cornerstone's system only records 1 set of zones per site.

Solution for Different Zones:

If you need to keep different zones for each device for a subscriber in Cornerstone, you will need to have a customer record with the communicating device/USA Central # in the 1st Central Station Number field for each device.

If you do not need the zones for that second or third central station number, they can be stored in the 2nd and 3rd Central Account# fields.

Note: The 1st Central Acct# communicates with USA Central. You can put additional device numbers in fields 2 and 3 to keep track of devices for that customer without needing their zone info stored in Cornerstone.

Separate Accounts for Different Services

Most dealers create two separate accounts in Cornerstone when the same customer has both Burglary and Fire services. This allows for:

Recording different equipment installed
Separate service tickets
Different reminders for each service

Billing can always be consolidated in one account.

Data Fields for Push to USA Central

Note: After customer information is downloaded or submitted, there is a Get from Central Station button that allows you to pull in information that was updated at the Central (if you allow edits to be made directly at USA Central).

Best Practice: We recommend that you do this each time you open the account to get the most recent data in the Central.

Required Fields to Enter in Cornerstone

Account - Your 2 letters will appear and you enter the remaining digits

Central Acct# - Leave Blank - The USA Central ID number is assigned by USA Central

Customer - Company name or last name

First Name - First name if residential customer

Address - Address line 1 is the street address

City, State - Fill in

Zip - Enter the zip code (allows for USPS address validation)

Tax Code - Select the list box and choose the city (does not get submitted to USA Central but is needed for billing; you will need to enter this if you download from USA Central as they do not ask for the Taxing County)

TZ - Time Zone automatically fills in from Zip Code and is communicated to USA Central

Type - Select RES or COMM (sends R or C to Site Type)

Equipment - You can enter the panel type if you wish. The USA Central required Device type selection is later.

Code Word - Enter the password. If none is required, enter NCR so the operators know. Leave blank if there are individual pass codes for individual contacts.

Site/Premise - Contact 1 - Enter a name (Recommended, not required)

Phone - Premise phone number (Recommended, not required)

User Defined Tab Fields

Click on the User Defined Tab to enter:

USA Central Device Type - Choose type from the dropdown list (Required). If unknown, enter MISC.

Dispatch Type - Choose type from the dropdown list (Required for 2 Way Devices and recommended for all other devices). The device number is assigned Event Codes and Event Types at USA Central.

Tip: Click on the lookup icon for the validated options. If you know your option is on the list, you can type it in to save time.

Important: Once the Device is established (either by selection and push or by downloading it), changes to the Device must be done directly at the central station.

Address Validation

Click OK and you will be prompted to validate the address as a USPS recognizable mailing address. If recognized, the Zip+4 will be available. Select 'Update' to update the Cornerstone entry. The location pin icon will also call the USPS API lookup for the mailing address.

Contacts

The customer record has a space for the premise contact name and phone number. The Contacts list provides the call list for the account.

Entering Contacts

If you are entering data in Cornerstone to push to USA Central, you will need to enter the required data. Clicking OK will submit it to USA Central.

Download Contacts will pull in the contact information if it already exists in USA Central and is not in Cornerstone.

If contacts have been either downloaded or submitted to USA Central, a Get From Central Station button will be available to pull updates that were made directly with USA Central.

Required Contact Fields

Priority Sequence - Enter the priority sequence for the contacts. Additional contacts need to be numbered in increasing values.

Person to Contact - Enter first and last name. Anything before the 1st space will be treated as the first name. Anything after the space will be considered a last name.

Phone 1 - Fills in the first phone number field in USA Central for the contact

Phone 2 - Fills in the second phone number field in USA Central for the contact

Contact Updates

If you allow contacts to be changed at USA Central, then once you receive notification of changes, the Get from Central Station button will pull from USA Central the available contacts and update the information in Cornerstone.

If a contact was deleted at USA Central, you will be notified of the deletion and instructed to delete that contact in Cornerstone.

Zone Lists

Zone lists are device specific and the get data links to the Central Station number in the 1st field.

If you have multiple devices installed for the same site, they share the site and contact information. If you need to record the different zone information in Cornerstone, then you will need to create a second account so that the second device is recorded in an account in the 1st Central Station field.

Entering Zones

If you are pushing information to USA Central, enter the data.

If the account was originally created by USA Central, Get From Central Station will pull the zones from USA Central (if the data is already there and does not exist in Cornerstone).

Once downloaded, the Get from Central Station button is available should a change in zones be made directly with USA Central.

Required Zone Fields

Zone ID - Enter the zone number in the Zone ID

Zone Description - Enter the zone description

Service Type - Use the list box to select the Service Type

Location - Use the list box to select the Location

Important Reminders

Please keep in mind there are a few things that must be done directly in/with USA Central:

Close Accounts / Take Them Off-Line

Closing an account in Cornerstone will only stop the recurring billing
Cancellations must be handled directly with USA Central in whatever is the established protocol
There is a Central Station Notice function in Cornerstone where you can email your request and have it recorded in the Correspondence log

Special Protocol Instructions

Some accounts may require special instructions that need to be handled/recorded directly with USA Central

Review of or Changes to the Responding Authority

When Cornerstone pushes the subscriber's site address (street, city, and zip code), USA Central produces GPS coordinates and the responding authority is automatically selected and stored at USA Central
If a valid GPS coordinate is not returned, you will get a warning that you need to review it with USA Central

Need Help?

Still have questions? Contact Cornerstone Holding Co. 847-405-9517 or email us customer.success@alarmbills.com