Introduction 

StrataVAR PqW allows users to import item lists from multiple external supplier sources and normalize them into Bills of Materials (BoMs). These BoMs form the foundation for building accurate, scalable quotes in PQW.

Supplier item lists—commonly referred to as supplier quotes—can originate from Cisco systems, distributors, or internally maintained files. Regardless of the source, PqW converts all incoming data into a standard BoM format, enabling consistent downstream processing such as pricing, grouping, and quote creation.

Why & Where It Fits in the User Journey

Importing supplier quotes into BoMs is the first functional step in the Quote to Customer workflow.

Typical user journey:

• Import supplier quote(s) → BoM
• Review and validate BoM items
• Add BoM items to a PqW Quote
• Apply pricing, margins, and discounts
• Export the final quote

Without a BoM, PqW cannot assemble or price a quote.

Supported Supplier Sources

StrataVAR PqW supports importing supplier quotes from the following sources:

• Cisco -CCW Estimates, Deal Registration Quotes, CCW-R Maintenance Quotes, CCW-R Maintenance Invoices)
• Distributors (Disti) -Ingram Micro TDSYNEX Westcon 
• Other Sources-  File distributor quotes (supported formats), Generic Excel format

High-level BoM Import Flow

Step 1: Accessing the Import BoM Button

For Salesforce-integrated users

• Go to the Opportunities tab
• Open a specific Opportunity (This opportunity is mapped to specific customer account)
• Click on BoM Import Button

For Embedded Salesforce (non-Salesforce users)

• If you are using the Embedded Salesforce version: Go to the Projects tab.

• In case the project tab is not listed in the above menu options, you can use the search bar on top to go to the Project List.

• Open a specific Project from the list such as below.

• Click Import BoM.

Step 2: Defining the BoM Type and Understanding the Import BoM Dialog

After clicking Import BoM, the Import BoMs tab opens.

This dialog guides you through how supplier data will be imported into StrataVAR PQW.

At a high level, the dialog allows you to:

• Choose how the supplier data is imported
• Select the supplier source
• Define the BoM type based on the selected source

From the BoM Type dropdown, select the source you are importing. Based on this selection, PqW activates the appropriate internal API to process the data.

Import Mode Options

The Import Mode determines whether PqW pulls data directly from a supplier system or ingests it from an external file.

StrataVAR PQW supports two import modes:

• API Import
• File Import

Each mode supports different suppliers and BoM types.

API Import

API Import is used when the supplier is directly integrated with StrataVAR PqW. Supported API Sources

• Cisco
• Ingram
• TDSYNEX
• Westcon Comstor

Once API Import is selected, you must choose the Supplier Source.

API Import – Cisco

When Cisco is selected as the source, the BoM can be further classified into the following BoM Types:

• Cisco Estimate
• Deal Registration
• Deal registration MSDR 
• CCW-R API (Renewals of Services and subscriptions)

Maintenance (CCW-R) includes: CCW-R Quote BoM, CCW-R Quote with Invoice BoM and CCW-R Invoice

Each type determines:

• Which CCW data is pulled
• How PQW processes scale and pricing
• Whether one or more BoMs and Quotes are generated

API Import – Non-Cisco Suppliers

For suppliers such as Ingram, TDSynex, Westcon

• The BoM Type is Distributor API BoM.
• PqW retrieves item data directly from the distributor system
• Imported data is normalized into a standard PQW BoM
• No manual file upload is required in this case.

File Import (External Supplier Quotes)

File Import is used when the supplier or vendor is not integrated through API. This mode supports importing quotes using external files, such as Excel, PDF, CSV etc.

Typical use cases

• Distributors not supported via API
• Vendor-provided quotes
• VAR-owned professional services data

During File Import:

• Select Distributor BoM as the BoM Type
• Upload the external file
• (If applicable) indicate whether the quote is for a renewal project

Step 3: Clicking the Import Button

Once all required fields are filled:

• Click Import
• PqW processes the import in the background
• An email notification is sent after completion

The email contains links to:

• The imported BoM (or BoMs)
• The generated Quote (or Quotes)

Viewing BoM Status

After import, the BoM status is shown at the top of the page:

•  Green checkmark → BoM is valid
•  Red indicator → BoM is invalid

BoMs in StrataVAR PqW (Concepts)

Each imported supplier quote becomes one BoM.  An Opportunity or Project can have multiple BoMs.

• A BoM belongs to only one Opportunity or Project
• Each BoM contains BoM Items, representing: Item type, Quantity, Cost and Additional supplier-provided data

Editing a BoM

After import, PqW does not automatically modify BoMs. Missing data appears as blank and can be entered manually.

To edit a BoM:

• Go to the BoMs tab or Open an Opportunity/Project and select a BoM from related lists
• Click Edit
• Update fields and Save

What’s next

Once BoMs are imported:

• Review BoM items
• Select BoMs or BoM items to add to a PqW Quote
• Continue with quote assembly and pricing

Conclusion

Importing supplier quotes into StrataVAR PqW is a foundational step in the Quote to Customer workflow. By supporting both API-based imports and file-based imports, PqW enables users to bring in data from a wide range of suppliers—whether directly integrated systems like Cisco and distributors, or external vendor files.

Regardless of the source or format, all imported data is normalized into a consistent Bill of Materials (BoM) structure. This standardization ensures that BoMs can be reliably reviewed, assembled into quotes, priced, and exported, even for large-scale or maintenance-heavy scenarios such as CCW-R.

Understanding the available import modes, supported sources, and special handling requirements helps users choose the correct import path and avoid downstream issues during quote creation.

Related Articles

To get started with PQW, review the following articles:

• Glossary and Key Terms – Understand commonly used PqW terminology
• How to Access and Navigate the PqW Interface – Learn how to launch PqW Interface
• Understanding the PqW Dashboard – Get familiar with the main views and navigation