Media Spend Visibility & Reconciliation:
e-Invoicing Process Setup Guide
A setup & implementation guide for platform customers and partners
Process ad buy invoices faster with the MX Platform™
This guide helps Hudson MX customers and their partners tap in to new levels of automation within the advertising-relating invoicing process to eliminate manual input & other points of friction. We are excited to be able to help you save time & complete transactions more efficiently—at no extra cost.
Explore this guide
Section 1: The MX Platform™ e-Invoicing Process
Section 2: MX Platform™ Accepted Formats
Let’s get started.
Michael Stoeckel, Head of Platform Partnerships
michael.stoeckel@hudsonmx.com
Donny Clark, Head of Product for Data and Integrations
donny@hudsonmx.com
The MX Platform™
e-Invoicing Process
MX Platform™ e-Invoicing Workflow Overview: Production
How does it work?
A Hudson MX Customer’s Vendor sends files 4A, XML, or TECC into the corresponding directory.
Response File sent to Vendor will show successful fields vs. error fields and why.
If invoices contain errors and are not ingested, the Vendor must correct and resend.
MX Platform™
Accepted Formats
MX Platform™ supported formats include 4A, XML, and TECC.
Supported Formats Overview
Designate Intercompany buyers.
4A Format
4A invoice is an electronic data interchange (EDI) format developed by Mediaocean company. The structure is based on variable-length records identified by record codes separated by record delimiters and comprised of variable length fields. The fields within records are variable length, positionally defined, and separated by field delimiters. Every 4A invoice represents an array of arrays, where every string appears as a set of parameters belonging to one entity. The first field in each record must be a valid record code. Invoices are sorted by the agency within the station.
XML Format
XML format supports only one media_type. It is DIGITAL
(DIGITAL includes digital/search/social/programmatic).
buying_workflow_code = DIGITAL;SEARCH;SOCIAL;PROGRAMMATIC.
Estimate is absent in XML invoice file.
TECC Format
Checklists for customers
& their partners
Checklist for Hudson MX Customers
Communication & Setup with Invoicing Partner & Hudson MX
Communicate to the Invoicing Vendor that invoices will be sent to the MX Platform™.
Provide Vendor contact information and introduction to Hudson MX contacts.
Set up MX Platform™ account(s).
A test account (if possible)
A production account
Schedule setup call with Vendor and Hudson MX to cover introduction and process information.
Create timeline for testing media types in Dry Run Environment (DRE).
Establish preferred and realistic timeline for cutover to the MX Platform™.
Determine the PROD schedule for ingesting invoices from Vendor. E.g.: Will this happen happen hourly, two times per day, etc.?
Invoicing Partner Checklist
Communication & Setup with Hudson MX
Communicate to Hudson MX what Invoices will be sent to the MX Platform™.
Establish development timeline for the format that will be submitted to Hudson MX.
Schedule touchbase calls with Hudson MX and Customer stakeholders during development timeline.
Test connection to DRE and PROD Ingestion servers.
Complete setup call with Hudson MX team for testing time in DRE.
Determine PROD schedule for ingesting invoices from Vendor. E.g.: Will this happen hourly, two times per day, etc.?
Environment & Testing Setup
MX Platform™ EDI Testing Overview: DRE
How does it work?
Hudson MX, Customer, and the e-Invoicing Vendor teams work together when testing Media types and formats.
Use existing e-Invoicing Vendor Invoices and ensure DRE has the correct buys in the MX Platform™ to run matching.
Explore the MX Platform™
The MX Platform™ is the first-ever enterprise media platform—designed to power streamlined and effective omnichannel media activation at scale.