Designate what columns represent in Scout’s Dynamic Negotiation Analysis tool. With DNA Column Mapping, Sourcing Teams can designate what type of data is held in columns within the Analytics Toolbox in DNA. To run a successful Analysis, mapping your columns and including reference data will be important to see in-depth savings, analyzing the different Scout Scenarios, and providing feedback to your Suppliers in DNA.  

In this article we will cover:

• The value of Column Mapping
• How to set up Column Mapping

Why Use Column Mapping

Column mapping behaves similarly to "Treat Field As" functionality in Scout Worksheets. Meaning— setting up your columns defines what the column data itself means in your analysis. 

Examples of mapped column meanings could be:

• Data type as Title
• Data storage as Quantity
• Total storage ability as Extended Price
  
  

Title, Quantity, Price Per Unit, and Extended Price are typical columns that will be mapped from worksheets you had built within your Event/RFP. 

Please note: As best practice, please have Title, Quantity, Price Per Unit, and Extended Price columns pre-built in your event worksheets in order to run your Analysis successfully. Additionally, you’re able to map out reference columns to include internal data for your analysis. For more information on reference columns, please review this article here. 

How to Set-Up Column Mapping

To begin setting up Column Mapping in Scout, first navigate to the closed Event that you would like to use Dynamic Negotiation Analysis on.

First, click Analyze Bids on the RFP Dashboard:

You are now on in DNA! Your next step is to navigate to the Analytics Toolbox button and from there begin mapping your columns. To do so, look to the right-hand side of the Analysis Page and click Analytics Toolbox button:

This will bring you to the Analytics Toolbox panel. Within this panel, you will be able to click the "Set Up" button within Map Data to start column mapping. 

To begin mapping your columns, use the "Hints (?)" to understand which appropriate column you wish to map in DNA. You will find the appropriate column to map the column to using the drop=down options. This is where you will designate the location of each column based on the Item Name and Price Per Unit provided for each column:

From here, you will be able to designate how you would like your columns to be treated as under Worksheet Columns:

Conclusion

You are now ready to start Column Mapping in Scout DNA! Column Mapping will help you to better access the valuable analytics tools available to you in the Bid Analysis.

For more on Scout DNA, click here.