Connecting to Partners

Partner Onboarding is the process of connecting your customers and trading partner community to CIC so that you can exchange files as part of a B2B integration. In CIC, you define endpoints, which specify transfer protocol and data source, and data flows, which pair two endpoints as source and destination of a transfer. Although an endpoint is defined in CIC, the actual data source is a location on your partner or customer system. 

CIC provides the following options for connecting to trading partners. Click the links below for more information about configuring that type of endpoint.

• AS2: CIC enables you to connect to your partners via AS2.
• S3: You and your trading partners can send files to or receive files from the same S3 account.
• AzureBlob: You and your trading partners can send files to or receive files from the same AzureBlob account.
• SFTP: If your partner has an SFTP Server, you can use the SFTP Endpoint to connect to it as a client. If your partner wants to connect as an SFTP client, you can use Partner Mailbox as an SFTP server. See Partner Mailbox.
• FTP(S): If your partner has an FTP Server, you can use the FTP(S) Endpoint to connect to it as a client. CIC supports both FTP and FTPS. If your partner wants to connect as an FTP client, you can use Partner Mailbox as an FTP server. See Partner Mailbox.
• Partner Mailbox: The Partner Mailbox enables your partners to connect to CIC as an SFTP client, an FTP(S) client, and/or to access CIC through a simple web interface, the Cleo Portal.
  • SFTP: If your partner wants to connect to you as an SFTP client, you can set up a Partner Mailbox Endpoint as an SFTP Server. CIC provides your partner with a mailbox, where they can pick up files or push files over SFTP. 
  • FTP(S): If your partner wants to connect to you as an FTP or FTPS client, you can set up a Partner Mailbox Endpoint as an FTP(S) Server. CIC provides your partner with a mailbox, where they can pick up files or push files over FTP(S). 
  • Cleo Portal: If your partner wants to connect using a simple web interface, Partner Mailbox may be a good option for them. Your partner can login to the Cleo Portal and interact with their partner mailbox directly to upload or download files. Cleo Portal is useful as a simple, manual solution for exchanging files or as a manual override when, for example, there are temporary issues with your automated connection to your partner. 
• Email: CIC enables you to connect to your partners via email
• API: It is also possible to connect to your partners via API. For more details, please see Web Service Consumer objects