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Learn how you can to configure Normal Billing Term Schemes for Subscriptions

What does this section cover?

required to define Subscriptions Billing Rules

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Navigating to Normal Billing Term Schemes for Subscriptions

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CONFIGURATION > BILLING APPLICATION > BILLING > SET UP BILLING TERM SCHEMES

What are Normal Billing Term Schemes for Subscriptions?

Billing term schemes Term Schemes are used to control the creation or modification of billing terms by providing the allowed of Billing Terms. Billing Term is a required Subscriptions entity, that provides the available options for each input field and by setting the default values, and also to control billing engine processes by providing the billing rules , such as Subscription Services or Price Plans.  The Billing Term controls Billing Engine processes by providing the rules and policies that should be applied during billing runs

Each Billing Term Scheme has a life cycle state which determines how the billing term scheme can be used. Each billing term scheme has an effective and expiration date, which are set automatically when the life cycle state is set to effective and terminated accordingly. Billing Term schemes can be modified or deleted only if there is no billing terms (effective or terminated) related with that billing term scheme.

If there is a need to modify a billing term scheme, then a specific action is applied which creates a new billing term scheme in life cycle state Effective related with the previous one, which is updated to status terminated and moved to billing term schemes history

Info

There exist 2 Billing Types of Billing Term Schemes, both of which are configured in the same screen however, one serves, Normal Billing and the other is for Prepaid Billing.

In this manual you will find out how to set up Normal Billing Term Schemes. If you would like to have a peak into Prepaid Billing Term Schemes setup, visit Configuring Prepaid Billing Term Schemes for Subscriptions

Creating, Editing & Deleting

Billing Runs. Billing Terms are created every time a Billing Term Scheme is added or updated on the Job or Subscription. The Billing Term determines whether a Subscription will be handled by Normal or Prepaid Billing.

Note

This manual covers the setting up of Normal Billing Term Schemes. For information into the setting up of Prepaid Billing Term Schemes, view /wiki/spaces/WIP/pages/10008619.

 

  • Navigate to Billing Term Schemes and explore existing entries via the Summary page.  
  • Click on the link (Name or Number) of the entry of your interest to enter the Data Entry page and see more detail. 
  • Use the Actions Menu to create a NEW Billing Term Scheme, modify (EDIT) or DELETE  an existing one.  
    • Select 'Type' Normal and 'Classification' Subscription to start configuring a Normal Billing Term Scheme applicable for Subscriptions.
  • Use the BACK to return to the Summary page and CANCEL to revert any unwanted changes made to the Billing Term Schemes.

Check the Validations & Restrictions Table below for a list of available Actions when working with Billing Term Schemes, including each Action's related validations, restrictions and additional information.  View the Attributes Table for a comprehensive description of the Billing Term Schemes fields.

Normal Billing Term SchemesImage Added

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validations
validations
Validations & Restrictions

ActionValidationsRestrictionsAdditional InformationSystem Processing
Create
  • Mandatory fields have been defined
  • Not Applicable
  • Not ApplicableFields must be defined.
  • Name and Code must be unique.
  • Not applicable
  • Not applicable
  • Not applicable
Edit
  • Mandatory fields have been definedFields must be defined.
  • Name and Code must be unique.
  • Cannot be edited if they have been added on at least one entityused by one or more Subscription
  • Use the Amend action insteadAction instead.
  • If there are one or more versions of a Billing Term Scheme for Jobs, then a new Billing Term Scheme instance is created. The new instance will have the same values and Billing Term Code as the previous one, an augmented version number, and the modified information.
  • Not applicable
Delete
  • Billing Term schemes Schemes cannot be deleted if there are any billable entities Subscriptions and Jobs which are not terminated or have if there is billable information which was not processed and billed yet.
  • Not applicable
  • Not applicable
  • Not applicable
Amend
  • Mandatory Fields must be defined.
  • Name and Code must be unique.
  • Not Applicable
  • Not Applicable
Billing Term Schemes for Subscriptions attributes 
  • applicable
  • Not applicable
  • New Billing Term Scheme
    • Version number will increase by 1
    • Effective Date will be set to the current date
    • All the configuration will be carried over from previous version
  • Previous Billing Term Scheme
    • Expired On will be set to the current date
    • Life Cycle Date will be updated to Terminated

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 Attributes

An * indicates a field is mandatory.

 

Billing term codeDetermines the state of the billing term scheme. The following billing term schemes life cycle states the subscription billing engine. This value will be selected based on the billing term scheme’s configuration and will not be allowed to be set on the billing term level.
  • If the billing method on the billing term scheme is set to “Anniversary” then it is the billing term that will define the billing cycle day. At the billing term scheme level, a range of allowed billing cycle days is specified so at the billing term level, the billing cycle day must be set within this range.
  • The Billable Period Start Date used to determine how to automatically set the billable period start date on each new subscription service, which is the date that determines the start date Billing Effective Date definition is used to determine how to automatically set the billing effective date on each new subscription service, which is the date that determines when a subscription service Extend binding end date causes the causes of extending the binding end date. Multiple options can be selected. The supported options are the following:
    • Extend based on days in resting
    • Extend based on not effective days
    • Extend based on grace periods

    Name

    Description

    Main Information
    Billing Term Code*The same code is used across all billing term scheme Billing Term Scheme instances of the same billing term schemeBilling Term Scheme.
    Classification*

    It determines Determines the type Type of billable entity Billable Entity that will be allowed able to use this billing term schemethe Billing Term Scheme. In this case, the classification Classification is set to 'Subscriptions'.

    Billing Type*

    Defines Determines the billing type Billing Type that will be used by the billing engine Billing Engine in order to bill services Services and physical goodsPhysical Goods. The supported options are the following:

    • Normal
    • Prepaid

    'Normal' and 'Prepaid'. In this case, the Type should be set to 'Normal'.

    Name*The name of the billing term schemeBilling Term Scheme.
    DescriptionA description of the billing term schemeBilling Term Scheme.
    Life cycle stateCycle StateThe following Billing Term Scheme States are supported:
    • Draft: Billing term schemes having that life cycle state 'Draft' - State cannot be used to create billing termsBilling Terms.Effective: Billing term schemes having that life cycle state
    • 'Effective' - State can be used to create billing terms Billing Terms and to apply billing rules during billing runsTerminated: Billing term schemes having that life cycle state Billing Rules during Billing Runs.
    • 'Terminated' - State cannot be used to create new billing terms. Billing terms already related with a terminated billing term scheme will still be billed by applied the billing rules specified on that billing term schemeBilling Terms.
    Effective From& Expiration datesExpired On Dates*

    Each billing term scheme Billing Term Scheme has an effective and expiration date'Effective' and 'Expiration' Date, which are set automatically when the billing term scheme Scheme is created or being replaced by another billing term schemeScheme. A version number is also kept on each billing term scheme that defines the version of each billing term scheme instance

    Billing method*

    This section is used to:

    Determine which of the two billing methods can be used by billing terms having that billing term scheme

    used for each Billing Term Scheme that defines each specific instance.

    Version

    An auto-generated number which is used to specify the version of each Scheme. If the specific version is already in use by a Subscription, a new Scheme version is created when the Scheme is amended, by the respective Action.

    "VIEW PREVIOUS VERSIONS" link allows you to search and view the previous versions of the Definition.

    Allowed Attributes
    Services
    Services

    Determines which Termed Services and Expenses are supported by the specific Billing Term Scheme.

    The Subscription's associated Scheme defines its available Services.

    This section is also used in order to define the Billing Type of each supported Termed Service, which can be one of the following:

    • Post-Bill: Services which are billed after they have been used.
    • Pre-Bill: Services which are billed before they have been used.

    Expenses do not have a Billing Type as they are always billed by the next Billing Run.

    Note
    • If no Services are defined there will be no Services to select from when creating a Subscription with the specific Billing Term Scheme.
    • Additional filtering takes place on the Subscription Services available to be added to a Subscription, based on the Subscription Type and the selected Provisioning Distributor.
    • The Billing Type is set once all Services are added, by selecting the Services and using the SET BILLING TYPES Action.
    Billing Frequencies
    Billing Frequencies

    The Billing Frequencies which can be used by Subscriptions of the specific Billing Term Scheme.

    Note

    The available Billing Frequencies are defined in the 'Active' Billing Term Definition.

    DefaultThe Billing Frequency that will be set as soon as the Billing Term Scheme is selected.
    Binding Periods
    Binding Periods

    The Binding Periods which can be used by Subscriptions of the specific Billing Term Scheme.

    Note

    The available Binding Periods are defined in the 'Active' Billing Term Definition.

    DefaultThe Binding Period that will be set as soon as the Billing Term Scheme is selected.
    Price Plans
    Price Plans

    Determines the Price Plans available during the creation of Billing Terms having that specific Billing Term Scheme. By default, all Price Plans can be selected in the allowed Price Plans of a Billing Term Scheme.

    Note

    If no Price Plan is selected, then all valid Price Plans will be available for selection for Subscriptions with the specific Billing Term Scheme.

    Billing Rules
    Generic
    Billing Method*

    This section is used to determine Billing method can be used by Billing Terms of that specific Scheme. The supported options are:

      • Anniversary
    • : Anniversary billing is a method of billing where
      • Billing: customers are billed for a period of time which starts on
    • a billing
      • the Billing cycle day which is preferred by each customer.
      • Period
    • : Period billing is a method of billing where
      • Billing: customers are billed for a period of time which starts on
    • a billing
      • the Billing cycle day which is specified by the
    • billing
      • Billing company.
    • Determine the default billing cycle day during the creation of billing terms having that billing term scheme. 
      If the billing term scheme is set to “Period billing”, then this value will be used to set
    Allowed Cycle Day or
    Allowed Cycle Day Range
    • The Billing Cycle Day is the day of month until which
    • a Subscription will be billed by the
    Concurrent usage based pricingDetermines if concurrent usage based pricing is allowed to be specified in billing terms of this scheme
    Discount options*

    Determines if the billing terms will use a fixed or flexible pricing. If fixed pricing is selected then ad hoc discounts cannot be applied on billable entities having billing terms of this scheme

    Billable period start date*
    • Billing Engine.
      • For Period Billing: Automatically set on the Subscription as defined in the Allowed Cycle Day field of the Billing Term Scheme.
      • For Anniversary Billing: The user must set the Billing Cycle Day,when creating the Subscription. The range of allowed values is defined in the Allowed Cycle Day Range of the Billing Term Scheme.
    Billable Period Start Date*

    Determines the start date of the billable period of each subscription service Subscription Service (it answers to the question “from which date should I start billing this service”). Subscription service billable period start date is by default set equal to the subscription service effective date, but it can be overridden by the rules specified in these definitions or by the subscription action which is adding the subscription service, if the billable period start date is explicitly defined there. The supported the Service be considered by the Billing Run”).  For example, if a Service is 'Effective' from the 1st of June but the Billable Start Date is the 1st of August, then the Billing Engine will only start considering the Service from the 1st of August.
    Billable Period Start Date is set equal to the Subscription Service Effective Date, by default. The available options are the following:

    • Subscription action Action performed date
    • Subscription action Action performed date + X UOT (i.e. + 1 month)
    • Subscription Service Initial Effective Date
    • Subscription Service Initial Effective Date + X UOT (i.e. + 1 month)
    • Subscription Service Latest Effective Date
    • Subscription Service Latest Effective Date + X UOT (i.e. + 1 month)
    • Binding Start Date
    • Binding Start Date + X UOT (i.e. + 1 month)
    • Agreement Date
    • Agreement Date + X UOT (i.e. + 1 month)
    Billing effective date*Effective Date*

    The date on which a Service should start being billed. Subscription service billing effective date is by default It is set equal to the subscription service effective date, but it can be overridden by the rules specified in these definitions or by the subscription action which is adding the subscription service, if the billing effective date is explicitly defined there. The supported Subscription Service Effective Date, by default. The available options are the following:

    • Subscription action Action performed date
    • Subscription action Action performed date + X UOT (i.e. + 1 month)
    • Subscription Service Initial Effective Date
    • Subscription Service Initial Effective Date + X UOT (i.e. + 1 month)
    • Subscription Service Latest Effective Date
    • Subscription Service Latest Effective Date + X UOT (i.e. + 1 month)
    • Binding Start Date
    • Binding Start Date + X UOT (i.e. + 1 month)
    • Agreement Date
    • Agreement Date + X UOT (i.e. + 1 month)
    Discount Options*

    Determines

    Extend allowed cancel date causes

    Determines the causes of extending the allowed cancel date. Multiple options can be selected. The supported options are the following:

    • Extend based on days in resting
    • Extend based on disconnected days
    • Extend based on grace periods
    Extended tiered-rate, maturity-based price rates causes

    Determines the causes that should automatically extend the price rate (extend an offering that is already applied to a subscription). Multiple options can be selected. The supported options are the following:

    • Extend based on binding end date
    Allowed billing frequencies

    Determines which of the billing frequencies should be allowed to be used and provides a different name if needed, by specifying the following:

    • Billing Frequency
    • Billing Frequency Label

    The default behavior is to allow all the predefined billing frequencies, except the custom ones. The Billing frequency that will be selected as the billing term scheme’s default billing frequency, will also be kept at the billing term scheme’s header.

    Allowed binding periods

    Determines which of the binding periods should be allowed to be used and provides a different name if needed, by specifying the following:

    • Binding Period
    • Binding Period Label

    The default behavior is to allow all the predefined binding periods, except the custom ones. The Binding period that will be selected as the billing term scheme’s default binding period, will also be kept at the billing term scheme’s header.

    Supported services

    Determines which services are supported by the billing term scheme. This means that the billing term scheme related to a subscription will define which services are available to exist on the subscription. If a billing term scheme does not include any services as supported ones, then this means that all services are allowed for this scheme.

    This section is also used in order to define the billing type per supported service in cases in which a services has a different billing type compared to the billing term scheme’s type, that is, override the billing term scheme’s billing type. The supported billing types are the following:

    • Post Bill Services: Post Bill Services determine a set of services which should be billed after they have been used. Multiple services can be defined as post bill services. Services defined in this list should not be included in pre bill services list. If no services are specified then all services are considered to be pre billed.
    • Pre Bill Services: Pre Bill Services determine a set of services which should be billed in advance, before they have been used. Multiple services can be defined as pre bill services. Services defined in this list should not be included in post bill services list. This list should be calculated dynamically and should include all allowed services which are not specified as post bill services.

    Only termed, usage and expense services are allowed to be added in that list

    Allowed price plansDetermines which price plans should be allowed to be used during the creation of billing terms having that billing term scheme. By default all price plan can be selected in the allowed price plans of a billing term scheme. If a billing term scheme does not include any price plan as allowed ones, then this means that all valid price plans are allowed for this scheme.
    Services extending bindingDetermines the services that can extend the allowed cancellation date or the allowed cancellation date and binding end date whenever they are added on a billable entity.

    Defining your own Billing Term Schemes for Subscriptions tailored to your company's needs

  • Navigate to CONFIGURATION > BILLING APPLICATION > BILLING > SET UP BILLING TERM SCHEMES
  • Either search for an existing one or from the Top Menu click on NEW
    BILLING TERM SCHEMESImage Removed 
  • MAIN INFORMATION

    1. Provide information for the following fields

      1. Code: Provide code for the scheme

      2. Name:  Provide name for the scheme
      3. Type: Select Normal from the Drop down list
      4. Classification: Select Subscription from the Drop down List
      5. Description:  Provide a description for the scheme
  • ALLOWED ATTRIBUTES

    1. SERVICES

      1. Click on ADD to search and add the services that will be available for subscription created based on the specific scheme
      2. Billing Type: Select between pre-Bill and Post Bill

        Info
        titleChanging Billing Type for multiple services

        • Add all the services 

        • Select all the services that will have the same billing type

        • Click on SET BILLING TYPES to open the modal

        • Select the Billing Type you would like to apply

    2. BILLING FREQUENCIES

      1. Click on ADD to select the Billing Frequencies that will be available for subscription created based on the specific scheme
    3. BINDING PERIODS

      1. Click on ADD to select the Binding Periods that will be available for subscription created based on the specific scheme
    4. PRICE PLANS
      1. Click on ADD to select from the drop down list the price plans that will be available for subscription created based on the specific scheme
  • BILLING RULES

    1. GENERIC

      1. Billing Method: Select the billing method from the drop down list

      2. Allowed Cycle Day: Provide the day up until which a subscription will be billed
        If the Billing Method chosen is ANNIVERSARY  then you can define ALLOWED CYCLE DAY RANGE,  and the user will select the day when creating the subscription

      3. Billable Period Start Date: Select the billing method from the drop down list

      4. Billing Effective Date: Select the billing method from the drop down list

      5. Discount Option: Select the billing method from the drop down list. 
        Select Flexible Pricing if you would like to enable Additive Discounts application

      6. Allow Concurrent Usage: Check the box if you would like to enable concurrent usage

    2. BINDING PERIOD EXTENSIONS

      1. Causes Extending Binding End Date: Check the box next to the process that you would like to extend the defined date
      2. Causes Extending Allowed Cancellation Date: Check the box next to the process that you would like to extend the defined date
      3. Causes Extending Tiered Rate, Maturity-Based Price Rates: Click on ADD and search for Product / Product Type, that when added it will force the End Dates to be extended 
      4. Services Extending Binding: Click on ADD  and search for Product / Product Type, that when added it will force the End Dates to be extended 
        1. Extension Options: Select from the drop down list, whether Allowed Cancellation date and/or Binding End Date will be updated
  • From the Actions Menu click on SAVE
  • LOG INFORMATION

    Include PageLog Information - GlobalLog Information - Global AnchoramendamendAmending Billing Term Schemes for SubscriptionsBilling Term Schemes cannot be updated in case there is at least one subscription/job that

    if the Billing Terms will use a 'Fixed' or 'Flexible' pricing. If 'Fixed' pricing is selected, Additive Discounts cannot be applied on Subscriptions and Jobs having Billing Terms of this specific Scheme.

    Allow Concurrent UsageDetermines if Concurrent Usage-based pricing, which is used to bill the customer based on the number of concurrent Services used or Physical Goods sold, is allowed to be specified in Billing Terms of this specific Scheme.

    Binding Period Extensions

    Causes Extending Binding End Date

    Determines which Subscription Actions on a can cause the extension of the Binding End Date.

    • Extend based on days 'In Resting'
    • Extend based on 'Not Effective' days
    • Extend based on 'Grace Periods'.
    Causes Extending Allowed Cancellation Date

    Determines which Subscription Actions can cause the extension of the Allowed Cancellation Date.

    • Extend based on days 'In Resting'
    • Extend based on 'Not Effective' days
    • Extend based on 'Grace Periods'.
    Causes Extending Tiered-rate, Maturity-based Price Rates

    Determines whether agreed Price Rates should be extended based on the Binding End Date, in case a Price Plan Rate modification occurred since the original agreement.

    Services Extending BindingDetermines the Services or Service Types that when added to a Subscription should extend the Allowed Cancellation Date or the Allowed Cancellation Date along with Binding End Date
    Log Information
    Log DetailsThe standard set of Log Details information available in all entities.

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    Additional Actions for Billing Term Schemes

    Billing Term Schemes cannot be updated ifat least one Subscription/Job uses the specific Billing Term Scheme. If a Billing Term Scheme is required to change then a new Version of the scheme will be created. In this way:

  • When Billing Term Scheme A Version 1 is amended and Version 2 is created
  • Then

  • Subscriptions that have been created with Billing Term Scheme A Version 1, will keep abiding by rules and restrictions on Billing Term Scheme A Version 1
  • Subscriptions that have been created with Billing Term Scheme A Version 2, will abide by rules and restrictions on Billing Term Scheme A Version 2
  • Amend Billing Term Scheme

    To amend a Billing Term Scheme follow the steps below

    1. Navigate to CONFIGURATION > BILLING APPLICATION > BILLING > SET UP BILLING TERM SCHEMESto Billing Term Schemes
    2. Search for an existing Billing Term Scheme
    3. Click on the number of the scheme to go to the Data Entry Page
    4. From the Actions Menu click on on ACTIONS > AMEND
    5. Make the required changes
    • Note that the following fields cannot be amended
      • Code
      • Type
      • Classification

    System Processing

    • New Billing Term Scheme
      • Version number will increase by 1
      • Effective Date will be set to the current date
      • All the configuration will be carried over from previous version
    • Previous Billing Term Scheme
      • Expired On  will be set to the current date
      • Life Cycle Date will be updated to Terminated

    Viewing Previous Versions 

    Accessing a billing term scheme with multiple versions, you will always see the latest version, while you have the option to View configuration of Previous versions by using the "VIEW PREVIOUS VERSIONS" link found in the Main Information tab
    1. Click on the VIEW PREVIOUS VERSIONS link
      EFFECTIVE BILLING TERM SCHEMEImage Removed
    2. Search from the modal for the version you would like to see
    3. Select the version
      1. The system will now show the configuration of  the version you have selected.
    4. To go back to the current version click on the CURRENT VERSION link under Main Information
      EXPIRED BILLING TERM SCHEMEImage Removed

    Deleting Billing Term Schemes for Subscriptions

    Include PageDeleting a record - GlobalDeleting a record - Global

     

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