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Setting Up Products

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 Configuration > Finance Applications > Products

 

Product Families

Product families are used to group products derived from a common product platform, using similar or identical production processes and having similar physical or behavioural characteristics, for example, decoders or modems.

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Product Categories are used to provide a business classification to products which can be used at a later stage by business for analysis.

Product types

Product Types types define and implement the behaviour of your products.  Through the type, a product can be specified as a service or a physical good, whether it will be used for provisioning and whether it can have components of its own.  Refer to the table below for a comprehensive description of product type characteristics and the qualities products inherit from their type, depending on selected characteristics.

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Classifications

Determines whether products of that type are Physical Goods or Services.

ValuesDefinitionExamplesUsage Conditions
Physical GoodA physical good is a tangible commodity which is provided to customers, such as cameras, decoders and magazines. In most cases, the customer has exclusive ownership of the purchased good. Physical Goods can be traceable or not traceable.Modem or Remote Control Unconditional
ServiceA Service is an intangible commodity which is provided to customers, such as telephony, TV channels, repairs, installations and deliveries. In most cases the customer does not have exclusive ownership of the purchased Service rather benefits from the Service's outcome. Services can be one-off or recurring.TV Channel, VOD, Installation Service (Fee) Unconditional
 Physical Good Type  
ValuesDefinitionExamplesUsage Conditions
TraceablePhysical goods that can be traced through a unique identifier which is usually a serial number.Modem with a serial numberOnly available if classification is defined as 'Physical Good'.
Non-TraceablePhysical goods which are not traced to a single instance and are measured based on their quantity.Remote ControlOnly available if classification is defined as 'Physical Good'.
  Service Type  
ValuesDefinitionExamplesUsage Conditions
UsageServices that are provided upon customer request and are billed, based on their usage.A VOD (Movie) ordered and added on a subscription that will be billed once.
A telephone call logged on a subscription with a duration of 10 minutes that will be billed based on its usage.
Only available if classification is defined as 'Service'.
TermedServices that are provided continuously and billed on a recurring basis, regardless of their usage.A TV Channel that will be added to a subscription and will be billed on a recurring basis.Only available if classification is defined as 'Service'.
One TimeServices that are provided just once, usually upon customer request, and are billed just once by the Billing Engine based on their duration.An installation service which will be added to an activity and will be billed according to how long it took the installed to complete.Only available if classification is defined as 'Service'.
ExpenseServices that are provided and billed just once and for a fixed amount of money.An installation fee which can be added to a job or a subscription and will be billed once for a fixed amount.

Only available if classification is defined as 'service'.

Composition Method

Determines the composition of the Product, which can be a flat, a flexible bundle product or a fixed bundle product.

ValuesDefinitionExamplesUsage Conditions
FlatSingle Service or Physical Good.Single channel, installation service, modem.Unconditional 
Flexible BundleA bundle of Products with one or more Product components.A channel bouquet that allows customers to select the channels they want to add to their bouquet.Only available if classification is defined as 'service' and type is set to 'termed'.
Fixed BundleA bundle of Product components which are predefined and cannot be specified individually.

A channel bouquet with predefined channels.

An installation hardware kid that includes all equipment required to set up a new triple play subscription. i.e. a Roku box and a Modem.

Available if classification is defined as 'service' and type is 'termed' or classification is 'physical good.'

  Can be Provisioned  
ValuesDefinitionExamplesUsage Conditions
EnabledProducts of that type are used for provisioning purposes by third-party providers who are integrated with the CRM.COM Software.TV channel, VOD, PPV, Decoder, ModemUnconditional
DisabledProducts of this type are not used for provisioningAntenna, Start up feeUnconditional
UDR Type
ValuesDefinitionExamplesUsage Conditions
All the available values of UDR typesDetermines the type of the UDR that will be created once a usage service of this type is provided.VOD, PETROLPetrol, PHONECALLPhonecallAvailable if classification is defined as 'service' and type is 'usage'

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Main InformationAvailable for products of classification

Code: A unique code used to identify the product across the system

Type: The type of the product will determine its overall behaviour. Once type is selected, the characteristics tab is populated with information related to the characteristics that will be inherited by the selected Product Type. Click on ' Create New Product Type' to create a new one directly through the product's screen.

Brand & Family:  Add brand and family to products to categorise them accordingly.

Alternative Code: Provide an alternative code which can be used as an alternative to identifying the product across the system.

Description: Use the description field to provide a marketing description for your product which can differ from the code.

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Product Performance

By clicking CALCULATE , view valuable financial information related to the sales of the product in the last 12 months

  • Performance Calculation Period: The period that the performance is calculated for
  • Total Revenue of this Product: The total revenue of the service calculated as the total amount billed excluding taxed amounts (VAT and other Taxes)
  • Number of subscriptions the service is active: The total number of all the subscriptions that include this service as active and that was firstly activated within the performance period (Only available for termed services)
Termed Services & Physical Goods
Type CharacteristicsThe characteristics of the product based on the selected type.All
CategoriesThe categories that the product is part of based on specific shared attributes.All
Product Validity

Defines the period for which the product is available to be used for new business transactions and which can be always, for a user defined period or from a date onward.

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Components

Available only if the selected Type has a composition set to Flexible or Fixed Bundle.

Bundle Components

For Flexible Bundle product type:

 Define products or product types and/or families from which products can be selected to be added to the bundle by the user on adding the bundle to a subscription.
Minimum Quantity: Provide the minimum number of products that can be added for the specific product, type or family, on the flexible bundle. The value of 0 is accepted and mandatory; Null is not allowed.
Maximum Quantity : Provide the maximum number of products that can be added for the specific product, type or family, on the flexible bundle.

Refer to Setting up Flexible Product Bundles  

 

For Fixed Bundle product type: Define products that are added when the bundle is added to either a subscription or job. Refer to Allowed Components for Fixed Product Bundles.

Quantity: Provide the quantity of the product added to the fixed bundle. (Available for Fixed Bundles only.)

Termed services and physical goods
Bundle Restrictions

Only available for products of Flexible Bundle type

Define restrictions on the number of different families or types of the components of the product source;
This is used optionally for filtering when defining the actual components of a Product on creating a subscription. By leaving the tab empty, the user will be allowed to add from multiple types and families available in the Bundle Components tab.

Use Products from only X Product Families: Specify the number of families that can be used. For example, if this is set to 1, then all the products that can be selected as components must belong to the same product family.

Use Products from only X Product Types: Specify the number of types that can be used. For example, if this is set to 1, then all the products that can be selected as components must belong to the same product type.

Termed services and physical goods
Pricing and Billing
Tax Rates

The tax and VAT rates applicable for the product which will be used during billing, to decide which one to apply based on pre-configured rules location rules.
VAT and tax rates are automatically set on the product based on existing configuration of VAT and tax rates based on product types, however you have the option to add more by clicking on 'ADD' to add more rates applicable to the product.
Every Tax Code added may have multiple tax and VAT rates.
Only the one defined as Applied will be considered during the billing of the product

Refer to Platform for more information

All
Billing Term Schemes

Billing terms are directly related to subscriptions and provide information on how a product added to a subscription should be billed, for example, before or after its usage. Through this section you can see the billing term schemes that already include the specific product and add the product to the ones that don't include it.
If the product is a termed service and added to a normal billing term scheme then you can define whether it is pre-bill or post bill (billed before or after its usage) as well as whether it should be excluded from deactivation runs. (for example, free to air channels)
If the product is a termed service and added to a prepaid billing term scheme then you can define whether it is pre-paid or post-paid (paid before or after its usage) and if pre-paid the period for which the customer must pay in advance.

Refer to Subscriptions for more information.

Termed services and expenses
Subscription Types

Subscription types define your subscription offerings, thus once products are created they must be added to the subscription type. Through this section you can see the types that the product already belongs to and add to the ones that it doesn't. If you add to a subscription type, that includes billing term schemes that do not have the product, then those billing term schemes will be automatically added.

Termed services, expenses and physical goods

Price Plans

Through price plans you provide the rates with which the product is billed. Through this section you can see all the price plans the product is included and add it to ones that is not included along with information required by the price plan such as the rate model the rate and whether the defined rate should be applied to product of it is a component of a product bundle.

Refer to Price PlansPlansd for more information

All product classification except usage services
Usage Service Catalogs

Usage service catalogs include information and rates for usage service products. Through this section you can see all the usage service catalogs the usage service is included.

Usage services
Discounts

The additive discounts are used to apply discounts to products after any discounts applied through price plans or usage service catalogs. Through this section you can see the additive discounts applicable to the product (i.e. the discounts that have the products in its Discounted Products section) for the current period, add to new discounts that it doesn't already belong to or create new discounts through which the product will be discounted.
Refer to Additive Discounts for more information

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Providers

Providers are third party systems which CRM integrates with and are needed in case that a product must be provisioned through them, i.e. a roku box or a tv channel. Through this section you can see the providers the product already is provisioned for and add it to ones that it is not yet provisioned along with a unique id used by the provider to identify the product.
For each provider, (available on the left column) you must select at least one distributor through which the product is distributed by, by checking the Applied box.
Refer to Provisioningfor more information

Termed services and Physical goods
Job Types

The job types provide the overall behaviour of jobs. Products added to the job type can be sold or given through jobs of that type. Through this section you can see the jobs that include the product and add it to the ones that is not and define whether it is mandatory to add the product to jobs of the type or not by selecting the applicable classification.
Refer to Jobs for more information

Expenses and physical goods
Activity Types

Activity types provide the overall behaviour of activities. One time services added to the activity type can be used by activities of that type. Through this section you can see all activity types that already include the product and add it to the ones that don't along with the minimum time

allowed to be spent for delivering the service whether the time can be changed or is fixed and well as whether it is optional or mandatory to add this service to activities of this type.
Refer to Activities for more information

One off
Stock Balance
View the stock balance of the product across all the warehouses along with analytic view of stock per warehouse. If the product is also a part of a product bundle then the number of bundles it belongs to are also available.Physical goods
Images & Attachments

Product Image: You can add up to 4 images for the product and define one as a default along with a product alt text available in case the image is not shown.

Files & URL: The attachments associated with the Product.

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titleConfiguring products for new subscription offer

Scenario 1.

Company ZX has introduced a new series of products through its new Streaming TV campaign. Subscribers require to have a streaming device which is offered by Company ZX, for streaming content. Subscribers that wish to switch to streaming will be charged with a switch fee and if they require installation an extra charge is imposed .


Solution

Assuming that you already have set up in the system your subscription type, billing term schemes, price plans, disoucnts, provisioning provider you can proceed with directly creating your new products.

Products

  1. For each of the new products create a respective product type (if it doesn't already exist) directly from the products screen by clicking on New Product Type. Check the table below for instruction on how to set up each product type
  2. Once the product type is created for each of the products, and the basic information of the product defined proceed by adding the product to the following entities through the Pricing & Billing tab
    Termed Services (Channels) and Expenses (Switch Fee)
    1. Define tax rates applicable to the product which are not already selected
    2. Select the billing term schemes the product will be billed through and define whether it will be excluded from deactivation (only if its a free to air channel) as well whether it will be billed or paid before or after its usage
    3. Select the price plans it should be billed from, and provide a rate for the product
    4. If the product should be discounted then add the product to any existing discounts or create new ones to be applied for this product
    5. Select and add the products to subscription types which define the offerings provided to the subscribers
    6. Select and add the termed service products to the provisioning provider responsible for provisioning them along with their provisioning id
    Usage Services (PPV and VOD)
    1. Define tax rates applicable to the product which are not already selected
    2. If the product should be discounted then add the product to any existing discounts or create new ones to be applied for this product
    3. Select and add the products to the provisioning provider responsible for provisioning them along with their provisioning id
    4. Unlike the rest of the product classifications, usage services must then be added in the Usage Service Catalogs they will be available from through the respective screen
  3. One time Service (Installation service)
    1. Define tax rates applicable to the product which are not already selected
    2. Select the price plans it should be billed from, and provide a rate for the product
    3. If the product should be discounted then add the product to any existing discounts or create new ones to be applied for this product
    4. Select and add the products to the activity types which activities for installation will be created for and the installation service charged
    Physical Goods (Roku box)
    1. Define tax rates applicable to the product which are not already selected
    2. Select the price plans it should be billed from, and provide a rate for the product
    3. If the product should be discounted then add the product to any existing discounts or create new ones to be applied for this product
    4. Select and add the product to subscription types which define the offerings provided to the subscribers
    5. Select and add the product to the provisioning provider responsible for provisioning it
  4. For each of the termed services and usage services provide an image which will be available for customers through the Images & Attachments tab


Product Type

Classification

Physical Good Types

Service Type

Composition Method

Used For Provisioning

ProductsProduct Example

PPV & VOD

Service

 

Usage

Flat

Yes

Create all the VOD and PPV events that you will be offeringMad Max, Seven, Game of Thrones, Champions League

Subscription channels

Service

 

Termed

Flat

Yes

Create all the channels that will be available for selectionEuronews, CNN, National Geographic, Al Jazeera, Russia TV, FOX News

Streaming Players

Physical Good

Traceable

 

Flat

Yes

Create all the streaming players that you will have availableRoku Box
One time ChargesService ExpenseFlatNoCreate the switch fee that the subscribers will be charged with when switching to stream tvSwitch fee
Hourly ChargesService One TimeFlatNoCreate the installation fee that subscribers will be charged with when they request installationInstallation service
Note
titleNotes
  • If you are using a previous release, view CRM.COM Release Changes.
  • Use the Products WEB API to view available products from an external system, such as a customer portal. View the Products WEB API for a complete list of actions available through the WEB API.

Glossary  

CRM.COM TermDefinition
JobSmall project initiated by the operator for customers, involving the delivery and billing of services and products, as well as activities. Customer requests and orders, such as that for a new subscription, can be initiated and registered through a job.
SubscriptionA collection of services which is provided to customers and billed on a recurring, usage or One-Time basis.
ActivitySmall task or action that is either stand-alone or must be completed as part of a larger project.
CommunicationUsed to log bidirectional interaction between customers and agents conducted through email, SMS, telephony, letters or face to face interaction.
Provisioning Distributor

Distributors are used to relate subscription services and subscription associated devices to a specific Provisioning Provider as well as define what services will be available from each device, if more than one device is available on a single subscription.

CRM.COM offers integration with several providers.

 

 

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