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Overview
Usage Service Catalogs maintain information related to services which are provided upon customer request and charged based on their usage. Usage services may vary from movies (PPV and VOD) to video games or telephone calls or even petrol and gas, depending on your line of business.
Major features
- Information included in the catalogs includes the pricing of the service which can differ based on its usage as well as the validity of the services.
- Additional information required when integrating with third party systems that provide the provisioning, such as provider and provisioning id is included in the catalogs.
- Over-The-Top (OTT) business model is supported by using usage service catalogs.
- Usage service catalog services are available to be added to subscriptions through the 'Add Usage Service' subscription action, through which they are managed and billed.
Setting Up Usage Service Catalogs
Business definitions
Usage Service Catalog Definitions are business rules used to provide general rules for Usage Service Catalogs maintained in the system. Define the allowed usage service types and the provisioning providers available when creating a usage service catalog, as well as default billing rates for different type of usage services to be added to catalogs.
Usage Service Catalog Definition Data Entry page
Definition fields
This table contains an explanation of the sections of the usage service catalog definition Data Entry page, a description of the usage of its fields and additional information.
Mandatory
Configurable
Allowed Attributes Defines the attributes that can be used for creating or modifying Usage Service Catalogs. | |
|---|---|
| Provisioning Providers | If services are related to third party provisioning providers then the catalog can be related to the provider, so that required information (such as, provisioning id) is directly provided from the catalog instead of the provider. Define the providers that will be available for selection when creating new service catalogs. |
| Usage Service Types | Defines the pool of products that you can choose from to add to yout usage service catalogs. You can select only product types classified as 'Usage Services', and also define the default product type which is automatically selected when adding a new usage service product. |
| Default Rates per Usage Service Type To limit the time needed to setup your catalogs, you can predefine rates based on the product type. In this way each product added will get the rate defined in the definition for its type and you only amend to a different rate if needed. | |
Pre-Rated: There are cases where rates to services are initiated from third party systems. These services can then be imported to CRM.COM through the WEB API but you may choose not to apply CRM.COM rates as the rate comes directly from the external system. By checking the pre-rated field, then usage services are billed based on the rates imported, therefore the Base Rate' and 'Tiered Rates' fields in the catalog will not be available to be set.
| |
| Tiered Rates | The tiered rates of the specified usage service type. Each rate is defined in a different row and it will be applied only if the conditions defined on the row are met. You can define multiple rates but the conditions should not overlap. Tiered rates consist of the following:
Tiered Rates conditions should not overlap. e.g. You cannot define the same condition in two different rows with a different Tiered Rate. |
Related configuration areas
The following modules are related to price plans and must be configured in order to be able to start using them
| Manual Link | Area | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Product Types and Products | The product types that you would like to provide a rate for must already be configured. |
Using Usage Service Catalogs
Finance > Product & Pricing > Usage Service Catalogs > Manage Usage Service Catalogs
Usage Service Catalog Data Entry page
Usage service catalogs fields
This table contains an explanation of the sections of the usage service catalogs Data Entry page, a description of the usage of its fields and additional information.
Mandatory
Configurable
| Main Information | |
|---|---|
Note that only services from 'Effective' usage service catalogs can be added to subscriptions. | |
| |
Defines the period for which the catalog is available and its services can be used to be added to subscriptions; validity can be set to always, for a user defined period or from a date onward. For example you can provide your customers with a number of services, such as movies that will only be available during Summer months. | |
Defines the usage services offered through the specific catalog, their rates which can be based on conditions, and the validity period of each service.
Pre-Rated: There are cases where rates to services are initiated from third party systems. These services can then be imported to CRM.COM through the WEB API but you may choose not to apply CRM.COM rates as the rate comes directly from the external system. By checking the pre-rated field, then usage services are billed based on the rates imported, therefore the Base Rate' and 'Tiered Rates' fields in the catalog will not be available to be set.
Provisioning ID: The ID that will be used to provision the usage service from the third party system; i.e. the provisioning provider. Start Date / Time: The date and time during which the provisioning of the usage service will start. For example you can set that a PPV show will be available from the 1st of January 2017 9:00 am End Date / Time: The date and time during which the provisioning of the usage service will end. For example you can set that a PPV show will be available till the 2nd of January 2017 0:00 pm | |
| Tiered Rates | Through tiered rates provide rates which are different than the base rate and are applied given that certain conditions are met. Multiple rates can be specified but the specified conditions should not overlap. At least one condition should be specified if a rate is specified. Tiered rates consist of the following:
|
Subscription Conditions Defines conditions related with subscriptions that should be fulfilled for the Usage Service Catalog and its services to be available for selection when adding services to the subscription Multiple rows can be added in each Condition section. For example, in Subscription Type conditions three Subscription Types can be added. At least one of the conditions should be fulfilled for the Usage Service Catalog to be available. If conditions are added in multiple sections, e.g. an Account Classification and Subscription Type, then both conditions must be met | |
The type the subscription should be of to be allowed to add services from the catalog. | |
The billing term scheme the subscription should have to be allowed to add services from the catalog. | |
| The price plan the subscription should have of to be allowed to add services from the catalog. | |
The termed services belonging to the subscription. Only termed services or termed service types can be defined. | |
| Accounts Receivable Conditions Defines conditions related with Accounts Receivable that should be fulfilled for the Usage Service Catalog to be available for selection. Multiple rows can be added in each Condition section. For example, in Subscription Type conditions three Subscription Types can be added. At least one of the conditions should be fulfilled for the Usage Service Catalog to be available. If conditions are added in multiple sections, e.g. an Account Classification and Subscription Type, then both conditions must be met. | |
| The classification of the account handling the billing of the subscription should have to be allowed to add services from the catalog. | |
| The credit rating of the account handling the billing of the subscription should have to be allowed to add services from the catalog. | |
Creating and processing usage service catalogs
Actions are subject to validations which take place before an action is initiated (prerequisite) or after it is submitted (postcondition).
Selecting and creating a usage service catalogs
Navigate to usage service catalogs and specify the criteria that match the usage service catalogs you are interested in, or click on NEW from the Actions Menu to create a new usage service catalog. Proceed by providing the mandatory information as defined in the attributes table above before you SAVE the catalog. Make sure that the life cycle state of the catalog is set to 'Effective' and the validity dates are set correctly in order to be able to start adding services from the catalog to a subscription.
Editing existing usage service catalogs
Use EDIT from the Actions Menu to enter edit mode and add new usage service rates, edit or delete existing ones or change validity and conditions set on the catalog
Additional Information
Prerequisites | Catalogs can only be updated if their life cycle state is:
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|---|---|
| Postconditions | Usage services already included in the catalog can be removed only if catalog's life cycle state is:
(Service information can be updated even if they are added to a subscription and not already billed) |
Deleting a usage service catalog
Use DELETE from the Actions Menu to delete a Usage Service Catalog, so that it is no longer available in the list of catalogs.
Additional Information
Prerequisites | Catalogs can only be deleted if their life cycle state is:
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Cancelling a usage service catalog
Cancel a catalog and its included services so that it will no longer be available to be added to a subscription but will still available to be viewed in the system. Cancelled catalogs can be deleted but not modified.
To cancel a catalog while in the Data Entry page click on Actions> Cancel from the Actions Menu.
Additional Information
Prerequisites | Catalogs can only be cancelled if their life cycle state is:
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Changing the life cycle state of a usage service catalog
Alter the life cycle state of a catalog from 'Effective' to 'Not Effective' and vice versa, to control when usage services from the specific catalog are available for selection to add to a subscription. 'Effective' catalogs are available to subscribers, while 'Not Effective' and 'Draft' and 'Cancelled' catalogs are not. To change the state from the Actions Menu click on Actions > Set as Not Effective or Actions > Set as Effective
Additional Information
Prerequisites | Catalogs can have their life cycle state changed to ' Effective' if existing life cycle state is 'Draft' or 'Not Effective' Catalogs can have their life cycle state changed to ' Not Effective' if existing life cycle state is 'Effective' |
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Usage Service Catalogs Business Examples
Scenario 1
Company ZX has introduced new packages for OTT subscribers. The OTT packages include several PPV (Pay-Per-View) movies.
• Movies are charged €5.00 when provided between 00:01 and 6:59 and €10.00 at other times.
• Older movies are charged €3.00 at all times.
• To be able to order any PPV movies, subscribers must first have an 'Effective' PPV Service on their Subscription.
• Movies are free for VIP subscribers.
• The movies should be billed instantly.
Orders can be placed through customers' decoders or by calling the Call Centre.
Solution
To meet the above requirement the following system configurations must be performed:
• Product Types (Type Service Usage)
• Movies must be imported or created in the system with a usage service classification product type
• Provider must be configured (provisioning IDs for each OTT Service should be defined)
• Usage service catalog definitions must be configured and activated
• Usage service catalogs must be created including the movies to be made available
○ 1 Catalog for VIP subscribers
○ 1 Catalog for Normal subscribers
• Normal billing term scheme, usage service billing rules must be set so that billing should take place every time one or more movies are added.
Configuration
Product Types
| Product Types | Classification | Service Type | Composition Method | Used For Provisioning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usage Services | Service | Usage | Flat | Yes |
| Termed Services | Service | Termed | Flat | Yes |
Products
| Product | Type | Information |
|---|---|---|
| PPV Service | Termed Services | This Service will be used to authorise the addition of PPV movies to the Subscription. |
| PPV movies | One product must be created per PPV movie to be made available. Usage Services are added in usage service catalogs and not in Price Plans. | |
| Lord Of the Rings 1 | Usage Service | |
| Serendipity | Usage Service | |
| Limitless | Usage Service | |
Provisioning Provider
NagraVision Media Live provider is used as an example:
| Provisioning Provider | Provisioning Protocol | End Point | Username | Password | Encoding | Distributors | Services | Physical Goods |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nagra Media Platform | Nagra Media Live Platform | http://ott.nagra.com/customer/VTV/api/smsservice_1.2?wsdl | Request password | Request password | UTF-8 | Nagra Media Live Main | Define via Usage Service Catalogs | Thomson Decoders |
Usage Service Catalog Definitions
| Life Cycle State | Allowed Attributes | Default Rates per usage Service Type | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usage Service Types | Provisioning Providers | Service Type | Base Rate | Tiered Rate | Conditions | |
| Active | Usage Services | Nagra Media Live | Usage Services | €10.00 | €5.00 |
|
Usage Service Catalog for Normal Subscribers
| Provisioning Provider | Validity | Usage Services | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usage Service | Base Rate | Provisioning ID | Tiered Rate | Conditions | Comments | ||
| Nagra Media Live Platform | Always Valid | Lord of the Rings | €10.00 | 1AQ8 | €5.00 |
| Usage service details will be automatically set as in the definition (base rate, tiered rate, tiered rate conditions). |
| Nagra Media Live Platform | Always Valid | Limitless | €10.00 | 1BQ1 | €5.00 |
| Usage service details will be automatically set as in the definition (base rate, tiered rate, tiered rate conditions). |
| Nagra Media Live Platform | Always Valid | Serendipity (Old Movie) | €5.00 | 1BQ4 | Usage service details will be automatically set as in the definition (base rate, tiered rate, tiered rate conditions), in which case the user must update the base rate to €5.00 manually and remove any set tiered rates.
| ||
Usage Service Catalog for VIP Subscribers
| Provisioning Provider | Validity | Usage Services | Accounts Receivable Conditions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usage Service | Base Rate | Provisioning ID | Tiered Rate | Conditions | Comments | |||
| Nagra Media Live Platform | Always Valid | Lord of the Rings | €0.00 | 1AQ8 | €0.00 |
| Usage service details will be automatically set as in the definition (base rate, tiered rate, tiered rate conditions), in which case the user must update them all to €0.00 and remove tiered rates. | Classification = VIP |
| Nagra Media Live Platform | Always Valid | Limitless | €0.00 | 1BQ1 | €0.00 |
| Usage service details will be automatically set as in the definition (base rate, tiered rate, tiered rate conditions), in which case the user must update them all to €0.00 and remove tiered rates. | Classification = VIP |
| Nagra Media Live Platform | Always Valid | Serendipity (Old Movie) | €0.00 | 1BQ4 | €0.00 | Usage service details will be automatically set as in the definition (base rate, tiered rate, tiered rate conditions), in which case the user must update them all to €0.00 and remove tiered rates. | Classification = VIP | |
Normal Billing Term Scheme
| Usage Services Billing Rules |
|---|
| Maximum number of unbilled UDRs |
| 1 |
User Process
Subscribers can order PPV movies in one of the following ways:
- A portal that can be integrated to CRM.COM using our WEB API library
- The subscriber's device. Integration to CRM.COM is required
- Through CRM.COM User Interface using Add Service Usage
Notes
- If you are using a previous release, view CRM.COM Release Changes.
- Use the usage service catalogs WEB API to create and manage usage service catalogs from an external system, such as a customer portal. View the usage service catalogs WEB API for a complete list of actions available through the WEB API. Use the Add Service Usage WEB API to add usage services to a subscription.
Glossary
| CRM.COM Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| OTT model | A broadcasting model that works with Over The Top content, that is audio, video, and other media transmitted via the Internet as standalone products. |
| UDR - Usage Detail Records | Subscription Usage Detail Record. UDRs are used to hold raw information describing the use of Usage Subscription Services. For more information view Usage Detail Records. |
| Provisioning Provider | Provisioning Providers are third-party systems with which CRM.COM integrated and are used to provide Services to subscribers such as Video Content, Telephony or games. |
| Termed Service | Services that are billed on a term and cycle continuously. |
| Subscription | A collection of customer services billed on a recurring, usage or one-time basis. |
| Accounts Receivable | An accounts receivable is a ledger of the financial transactions carried out between a company and its customers, such as invoices and payments. |