Products Getting Started

Products are Physical Goods or Services used by business transactions within the System. Services represent any intangible commodity which is provided to customers, such as telephony, TV channels, repairs, installations or deliveries. Physical Goods represent any tangible commodity which is provided/sold to customers, such as cameras, decoders or magazines.

What Comes First

To start using Products,  configure the System to support your business model. In the following table, find the configuration modules related to Products.

Sub-module	Type	Classification	Navigation	Dig In
Product Types	Configuration		CONFIGURATIONFOUNDATION APPLICATIONPRODUCTSPRODUCT TYPES	Products
Products	Application		FOUNDATIONPRODUCTSMANAGE PRODUCTS	Products
Product Families	Configuration		CONFIGURATIONFOUNDATION APPLICATIONPRODUCTSSET UP FAMILIES	Products
Product Brands	Configuration		CONFIGURATIONFOUNDATION APPLICATIONPRODUCTSSET UP BRANDS	Products
Product Categories	Configuration		CONFIGURATIONFOUNDATION APPLICATIONPRODUCTSSET UP CATEGORIES	Products

Step 1: Setting up Product Types

Start by configuring the Product Types which will be used as your base for creating the various types of Products.

Product Types are used to define and implement the behaviour of Products. Product Types are used when Products are created or modified.  Products can have only one Type, through which you can distinguish between the following:

• Classification:  Whether the Product is a Service (intangible commodity such as a TV channel or movie) or a Physical Good  (tangible commodity such as a Smartcard, modem or decoder).
• Service Type: Available only if the Product Type is classified as a Service, and determines whether it is a One Time Service, a Usage Service, a Termed Service or an Expense. One Time Services and Expenses are provided just once and are billed just once; e.g. an installation Service. 
  Termed Services are provided continuously and billed on a recurring basis, regardless of their usage; e.g. a recurring Pay TV Service which includes specific channels. 
  Usage Services are provided upon customer request and are billed based on their usage; e.g. a Pay Per View movie or Telephony Calls. 
• Physical Good Type: Available only if the Product Type is classified as a Physical Good, and determines whether the Physical Good is Traceable or Non-Traceable. 
  Traceable Physical Goods can be traced through a unique identifier which is usually a serial number; e.g. a decoder with a unique serial number. 
  Non-traceable Physical Goods are not traced to a single instance and are measured based on their quantity; e.g. 10 meters of cable.
• Composition: Determines whether the Product is a Flat, Flexible Bundle or Fixed Bundle Product.
  • Flexible Bundle Products are available if the Classification is defined as Termed Service.
  • Fixed Bundle Products are available if the Classification is defined as Termed Service or Physical Good.
• Used for Provisioning: Determines whether Products of that Type are used for provisioning purposes by third-party providers.

Step 2: Creating your Product

Once the Product Types are defined, you can start creating your Products (Steps below referring to the additional configuration can be omitted).

 Physical Goods and Services can be created through CRM.COM Products Module.

• Specify the Type of each Product and provide a Product Code, Alternative Code and Description. 
• Specify the VAT rate that should be applied on each of your Services or Physical Goods. 
• Define the price rates and the Price Plans that the Product will be available from.
• Define the component restrictions and rules of Flexible or Fixed Bundle Products (Bundle Products are made up of multiple other component Products).
• Use the Brand, Family and Categories to group your Products and apply specific business rules and restrictions.

Step 3: Setting up Product Brands, Categories, Families

Configure the following modules for additional functionality and categorisation

• Product Families are groups of Products derived from a common Product platform, using similar or identical Production processes and having similar physical or behavioural characteristics. Product Families in CRM.COM follow a hierarchical tree structure.
• Product Brands are used to define trademarks or distinctive names that identify a specific Product or Product line. 
• Product Categories are used to classify Products into generic groups based on common attributes. Categories are configurable in the System (there can be hundreds). Categories follow a hierarchical tree structure.
  
  

Do it Yourself!!