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Overview
Products are the physical goods or services that a company offers the market. Physical goods are tangible items, such as modems, decoders, antennas or magazines. Services are intangible commodities such as telephony, TV channels, installations and startup fees. Products can be sold or rented to customers through business transactions such as subscriptions, jobs or activities and can also be awarded to reward participants.
Setting Up Products
Product Categories are used to provide a business classification to products and can be used for analysis purposes.
Product Brands are used to identify a specific product or product line by using a distinctive name, such as Samsung or Apple.
Product Families group products with similar physical or functional characteristics, such as decoders or modems.
Product types
Types are used to determine the operational characteristics of products. Through its type, a product can be:
- classified as a good or service
- classified as a bundle product which includes component products
- designated for use in provisioning.
This table describes product type characteristics and the qualities products inherit from their type.
Mandatory Configurable
Classification | |||
---|---|---|---|
Values | Definition | Examples | Usage Conditions |
Physical Good | A tangible item that is provided to the customer, such as a camera, decoder or magazine (generally with exclusive ownership); can be traceable or non-traceable. | Modem or remote control | Unconditional |
Service | An intangible commodity that is provided to customer, such as telephony, a TV channel, repair, installation or delivery (generally without exclusive ownership); can be one-off or recurring. | TV channel, video on demand, installation service fee | Unconditional |
Physical Good Type | |||
Values | Definition | Examples | Usage Conditions |
Traceable | Can be traced through a unique identifier (usually a serial number). | Modem with a serial number | Available for the 'Physical Good' classification. |
Non-Traceable | Cannot be traced to a single instance and are measured based on quantity. | Remote control | Available for the 'Physical Good' classification. |
Service Type | |||
Values | Definition | Examples | Usage Conditions |
Usage | Provided upon customer request and are billed, based on their usage. |
| Available for the 'Service' classification. |
Termed | Provided continuously and billed for a recurring period, regardless of usage. | A TV channel added to a subscription and billed on a recurring basis. | Available for the 'Service' classification. |
One-time | Provided and billed once, based on duration. | An installation service added to an activity and billed according to how long it took to complete. | Available for the 'Service' classification. |
Expense | Provided and billed once, for a fixed amount. | An installation fee added to a job or subscription and billed once for a fixed amount. | Available for the 'Service' classification. |
Composition Method | |||
Values | Definition | Examples | Usage Conditions |
Flat | A product that consists of a single service or physical good. | A channel, installation service or modem. | Unconditional |
Flexible Bundle | A product made up of a variable selection of constituent component products. | A channel bouquet that allows customers to select which channels they want to add. | Available for the 'Service' classification and the 'Termed' type or for the 'Physical Good' classification and the 'Non-Traceable Type' |
Fixed Bundle | A product made up of a selection of constituent component products that are predefined and cannot be specified individually. |
| Available for the 'Service' classification and the 'Termed' type, or for the 'Physical Good' classification. |
Can be Provisioned (by third-party providers integrated with the CRM.COM Software.) | |||
Values | Definition | Examples | Usage Conditions |
Enabled | Products of this type are used for provisioning. | A TV channel, VOD or PPV movie, decoder or modem. | Unconditional |
Disabled | Products of this type are not used for provisioning. | An antenna or startup fee. | Unconditional |
Usage Detail Record (UDR) Type | |||
Values | Definition | Examples | Usage Conditions |
All available UDR types | Determines the type of UDR that will be created when a usage service of this Type is provided. | A VOD movie, petrol, a telephone call. | Available for the 'Service' classification and the 'Usage' type. |
Related configuration areas
The following modules are related to products and may be configured for the products module to operate at its full capacity. Once configured, the modules can be selected from the Manage Products screen.
Module Link | Area | Description |
---|---|---|
Platform | Tax rates | Provide product specific tax and VAT rates. |
Price Plans | Price plans | The price catalogs for products, including their rates (apply to all types except usage services). |
Usage Service Catalogs | Usage service catalogs | Catalogs for products that are offered upon customer request and charged based on their consumption. Usage Service Catalogs contain information on pricing and service validity and options for integrating with third-party provisioning systems. |
Subscriptions | Subscription types | The available subscription packages, consisting of products, prices, billing rules and provisioning providers combined into a single offering. |
Subscriptions | Billing term schemes | Define billing rules for products. |
Activities | Activity types | Determine the operational characteristics of an activity. One-time services, e.g., installations, are added to the activity type. |
Jobs | Job types | Determine the operational characteristics of a job. Expenses, e.g., an installation service or physical good (traceable or non-traceable, such as a Roku box or an antenna, respectively) are added to the job type. |
Using Products
Finance > Product & Pricing > Products > Manage Products
Product fields
The table describes the sections of the Products Data Entry page and explains how the fields in the page are used.
Mandatory Configurable values.
Main Information | For Classifications and Types | |
---|---|---|
Code: A unique combination of alpahanumeric characters used to identify the product across the system Type: Determines the operational characteristics of the product. When a product type is selected, the characteristics tab inherits the characteristics of the type. Brand & Family: Add brand and family to products to categorize them accordingly. Alternative Code: Provide another code with which to identify the product. Description: Describe the product for marketing purposes. | All | |
Product Performance | Click CALCULATE for information on sales in the last 12 months
|
|
Type Characteristics | Read-only section with product characteristics inherited from the selected type. | All |
Categories | Based on specific shared attributes. | All |
Product Validity | The period for which the product is available after which it expires. Can be 'Always' or for a specific period (by setting the Valid From and To dates). | All |
Components Available for Flexible or Fixed Bundle Types. | ||
Bundle Components | Flexible Bundle product type: Select products, product types or families to make them available to bundles added to subscriptions. Refer to Setting up Flexible Product Bundles. Fixed Bundle product type: Define the products included in the bundles added to subscriptions or jobs. Provide the Quantity of the product added to the bundle. |
|
Bundle Restrictions (for Flexible Bundles) | Used to filter bundle components when creating a subscription. Restrict the number of product families and types used as components in the bundle. There are no restrictions if it is left empty. Use Products from Only X Product Families: E.g., if the quantity is set to 1, the components must belong to the same product family. Use Products from Only X Product Types: E.g., if the quantity is set to 2, components can be selected from up to two product types. |
|
Pricing and Billing | ||
Tax Rates | Used for billing purposes and based on pre-configured rules.
Refer to Platform for more information. | All |
Billing Term Schemes | Billing terms provide information on the billing of subscription products, such as whether a service should be billed before or after it is used. Through this section, you can view billing term schemes in which the product is included or add products to schemes. For termed services added to a normal billing term scheme, define whether the service is pre-bill or post bill (billed before or after it is used) and whether it should be excluded from deactivation runs (as in the case of free-to-air channels). For termed services added to a prepaid billing term scheme, define whether the service is pre-paid or post-paid (paid before or after it is used). For pre-paid, designate the period that the customer has to pay in advance. Refer to Subscriptions for more information. |
|
Price Plans | Price plans are catalogs with billing rates for services and product. Through this section, you can view price plans in which the product is included or add products to plans. Price plans also include the rate model, base and tiered amount for the product, as well as whether the rate is applied to bundle components. Refer to Price Plans for more information. | All except usage services |
Subscription Types | These are the available subscription packages. When a product is created it must be added to a subscription type if it should be offered through it. Through this section, you can view the subscription types that the product is available from and make the product available to a subscription type. If a product is added to a subscription type associated with a billing term scheme in which the product is not included, then the product will be added to the scheme. The billing term scheme will be added in the respective tab (and the information can be updated). |
|
Usage Service Catalogs (USCs) | USCs contain rates for products that are charged based on their consumption. Through this section, you can view the USCs that include the product. | Usage services |
Discounts | Additive discounts are applied after discounts provided through price plans or usage service catalogs. From the section:
Refer to Additive Discounts for more information. | All |
Providers | Third-party systems with which CRM.COM integrates to provide services to subscriber's TVs. Providers are defined when a product (e.g., a Roku box or TV channel) must be provisioned through them. From the section:
Refer to Provisioning for more information. |
|
Job Types | Determine the operational characteristics of a job. Products are added to job types to be available for sale. From this section:
Refer to Jobs for more information. |
|
Activity Types | Determine the operational characteristics of an activity. One-time services, e.g., an installation, become available by being added to the activity type. From this section:
Refer to Activities for more information. | One-time services |
Stock Balance | ||
View the stock balance of the product across warehouses (and analytically for each warehouse). If the product is also a bundle component, then the number of bundles it is a component of is displayed. | Physical goods | |
Images & Attachments | ||
Supply up to four images for the product and define one as the default. Also provide alternate text in case the image cannot be displayed. Files & URL: The attachments associated with the Product. | All |
Creating and processing products
Selecting and creating a product
Specify the criteria that match the product you are interested in or use NEW > Product classification from the Actions menu to create a new product. Provide the mandatory information in the products fields table before you SAVE the product.
Modifying a product
Use EDIT from the Actions menu to enter edit mode. Update product fields or add the product to, or remove it from, other CRM.COM entities.
Copying an existing product
The configuration of an existing product can be copied and assigned to a new product in order to save time. The following attributes are assigned to the copied product:
- Type
- Brand
- Family
- Description
- Product Validity
- Categories
Follow the steps below to create a new product by copying information from an existing one.
- Click on NEW > COPY from the Actions menu
- Provide the remaining required values.
Applying business flows on products
Offering product bundles
Product bundles make it possible to offer a combination of component products for sale as one package. Flexible bundles allow the customers to customize the contents of the package by selecting components.
Four types of product bundles can be created:
- Flexible Termed Services Bundle: The user defines a selection of available services (e.g., channels) that the customers can choose from to add to their subscription.
- Fixed Termed Services Bundle: The available components (e.g., channels) are predefined. This is convenient for provisioning, as a single request is sent to the provider.
- Fixed Traceable Physical Goods Bundle: A physical good with a traceable serial number and predefined components. For example, an installation kit that includes a modem and decoder provided to customers as a set. The agent refers to the bundle by its unique serial number and not the serial numbers of its components.
- Fixed Non-Traceable Physical Goods Bundle: A physical good with predefined components and no serial number. For example, an installation kit that includes a satellite dish and remote control.
Allowed components for product bundles
The constituent components of product bundles created in the system must be defined along with possible restrictions. The components that can be added depend on the type of bundle.
Bundle Product Type | Allowed Products |
---|---|
Termed Service |
|
Traceable Physical Good |
|
Non-Traceable Physical Good |
|
Setting up fixed product bundles
To create a fixed product bundle the constituent components and their quantity must be defined. Agents and customers adding the bundle to a subscription cannot affect its components.
Setting up flexible product bundles
Flexible product bundles allow agents and customers to select constituent components, subject to possible restrictions established when creating the bundle. The products, product types and product families available when adding a bundle to a subscription can be defined through the product's Components tab. A minimum and maximum quantity that can be added from each of the three categories (products, families and types) can be defined.
Make sure the rules do not contradict each other, as in the example configuration below:
Product | Product Type | Product Family | Min Quantity | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gold (Type = Subscription Package) (Family = Local) | 1 | 1 | ||
Silver (Type = Subscription Package) (Family = Local) | 1 | 1 | ||
Subscription Package | 1 | 1 | ||
Local | 1 | 1 |
If both products are selected and added to the subscription, all added records are validated and a conflict is created. While the minimum quantity (1) of the specific product type and family is validated, the products cannot be added, as the maximum quantity is also '1'.
Alternatively, select a single option when making component configurations.
Products Business Examples
Scenario 1.
Company ZX has introduced a new series of products through its current Streaming TV campaign. Subscribers will need to get a ZX streaming device for content and will be charged a switch and installation fee (if required).
Solution
Provided that the subscription type, provisioning provider, billing term schemes, price plans and discounts are already set up, create the new products:
Products
Create each new product by clicking on NEW (from the Manage Products page). Select the appropriate product classification and the product type. Click on 'New Product Type' if necessary, to create a new type. Refer to the table below for instructions on how to set up each product type.
Product Type
Classification
Physical Good Types
Service Type
Composition Method
Used for Provisioning
Products Product Example PPV & VOD
Service
Usage
Flat
Yes
Create the VOD and PPV events that will be offered. Mad Max, Seven, Game of Thrones, Champions League Subscription channels
Service
Termed
Flat
Yes
Create the channels that will be available for selection. Euronews, CNN, National Geographic, Al Jazeera, Russia TV, FOX News Streaming players
Physical Good
Traceable
Flat
Yes
Create the streaming players that will be available. Roku box One-time charges Service Expense Flat No Create the fee subscribers will be charged for switching to stream TV.
Switch fee Hourly charges Service One-time Flat No Create the installation fee that subscribers will be charged for installation. Installation service - Once the product types are created and their basic information is defined, add the product to the following entities through the Pricing & Billing tab:
Termed Services (Channels) and Expenses (Switch Fee)- Define additional tax rates for the product, if necessary.
- Select billing term schemes for the product and define whether it will be:
- billed before or after it is used
- paid before or after it is used
- excluded from deactivation (for free to air channels).
- Select the price plans the product should be billed from and provide a rate.
- To offer the product at a discount, add it to existing, or create new, discounts.
- Select and add the products to subscription types.
- Select and add the termed service products with their provisioning ID to the provisioning provider.
- Define additional tax rates (if any) for the product.
- To offer the product at a discount, add it to existing, or create new, discounts.
- Select and add the termed service products with their provisioning ID to the provisioning provider.
- Add usage services to their Usage Service Catalogs (from the respective screen).
- One-time Services (Installation service fee)
- Define additional tax rates for the product, if necessary
- Select the price plans the product should be billed from and provide a rate
- To offer the product at a discount, add it to existing or create new discounts
- Add the Activity types from which the installation service fee will be applied.
- Define additional tax rates (if any) for the product.
- Select the price plans the product should be billed from and provide a rate.
- To offer the product at a discount, add it to existing or create new discounts.
- Select and add the products to subscription types.
- Select and add the product to its provisioning provider
- For each termed and usage service, provide an image which will be available through the Images & Attachments tab.
Notes
- 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 Term | Definition |
---|---|
Job | A small project initiated by the operator for customers, involving the delivery and billing of services, products and activities. Customer requests and orders, such as that for a new subscription, can be initiated and registered through a job. |
Subscription | A collection of customer services billed on a recurring, usage or one-time basis. |
Activity | A small task or action that is either stand-alone or must be completed as part of a larger project. |
Communications | Log interaction between customers and agents. Communications can support multiple communication media such as email, SMS, telephony, post and others. |
Provisioning Distributor | An abstract layer used in CRM.COM to relate subscription services (e.g., broadband service) and subscription associated devices (e.g., modems) to a provisioning provider and to define what services will be available from each device (if more than one is available on a subscription). |