Package Upgrade Configuration

Summary

The Upgrade component allows you to specify an upgrade path (or downgrade) for account packages. For example, if you offer an internet 'Bronze' package and would like to provide your customers with the option to upgrade to a Silver or Gold package you can specify that configuration using this component.

Upgrade Notes

In practice when a one time package is upgraded (or downgraded) the difference between the packages will be charged to the customer account, a discount is used to set this for the first billing. When a recurring package is upgraded, the old package is canceled and the new package is added and prorated as normal from the date of upgrade.

Notes when using the Upgrade component:

• When upgrading, if profile questions (package profile question or User Package Extended Attribute) exist on both services under the package, the profile question data will be transferred. No error occurs if it is not transferred since if the profile question is not there, it's assumed that it's not needed

• Any setup level components such as rate plans will not transfer, i.e. if you upgrade a customer from Package A to Package B, the customer will switch to using the components on Package B (Package B's Rate Plan, Buckets, etc.)

• User-service level telecom components will not be transferred to the upgraded user-service so these would need to be reset otherwise the system will fall back to the setup level configured components on the associated package / service combination

• Package Resources WILL transfer if the resource component is set on each package and is configured in exactly the same way
  Note: the Package Service Connector configured on the Resource component needs to be exactly the same on each package

• If the 'Bill One Time Service' check box is checked on the upgrade it will bill the one time charges on the new package. If it is not checked, it will not charge

• If there is a UDRBucket on the service or service associated to the package you are upgrading from, this will prevent any credits or contract cancellation fees from being added immediately until a re-rate occurs which requires both rating service and job service to be running

• Service names need to match if you want profile questions to be copied across

There is no limit to the number of packages an account can upgrade to. Upgrades can be to a higher value package, or to a lower value package, effectively allowing upgrading or downgrading, however the button label shows as 'Upgrade' by default. This can be changed to clarify 'Upgrade / Downgrade' by using language options.

Configuring Package Upgrade Options

1. Click Setup

2. Select Packages

3. Click on the name of the package you wish to be upgradable

4. Scroll down to the Components section and click the Add button

5. Select Upgrade from the drop down list and specify the upgrade configuration:

   Open

   

   • Target Package - this represents the package that the current package can be upgraded to

   • Fee - allows you to add a flat transaction (upgrade fee) to the account when the package is upgraded

   • Service - the service that the fee should be attached to for taxing purposes. The transaction will appear after an upgrade with the detail ' Upgrade Fee'. This transaction text is not a configurable option

   • Contract Rule Type - this setting determines how to handle contract components if they are present on the source package (package being upgraded) or destination package (target package)

     • Use Destination Then Source Contract - use the destination package contract if it exists (i.e. a new contract), otherwise carry forward the source (existing) contract if it exists

     • Always Destination Contract - use the destination package contract (new contract), source (existing) package contract is ignored

     • Always Source Contract - use the source package contract and carry forward as is, if the destination package has a contract component attached it will be ignored

6. Click Save

Deleting Package Upgrade Options From a Package

1. Click Setup

2. Click Packages

3. Select the package from the list

4. On the edit package page under the Components section locate the Upgrade component you wish to delete and click Delete

Examples

Package with monthly services upgraded to a package with Monthly Services

• The initial package is canceled on the upgrade date (a prorated credit is issued)

• The destination package becomes effective on the upgrade date and bills up to the bill day (prorated charge)

Package with monthly service and a profile question upgraded to a package with monthly services with a profile question

• The initial package is canceled on the upgrade date (a prorated credit is issued)

• The destination package becomes effective on the upgrade date and bills up to bill day (prorated charge)

• The Profile Answer is transferred if there is a matching profile question on the new (target) package

Package with monthly services and one-time services upgraded to a package with monthly services and one-time services with the 'BillOneTime' option checked when upgrading

• The initial package is canceled on the upgrade date (a prorated credit is issued for recurring charges)

• The destination package becomes effective on the upgrade date and bills up to bill day (prorated charge for recurring charges)

• One-time services on the new package will bill the full amount

Upgrading a Package on an Account

See the article Upgrading a Package.