Package Frequencies Screen
- Tim Neil
- Greg Walsh
Package Frequencies are configured in Setup / Product Catalog / Package / Packages
Overview
Package frequencies allow you to configure packages with as many billing frequencies as you require (monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.). Package frequencies are where recurring, transition, one time, discount and tiered prices are set on services configured on the package. Usage bucket allotments are also configured at the package frequency level for buckets attached to services in the package. Package frequencies inherit package settings to allow you to quickly create multiple billing frequencies for the package with differing prices (e.g. a monthly recurring service can charge a different amount than the same service setup on an annual package frequency).
Important: Changing prices on package frequencies can impact the prices that are charged for services on existing account packages. Service prices are determined first by checking for a modified price set on an account-service in an account-package. If a custom account-service price is not set directly on the account-service then the system will then look for a price plan on the account with an alternate price defined for the account-service. Finally, if no price plan override was found the price is determined by the value set on the package frequency in the product catalog.
Prerequisites
Services need to be configured before package frequencies can be setup
Service statuses need to be setup to configure recurring charges on services for each billable status
Service transitions need to be setup if you wish to configure charges based on transitioning from one status to another (e.g. an activation fee when going from a pre-active status to an active)
Currencies need to be setup in order to define the currencies that package frequencies can bill in and to configure service charges in each enabled currency
Rate plans are required if you want to specify rates at the package frequency level (rates for usage based services in the package frequency to use)
Package contracts are required if you need to attach a contract to a package frequency (e.g. an annual contract on a package with an annual package frequency)
Counting rules are required if you wish to setup bracketed tiered pricing on services (more information on bracketed and progressive tiering is found below in this document)
Packages Panel
The Packages panel on the left of this screen allows you to select package frequencies to view and edit on the Edit Package Frequency panel to the right. Actions are also available in this panel which are shown as icons above the Filter text box. The available actions are described below.
Actions
Icon | Description |
|---|---|
 | Deletes the selected package frequency (if not in use) |
 | Adds a new package frequency |
Edit Package Frequency Panel
The information in this panel reflects the currently selected Package frequency. From here you can modify package frequency details (note: fields with a magenta left border are required).
Package Frequency Fields and Options:
Name: a unique name for the package frequency. Typically, this name is a combination of the package name and the frequency, e.g. 'Global Cellular Annual' or 'Hosted Phone Monthly'
SKU: a code used to identify the product (a package with a particular frequency in this case). Typically, this code is used for internal purposes
Active: the state of the package frequency. If active then the package frequency can be selected when adding the package to an account, if inactive the package frequency cannot be chosen. The Active option will be disabled if no currencies have been enabled on the package frequency
Bill Frequency: how often the package frequency will bill recurring service charges
Contract: permits you to configure a package contract on the package frequency
Rate Plan: this option will appear when usage based services are setup on the package. This field allows you to specify a rate plan for services in the package frequency to use. Rate plans determine the rates applicable when billing usage. For more information see the rate plan screen help
Tiering: enables the ability to configure price tiers based on the number of units purchased. Tiered pricing can be configured as bracket pricing or progressive pricing
Bracket pricing means the charge is applied based upon the tier that the total number of purchased units reaches. For example, if less than ten services are purchased the price is $100 per service, if ten or more services are purchased the price is $90 per service. Bracket pricing uses counting rules to adjust prices based on the number of packages or services on an account and the status that the packages/services are in (e.g. only count ‘active’ services and apply price discounts at 10 units, 20 units, etc.)
Progressive pricing means that prices specified on each tier are applied to the service that falls within each tier. For example, the first nine services purchased are charged at $100 per service, the tenth service and beyond is charged at $90, and so on based on the number of tiers you configure. Progressive tiers only count account-services and do not utilize counting rules. Progressive pricing can be configured on prepaid packages, global add-on packages, recurring and non-recurring service charges. The number of account-services is calculated based on how many units of the particular service are active across all account-packages on the account. Cancelled account-services are not counted
Counting Rule: allows you to type in the name of a configured counting rule and select it as the rule to use for bracketed tiered pricing. Counting rules provide a way of counting packages or services on an account in order to apply tiered pricing to service charges based on the total count. The package frequency will also need to be specified on the counting rule after you have setup the frequency. See the counting rules screen help for more information
Billing Activation Service: indicates if a billing activation service has been configured on the parent package. This field is auto-populated by the system and read-only. Billing activation services trigger billing for packages when a certain amount of time or usage has been reached. See the services screen help for more information
Recurring tab
This tab is where you setup charges for the services configured on the package. You can charge different recurring prices based on the service status (e.g. charge one price when the service is in a pre-active status and another when the service is active).
Price Books can be configured on this tab and the Transitions tab. Price Books allow package pricing to be configured per country or grouped across multiple countries (for instance, a price book for Germany, another for Spain, another for Europe). Discounts can also be configured for recurring services in each price book. For instance, you can setup a discount that provides free service for a number of months followed by discounted pricing for a period of time before the service reverts back to standard catalog pricing.
Rate plans per service can be configured from this tab, for each price book. A rate plan configured at the service level will override higher level rate plans (for instance, a rate plan configured on the package frequency).
You can also configure general ledger codes and service tax setting overrides for each service under each price book. These settings will override any GL code or tax settings configured on the service in the product catalog.
For steps on how to setup recurring charges see the Configuring Recurring Charges guide below in this article.
For an example configuration on setting up recurring charges see the Package with Recurring and One Time Charges Configuration Example.
Transition tab
This tab allows you to setup transition charges when service statuses are changed. E.g. if you have a service transition called 'activation' you can configure a charge (activation fee, installation fee, etc.) to be applied when the service transition occurs (e.g. the service goes from [New] to active, or pre-active to active, depending on how you configured your 'activation' service transition).
For steps on how to setup recurring charges see the Configuring Transitions Charges guide in this article.
For an example configuration on setting up a transition and a sample transition charge see the Service Transitions Configuration Example.
One Time tab
This tab allows you to setup charges that will only be applied once. After the package is first billed these charges will not occur again regardless of status changes to the package or services within it.
For steps on how to setup one time charges see the Configuring One Time Charges guide in this article.
For an example configuration on setting up recurring charges see the Package with Recurring and One Time Charges Configuration Example.
Counting Rule tab
This tab will only appear if the package frequency has been setup for tiered pricing with a counting rule. The configuration of the counting rule set on the package frequency will be displayed here. The configuration details will indicate what entity is being counted (packages or services), which particular packages/services are being counted under the rule and the package/service status that is applicable to the counting rule (e.g. count only ‘billable’ status packages/services).
Custom Fields tab
This tab will display any custom fields that have been setup with an 'Entity' value of 'Package Frequency'. Custom fields are used to capture/provide additional data and for package frequencies typically this data is used for internal/back-end purposes. To allow or require users to enter data when adding packages to accounts you would setup custom fields with an 'Entity' value of 'Account Package'. See the Custom Field screen help for more information.
Guides
Configuring Recurring Charges
Configuring Non-Tiered Pricing
Under the Edit Package Frequency heading click on the Recurring tab and the recurring services configured on the package will be listed. Note: If this tab is not present it means you did not add a recurring service to the package
If you wish to setup pricing for more than just the standard price book click on the Price Book field and select Add New Price Book +. Select the price book you wish to configure pricing for and click Add
you can now use the Price Book drop down field to switch between the price books to configure service pricing/bucket settings/service settings for each price book region
the standard price book pricing will be noted in the amount fields (e.g. $50 standard)
The recurring price per service status will be displayed for the current currency selected. Click the checkbox next to the currency abbreviation to enable each currency that you wish to sell the selected package frequency in. To switch currencies, click on the currency abbreviation (e.g. ‘USD’) to select that currency so that pricing can be defined for it
For usage based services with buckets you will see an icon to the right of the amount field(s). Click this icon to edit the usage bucket details. Select the Usage Bucket in the drop down field and then proceed to:
override the flat charge for the tier(s) if desired
override threshold values for the tier(s) if desired
override the configured unit for the tier(s) if desired
To configure additional service settings, click on the icon to the right of the amount field(s). A modal will appear allowing you to override/specify service settings:
a General Ledger value entered here will override the GL Code set on the service
a Service Tax Category value entered here will override the Service Tax Category set on the service
a Rate Plan set here will define the rate plan for a usage based service to use (ignoring higher level rate plans such as a rate plan configured on the price frequency)
the Tax Inclusive setting here will override the Tax Inclusive setting set on the service
If you wish to configure service specific discounts select the icon and the edit discounts screen will load
populate the discount Type. Select ‘Discount’ if you wish to configure a custom discount on the service. Select ‘Promo Code’ if you have promo codes configured and you wish to use the discount configuration setup on an existing promo code
populate the discount Name
optionally, specify a GL Code
set the discount to Active to make it apply when the service gets added to an account
specify the Start Date and End Date to define when the discount is applicable (note: the End Date is optional, discounts can be left open-ended)
set the Prorate option if you wish the discount to be prorated for partial periods or leave it unchecked to apply the full discount amount
choose the service status that the discount applies to in the Select Service Status field
select the Discount Type to specify if the discount is a ‘Fixed’ value (e.g. $10), ‘Percent’ (10% of the service charge) or ‘Price’ (override the service price with the amount you specify on the discount)
populate the Period (e.g. ‘1 Month’ over which the service discount will apply)
specify the discount Amount
click the icon next to the amount if you want to add additional discounts to the service (multiple discounts can be stacked on top of each other. For instance, one service discount that sets the service price to $0 for the first 3 months and another discount that applies a 20% discount for the next 3 months)
if you setup multiple discounts, use the and arrows to specify the order in which the service discounts will apply
click Save to add the discount to the service
Click the on the header next to the ‘Return to Frequency’ text to go back to the package frequency configuration
For each enabled currency and each price book configure each service:
set the state based pricing desired in the Amount fields for each service. If the amount is left empty for a particular status then no recurring charges will apply for the service while it is in that particular status (note: usage and other configured charges will still apply)
if desired, modify usage bucket charges, thresholds and units changes (again this is for each service, per enabled currency on each price book)
if desired, modify service rate plans, and tax overrides per service
if desired, specify service discounts per service
Click Save when you want to commit the changes made on the Recurring tab
Configuring Tiered Pricing
Under the Packages heading on the left select the package frequency you wish to configure or click the button next to the package name to create a new package frequency
Under the Edit Package Frequency heading on the right locate the Recurring tab and the services configured on the package will be listed
If you wish to setup pricing for more than just the standard price book click on the Price Book field and select Add New Price Book +. Select the price book you wish to configure pricing for and click Add
you can now use the Price Book drop down field to switch between the price books to configure service pricing for each price book region
the standard price book pricing will be noted in the amount fields (e.g. $50 standard)
The recurring price per service status will be displayed for the current currency selected. Click the checkbox next to the currency abbreviation to enable each currency that you wish to sell the selected package frequency in. To switch currencies, click on the currency abbreviation (e.g. ‘USD’) to select that currency so that pricing can be defined for it
For usage based services with buckets you will see an icon to the right of the amount field(s). Click this icon to edit the usage bucket details. Select the Usage Bucket in the drop down field and then proceed to:
override the flat charge for the tier(s) if desired
override threshold values for the tier(s) if desired
override the configured unit for the tier(s) if desired
To configure additional service settings, click on the icon to the right of the amount field(s). A modal will appear allowing you to override/specify service settings:
a General Ledger value entered here will override the GL Code set on the service
a Service Tax Category value entered here will override the Service Tax Category set on the service
a Rate Plan set here will define the rate plan for the usage based service to use (ignoring higher level rate plans such as a rate plan configured on the price frequency)
the Tax Inclusive setting here will override the Tax Inclusive setting set on the service
If you wish to configure service specific discounts select the icon and the edit discounts screen will load
populate the discount Type. Select ‘Discount’ if you wish to configure a custom discount on the service. Select ‘Promo Code’ if you have promo codes configured and you wish to use the discount configuration setup on an existing promo code
populate the discount Name
optionally, specify a GL Code
set the discount to Active to make it apply when the service gets added to an account
specify the Start Date and End Date to define when the discount is applicable (note: the End Date is optional, discounts can be left open-ended)
set the Prorate option if you wish the discount to be prorated for partial periods or leave it unchecked to apply the full discount amount
choose the service status that the discount applies to in the Select Service Status field
select the Discount Type to specify if the discount is a ‘Fixed’ value (e.g. $10), ‘Percent’ (10% of the service charge) or ‘Price’ (override the service price with the amount you specify on the discount)
populate the Period (e.g. ‘1 Month’ over which the service discount will apply)
specify the discount Amount
click the icon next to the amount if you want to add additional discounts to the service (multiple discounts can be stacked on top of each other. For instance, one service discount that sets the service price to $0 for the first 3 months and another discount that applies a 20% discount for the next 3 months)
if you setup multiple discounts, use the and arrows to specify the order in which the service discounts will apply
click Save to add the discount to the service
Click the button on the header next to the ‘Return to Frequency’ text to go back to the package frequency configuration
To configure bracketed tiered pricing across statuses:
Select a Counting Rule by typing in the rule name
The Counting Rule tab will appear. Review the tab to ensure you are counting the desired services/packages and desired statuses
To configure recurring price tiers, click on the Recurring tab and then click on the Click for Pricing text
On the right of the modal that appears specify the charges per status for the first tier
Set an End value on the first tier to define its size and create the second tier
Click on the second tier to set pricing for it per status
Repeat the process to add as many tiers and prices as you require, leaving the final tier open ended
Click Add to save the tiers and pricing
If the package frequency contains non-recurring charges you can click on the One Time tab to configure tiers on one time charges
Click on the Click for Pricing text to configure tiers for the one time service
Set an End value to define when the first tier ends
Define the price for the one time service while in the 1st tier in the Amount field
Click to select and highlight the 2nd tier. Specify the price for the tier
Continue to add End values and pricing until all of the desired tiers and pricing per tier is defined
Click Update when finished
To configure bracketed tiered pricing per status or progressive tiered pricing:
Click on the icon next to the service status you wish to configure pricing on and the Edit Tiered Charges modal will load
Set an End value to define when the first tier ends
Define the price for the service while in the 1st tier in the Amount field
Click to select and highlight the 2nd tier. Specify the price for the tier
Continue to add End values and pricing until all of the desired tiers and pricing per tier is defined
Click Update when finished
If the package frequency contains non-recurring charges you can click on the One Time tab to configure tiers on one time charges
Click on the icon next to the one time charge you wish to configure tiering on
Set an End value to define when the first tier ends
Define the price for the one time service while in the 1st tier in the Amount field
Click to select and highlight the 2nd tier. Specify the price for the tier
Continue to add End values and pricing until all of the desired tiers and pricing per tier is defined
Click Update when finished
Repeat the tier configuration for each service status and each enabled currency on the package frequency that you wish to configure pricing on. Note: if you don’t desire all services/service statues to have tiered pricing simply configure a single tier on those service statuses to define a static price
Configure tiered pricing on non-recurring charges on the One Time tab if desired. Information on configuring one time charges can be found in the Configuring One Time Charges guide below
Click Save when you want to commit the changes made on the Recurring tab
Configuring Transition Charges
Under the Packages heading on the left select the package frequency you wish to configure or click the button next to the package name to create a new package frequency
Under the Edit Package Frequency heading on the right click on the Transition tab
If you wish to setup pricing for more than just the standard price book click on the Price Book field and select Add New Price Book +. Select the price book you wish to configure pricing for and click Add
you can now use the Price Book drop down field to switch between the price books to configure service pricing for each price book region
the standard price book pricing will be noted in the amount fields (e.g. $50 standard)
To the right select the currency you wish to configure transition charges for. Note: you are not required to add the fees to each currency enabled on the package frequency, if you wish to add transition fees for specific currencies only you may do so
To add a transition charge, click on the icon displayed to the right of the Custom Fields tab
On the Add Transition modal that appears populate the following details:
Service: the service within the package that the transition charge applies to
Service Transition: the service transition that is taking place (e.g. ‘activation’ if the transition charge you are applying is for activating a service)
Charge Service: the service that the charge will be applied to (only services with a service type base type value of 'Fee' will appear in this list)
Amount: the transition charge amount. Depending on the charge service selected this value may or may not be taxed (i.e. you can select a charge service that is configured to be tax exempt if you don't want the transition fee to be taxed)
Penalty Charge: an optional charge that can be applied if the transition does not occur within a given grace period. The penalty is applied when the service specified has remained in its current state for longer than the time specified on the penalty charge. For example, if the penalty charge for a reactivation transition is set to a threshold of 1 Month, then the service specified on the transition charge cannot reside in its suspended state for more than one month or the penalty fee will apply when billing occurs
Click the Add button to add the transition charge
Configure additional transition charges for the same currency or other currencies on the package frequency if desired
Click Save and the transition charges configured will be added to the package frequency
Configuring One Time Charges
Under the Packages heading on the left select the package frequency you wish to configure or click the button next to the package name to create a new package frequency
Under the Edit Package Frequency heading on the right click on the One Time tab
If you wish to setup pricing for more than just the standard price book click on the Price Book field and select Add New Price Book +. Select the price book you wish to configure pricing for and click Add
you can now use the Price Book drop down field to switch between the price books to configure service pricing for each price book region
the standard price book pricing will be noted in the amount fields (e.g. $50 standard)
To the right enable the currencies you wish to configure one time charges for. Note: you are not required to add the fees to each currency enabled on the package frequency, if you wish to add one time fees for specific currencies only you may do so
Click in the Services field at the bottom of the tab to select the service you want to add a one time charge for and then click the +Add button. Note: only the services on the package which are configured as ‘non-recurring charge’ service types will appear in this list
The one-time service should now be listed on the tab. To access additional one-time service settings click on the Edit Service Details icon to the right of the amount field. A modal will appear allowing you to override service settings:
Next you can set a price for the one time charge. If you have setup tiering on the package frequency then you can click the icon to the right of the tier price to configure tiered pricing (for example, a one time installation fee charge of $100 for the first installation, then a $75 fee for each installation charge applied to the account after the first). For progressive tiered pricing the number of one time account-services are calculated based on how many of that particular service are billed in the period across all account-packages, not merely how many of the one time charges are applied to the particular account-package where the tiered pricing has been setup)
Configure additional one time charges for the same currency or other currencies on the package frequency as well as on multiple price plans if desired
Click Save and the one time charges configured will be added to the package frequency
Deleting/Deactivating Package Frequencies
Select the package frequency you wish to delete in the list on the left under the Packages heading
On the left under the Packages heading click the icon
On the confirmation dialog click Yes to confirm that the selected package frequency should be deleted
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