Summary
The Bulk Package Component allows you to specify the number of packages that billing will calculate charges for, saving you time if you need to add the same package to an account multiple times. For example, if you add the component with a value of 100 it will add a single package on the customer account then charge the base fee of the package with any one time fees and/or prorated fees multiplied one hundred times (so a package costing $1 monthly would bill out at $100 monthly).
Bulk Packages simply bill multiple times for a single package added to an account, they do not provide/trigger provisioning for multiple services. Bulk Packages are useful if you want to bill a customer multiple times for subscription or shared group services but manage licensing or usage elsewhere. For example bulk billing packages for seats/users who are all in the same group (usage is billed to the group, not based on details captured in the package) or bulk billing packages for a number of subscriptions such as the number of users with software licences, with license assignment / license number tracking being handled outside of EngageIP.
Adding the Bulk Package Component to a Package
Note: this component is not applicable to packages with resources on them or where optional services exist, the Bulk Package Component cannot be added to packages with those configurations
Process:
Load the Setup tab
Under the Packages and Services heading click on Packages
Select the package you wish to sell in bulk quantity and click on it's name
Note: if you have not yet setup the package and associated non-optional services you wish to sell in bulk you should do so now. See the Setting up Packages and Services guide if you are unfamiliar with creating packages and services
Under the Components heading click the Add button and select Bulk Package
Once added the Bulk Package component it will just be flagged as 'Yes'
Adding the Package to an Account
Load the customer account
On the Overview tab under the Packages section, click the Add button on the right
Note: if you are unfamiliar with adding packages to accounts see the Adding Packages to Accounts article
Select the package which has the Bulk Package component on it
On the Add Package page specify the Bulk Quantity
Click the Save button when finished
Once billed, transactions will show the bulk amounts based on the transactions multiplied. Where iLine = $1 and install service = $25, they are now multiplied by the bulk quantity unit value to provide one bulk transaction (as shown below).
Changing the Bulk Quantity Value on a User-Package
You can load a customer account and edit the Bulk Quantity value on a user-package at any time, however editing the Bulk Quantity number will not trigger any prorated charges meaning the customer will not receive a partial period debit/credit in relation to the Bulk Quantity value which has increased/decreased. Editing the Bulk Quantity value will simply result in the user being billed for the new quantity value as of their next Bill Date onwards. Typically for proper accounting and charging you would want to cancel the package with the bulk quantity component, prorate during cancelation and re-add the the package with the updated quantity which will apply partial period prorated charges based on the new quantity value.
Scenario #1: billing the customer immediately for the new package quantity
If the customer has a monthly package with a Bulk Quantity of 20 which they need to upgrade to a quantity of 30 as of today, and they should be charged the difference as of today, do the following:
Load the customer's account in the AdminPortal
On the Overview or Packages tab select the package with the bulk component on it and click the Status button below the Packages list
Switch the status to Cancel and click Save
Select Cancel immediately With Prorated Transaction to credit the user back for the remainder of the period they have been charged for in bulk
Click Save
On the Overview or Packages tab click Add under the Packages list
Click on the name of the package with the bulk component on it
On the Add Package page set the new Bulk Quantity and then click Save
The Transactions tab will show that the user has been credited for the remainder of the billing period for the canceled package (prorated credit for the canceled package times twenty) as well as transactions for the prorated charges related to the new package (prorated charges for the partial month at thirty times the package price).
Scenario #2: billing the customer for the new package quantity when the package is billed
If the customer needs the package quantity changed but billing for the package should not take effect until the next billing period, do the following:
Load the customer's account in the AdminPortal
On the Overview or Packages tab click on the link under the ID or Package column for the package that contains the bulk component to edit it
In the Bulk Quantity field update the quantity number
Click Save
When the package is billed going forward the charge will be based on the new Quantity value.