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Product Catalog Configuration Process

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  1. Overview
    1. Create Product Specifications
      1. Create New Product Specification for Master Plan
      3. Create New Product Specification for Supplemental Plan
      4. Create New Product Specification for Non-Subscription Offering (NSO)
    2. Create Product Offerings
      1. Create a New NSO Product Offering - Example
      2. Create a New Supplemental Plan Product Offering - Example
      1. Create a New Master Plan Product Offering - Example
    4. Create a Price List and Add Price Line Items for Product Offerings 
    5. Sync New Product Offerings to Aria
    6. Connecting Product Offerings to the Sales and Order Management (SOM) Process (CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT

Overview

You create and add product offerings to catalogs and categories. Once published, sales agents and customers use the product catalog to select product offerings in Sales and Order Management transactions. Product Offerings can be Master Plans, Supplemental Plans, or Non-Subscription Offerings (NSOs).

Note: The role required to create a new Product Offering is sn_prd_pm_product_catalog_admin.

Create Product Specifications

Since the integration relies on storing billing and plan-related data as characteristics on Order Line Items, it is essential to ensure that all required characteristics are created and properly associated with the relevant catalog items in the Product Catalog. The required characteristics vary depending on the type of plan or offering: Master Plan, Supplemental Plan, or NSO. Product Specification Categories are used in governing fulfillment processes. Examples of Product Specifications might include one each for a Basic Master Plan, Basic Supplemental Plan, and Basic NSO. The following provides an example of the steps to create Product Specifications for each.

Note: See Create Product Characteristics and Characteristics Options for more information.

Create New Product Specification for Master Plan

MASTER_PLAN_Product Spec_Click on Existing One.png

Note: You can create a new Master Plan Product Specification by copying and changing the name and characterics of an existing Master Plan product specification, or by creating a new one. This also applies for creating product specifications for Supplemental Plans and NSOs from existing ones. 

  1. Click on an existing Master Plan Product Specification number.

MASTER_PLAN_Product Spec_Click on Existing One_Copy.png

  1. Click on the Copy button.

MASTER_PLAN_Product Spec_Details_1.png
MASTER_PLAN_Product Spec_Details_2.png

The Product Specification Details Screen displays as shown above.

  1. The Number field is a system-assigned number for the new product specification.
  2. Type in a Product Speciffication Name.
  3. Type in a Display Name.
  4. Click on the Category fields search icon and select your desired Product Specification Category for this new product specification.
  5. Click on the Start Date's and End Date's (if desired) calendar icons to choose start and end dates and click OK. These date's define the validity period of the specification.
  6. Type in a Description.
  1. Click on the Save button.

MASTER_PLAN_Product Spec_Click on Specifications Characteristics.png

  1. Click on the Specification Characteristics menu tab.

Specification Characteristics.png
Specification Characteristic Screen_2.png

Note: The characteristics from the existing Master Plan Product Specification have neen copied to this new Master Plan Product Specification.The required characteristics vary depending on the type of plan or offering: Master Plan, Supplemental Plan, or NSO. See specification characteristics for Master Plans in Create Product Characteristics and Characteristics Options for more information.

  1. Click on the Details menu tab to return to the Product Specification screen, and then click on the Publish button. Confirm publishing of the new Product Specification by clicking on the Publish confirmation popup screen's OK button.

MASTER_PLAN_Published Details Screen.png

Above we see our new New Master Plan Product Specification successfuly published.

Create New Product Specification for Supplemental Plan

Create New Supplemental Plan Product Specification_Click on Existing.png

  1. Click on an existing Supplemental Plan Product Spercification number.

Create New Supplemental Plan Product Specification_Click on Copy Button.png

The Product Specification screen displays as shown above.

  1. Click on the Copy button.

Create New Supplemental Plan Product Specification_Details Screen_1.png
Create New Supplemental Plan Product Specification_Details Screen_2.png

Repeat steps 3 through 9 above.

Create New Supplemental Plan Product Specification_Click on Product Specifications Tab.png

  1. Click on the Specification Characteristics menu tab.

Create New Supplemental Plan Product Specification_Click on Type of Plan Option.png

The Specifications Characteristics screen displays as shown above.

Note: The characteristics from the existing Supplemental Plan Product Specification have neen copied to this new Supplemental Plan Product Specification.The required characteristics vary depending on the type of plan or offering: Master Plan, Supplemental Plan, or NSO. See specification characteristics for Supplemental Plans in Create Product Characteristics and Characteristics Options for more information.

  1. To change the type of Supplemental Plan (a recurring Supplemental Plan is the default), first click on the Type of Plan's Mandatory true link.

Create New Supplemental Plan Product Specification_Manadatory_Default.png

The Supplemental Plan's Specification Characteristics screen displays as shown above.

11a. Click on the Characteristic option field's search icon. 
11b. A Characteristic option popup screen displays. If desired, select either of the Arrears Supplemental Plan or Activation Supplemental Plan options. 

  1. Click on the Save button.
  2. Click on the Supplemental Plan's Specification Characteristics screen tab's X to close the screen.

Create New Supplemental Plan Product Specification_Add New Characteristic_Click on New.png

  1. To add a specification characteristic to this new product specification, click on the New button.

Create New Supplemental Plan Product Specification_Add New Characteristic_Detail Screen.png

The Create New Specification Characteristic screen displays as shown above.

  1. Use the Characteristic field's search option to search and select a new specification characteristic.
  2. Use the Characteristic option field's search option to search and select the characteristic's option.
  3. Click on the Mandatory / Default option checkboxes as desired.
  4. Click on the Save button.
  5. Click on the Create New Specification Characteristic's screen tab's X to close the screen.

Create New Supplemental Plan Product Specification_Click on Publish.png

  1. Review all elements and click on Publish to create the new Supplemental Plan Product Specification.

Create New Supplemental Plan Product Specification_Publish Confirmation Screen_Click on OK.png

A Publish Specification confirmation popup is displayed as shown above. 

  1. Click on the OK button to publish the new product specification.

Create New Supplemental Plan Product Specification_Finalized.png

Above we see the new Supplemental Plan Product Specification successfully published.

Create New Product Specification for Non-Subscription Offering (NSO)

Create New NSO_Click on Existing NSO Product Specification.png

  1. Click on a pre-configured / pre-existing NSO Product Specification number.

Create New NSO_Click on Existing NSO Product Specification_Click on Copy.png

  1. Click on the Copy button.

Create New NSO_Detail Screen 1.png

Create New NSO_GL and Mandatory.png

Complete steps 3 through 20 as detailed above specific to this new NSO Product Specification.

Note: In this new NSO Product Specification configuration, we are keeping the original product specification's SKU characteristics, adding a GL Code characteristic, and requiring its purchase to be mandatory as denoted by the "true" in the Type of Plan's Mandatory column. 

Complete steps 21 and 22 as detailed above to publish and confirm the new NSO Product Specification.

Create Product Offerings

Note: Aria recommends a bottom to top approach when creating product offerings, with NSOs at the lowest level being first, then working up through Supplemental and Master Plan offerings. This approach is found to work well when creating product relationships supporting the bundling of products to offer to your customers.

Create a New NSO Product Offering - Example

The following provides an example of the steps to create a new NSO offering.

Create a New NSO - Click on New.png

  1. From the CSM / SFM Configurable Workspace, first click on the List icon, select Product Offerings, and then click on the New button.

Note: You can also create a new NSO offering by first clicking on an existing NSO offering, and then clicking on it's Copy button. You then edit the fields per the steps outlined below to create a new NSO offering. 

Create a New NSO - Details Screen_1.png
Create a New NSO - Details Screen_2.png

  1. The Number field is a system-assigned number for the product offering.
  2. Type in a Name for the new NSO product offering. This is an alternative name for the product offering to differentiate it from similar product names.
  3. Type in a Display Name of the NSO product offering to be added.

Note: The Display Name translates to the NSO Name that gets defined in Aria.

  1. If the NSO is part of a bundled offering vs. an NSO that can be purchased as a standalone, de-select the Sellable checkbox.
  2. Type in a Description.
  3. Click on the Start Date's calendar icon to choose a start date and time, and click OK to indicate when the new NSO product offering is available for Sales and Order Management applications. Click on the End Date's calendar icon if desired to choose a end date and time, and click OK to indicate when the product offering will no longer be available for Sales and Order Management applications.
  4. The Code field is a system-generated alphanumeric number based on the product name. Although system generated, you can edit the code to represent a SKU or any other industry-specific product codes.

Note: The Code translates to the SKU that gets defined in Aria.

  1. Click on the Product Specification field's drop down arrow and select your desired Product Specification to associate with the new NSO product offering. This is the functional view of a product offering that drives order fulfillment. Only published product specifications display here.
  2. Click on the Pricing Method field's drop down arrow and select One-time.
  3. Click on the Save button.

Create a New NSO - Click on New NSO_Product Offering Categories Menu Tab.png

The New NSOs Details screen displays as shown above.

  1. Click on the Product Offering Categories menu tab.

Create a New NSO - Click on New NSO_Product Offering Categories New Button.png

The Product Offering Categories screen displays as shown above.

  1. Click on the New button.

Create a New NSO - Click on New NSO_Product Offering Categories Selection_Save.png

  1. Click on the Category field's search icon and select the desired Category to associate this new NSO product offering.
  2. Click on the Save button.

Create a New NSO - Click on New NSO_Product Offering Categories Details Tab.png

  1. Click on the New NSO Product Offering Categories' Details tab.

Create a New NSO -Publich NSO_Click on Publish.png

The New NSOs Product Offering Categories screen displays as shown above.

Note: The Sync to Aria characteristic needs to be added to the NSOs Product Offering Characteristics, regardless whether the NSO is planned as a standalone product or a mandatory (bundled) product, if you want the NSO product to be defined in Aria. 

  1.  Click on the Publish button.

Create a New NSO - Click on New NSO_Publish Confirmation..png

A Publish Offering confirmation popup is displayed as shown above. 

  1. Review all elements and click on the OK button to publish the new NSO Product Offering.

Create a New NSO - ClNewly Published NSO Offering..png

Above we see the new NSO Product Offering successfully published.

Create a New Supplemental Plan Product Offering - Example

The following provides an example of the steps to create a new Supplemental Plan Product Offering.

Click on New SUPP_Click on New.png

  1. From the CSM / SFM Configurable Workspace, first click on the List icon, select Product Offerings, and then click on the New button.

Note: You can also create a new Supplemental Plan offering by first clicking on an existing Supplemental Plan offering, and then clicking on it's Copy button. You then edit the fields per the steps outlined below to create a new Supplemental Plan offering. 

New SUPP_Details Screen1.png
New SUPP_Details Screen2.png

The Create New Product Offering screen displays as shown above.

  1. The Number field is a system-assigned number for the product offering.
  2. Type in a Name for the new Supplemental Plan product offering. This is an alternative name for the product offering to differentiate it from similar product names.
  3. Type in a Display Name of the Supplemental Plan product offering to be added.

Note: The Display Name translates to the Supplemental Plan Name that gets defined in Aria.

Note: For a Supplemental Plan Offering, both the Sellable and Transient checkboxes must be left unchecked.

  1. Type in a Description.
  2. Click on the Start Date's calendar icon to choose a start date and time, and click OK to indicate when the new Supplemental Plan product offering is available for Sales and Order Management applications. Click on the End Date's calendar icon if desired to choose a end date and time, and click OK to indicate when the product offering will no longer be available for Sales and Order Management applications.
  3. The Code field is a system-generated alphanumeric number based on the product name. Although system generated, you can edit the code to represent a SKU or any other industry-specific product codes.

Note: The Code translates to the to the Supplemental Plan's Client-defined identifier in Aria.

  1. Click on the Product Specification field's drop down arrow and select your desired Product Specification to associate with the new Supplemental Plan product offering. This is the functional view of a product offering that drives order fulfillment. Only published product specifications display here.
  2. Click on the Pricing Method field's drop down arrow and select Recurring.

Note: If the Supplemental Plan is of a type "Activation Supplemental Plan", the pricing method should be configured as One-time.

  1. Click on the Periodicity field's dropdown arrow and select Monthly or Annually.
  2. Click on the Save button.

Note: Contracts are not currently supported.

New SUPP_Saved Details Screen_Click on Product Offering Categories.png

The New Supplemental Product Offering Details screen displays as shown above.

  1. Click on the Product Offering Categories menu tab.

New SUPP_Saved Details Screen_Product Offering Categories_Click New.png

The Product Offering Categories Screen displays as shown above.

  1. Click on the New button.

New SUPP_Saved Details Screen_Product Offering Categories_Select Category_Save.png

  1. Click on the Category field's search icon and select the desired Category to associate this new Supplemental Plan product offering.
  2. Click on the Save button.

New SUPP_Saved Details Screen_Product Offering Categories_Click Details.png

  1. Click on the New Supplemental Plan Offering Categories' Details tab.

New SUPP_Saved Details Screen_Product Offering Categories_Product Category Screen.png

The New NSOs Product Offering Categories screen displays as shown above.

  1. Review all elements and click on Publish to publish the new Supplemental Plan Product Offering. A Publish Offering confirmation popup will be displayed as seen previously. Review all elements and click on the OK button to publish the new Supplemental Plan Product Offering.

NEW_SUPP_Successfully Published.png

Above we see the new Supplemental Plan Product Offering successfully published.

Create a New Master Plan Product Offering - Example

The following provides an example of the steps to create a new Master Plan offering.

Click on the New Button.png

  1. From the CSM/FSM Configurable Workspace, use the List icon to navigate to Offerings > Product Offerings, and click on the New button.

MASTER_PLAN_Offering_Details_1.png
MASTER_PLAN_Offering_Details_2.png

  1. The Number field is a system-assigned number for the new Master Plan product offering.
  2. Type in a Name for the new Master Plan product offering. This is an alternative name for the product offering to differentiate it from similar product names.
  3. Type in a Display Name of the new Master Plan product offering to be added.

Note: The Display Name translates to the Master Plan Name that gets defined in Aria.

  1. Click on the Sellable checkbox. Selecting Sellable indicates that the product offering can be sold as a standalone item. If not selected, the product offering can be sold as part of bundle but not as a standalone item.

Note: If you want the Master Plan to be available in the Product configurator, then Sellable must be checked.

  1. Click on the Start Date's calendar icon to choose a start date and time, and click OK to indicate when the product offering is available for Sales and Order Management applications. If desired, click on the End Date's calendar icon to choose a end date and time, and click OK to indicate when the product offering will no longer be available for Sales and Order Management applications.
  2. The Code field is a system-generated alphanumeric number based on the product name. Although system generated, you can edit the code to represent a SKU or any other industry-specific product codes.

Note: The Code translates to the to the Master Plan's Client-defined identifier in Aria.

  1. Click on the Offering Catalog field's search icon and select your desired Product Offering Catalog for this new product offering.
    • Type in a brief Description of this new product offering.
    • Click on the Product Specification field's drop down arrow and select your desired Product Specification to associate with the product offering. This is the functional view of a product offering that drives order fulfillment.

    • Click on the Pricing Method field's drop down arrow and select the Pricing method for the product. Select one of the following:

      • One-time: A single fee for the product.
      • Recurring: A fee that occurs at scheduled intervals. You can set the Periodicity for a recurring fee.
        1. Click on the Periodicity field's drop down arrow, and select Monthly or Annually.
        2. Click on the Save button.

        MASTER_PLAN_Click on Product Categories.png

        The new Master Plan Product Offering Details screen displays as show above.

        1. Click on the Product Offering Categories menu tab.

        MASTER_PLAN_Product Category_Click on New.png

        The Product Offering Categories screen displays as shown above.

        1. Click on the New button.

        MASTER_PLAN_Select Category_Click Save.png

        1. Click on the Category field's search icon and select the desired Category to associate this new Supplemental Plan product offering.
        2. Click on the Save button.
        3. Close the Create New Product Offering tab.

        Note: If you have a Child Supplemental Plan(s) or NSOs associated with the Master Plan, you will need to add these to the Master Plan's Product Offering Relationships.

        MASTER_PLAN_Click on Product Offering Relationships.png

        1. Click on the Product Offering Relationships menu tab.

        MASTER PLAN_PRODUCT OFFERING REL_Click on New.png

        The Product Offering Relationships screen displays as shown above.

        1. Click on the New button.

        MASTER_PLAN_PROD REL_Item1.png

        The Create New Product Offering Relationship screen displays as shown above.

        1. Type in a Display Name.
        2. Click on the Target product offering field's search icon and select the desired "published" product offering.
        3. Type in an Order number.This order number determines the display sequence of options in the product configurator. Use increments of 10  (10, 20, 30...) for order numbers to allow for future, in-between additions.
        4. Click on the Unit of measure field's search icon and select Each. 
        5. Click on the Default and Mandatory check boxes to make the related product offering a mandatory and/or defaulted purchase with this Master Plan product offering.
        6. Type in a Default quantity purchasing quantity for the related product offering. 
        7. Type in a Max quantity purchasing quantity for the related product offering. 
        8. Type in a Min quantity purchasing quantity for the related product offering. 
        9. Click on the Save button.
        10. Close the Create New Product Offering Relationship screen X

        MASTER_PLAN_PROD REL_Item2.png

        Repeat steps 20 through 29 to add additional related product offerings to the Master Plan Product Offering.

        MASTER_PLAN_Relationships Screen Completed.png

        1. Review all elements and click on Publish to publish the new Master Plan Product Offering. A Publish Offering confirmation popup will be displayed as seen previously. Review all elements and click on the OK button to publish the new Master Plan Product Offering.

            MASTER_PLAN_Successfully Published.png

            Above we see the new Master Plan Product Offering successfully published.

                Create a Price List and Add Price Line Items for Product Offerings 

                You create and configure a Price List and add Price Line Items to facilitate pricing for product offerings. You can create any number of Price Lists and indicate which price list is the default at any given time.

                Click on Price Lists_New.png

                1. From the CSM/FSM Configurable Workspace, use the List icon to navigate to Pricing > Price Lists, and click on the New button.

                Published Price List.png

                The Price List displayed above was previously created and contains (7) price line items for product offerings currently contained in this price list.

                1. To add price lines for additional product offerings, click on Price List Lines menu tab.

                Price-List_Items_Click on new button.png

                1. Click on the New button.

                Price_Line_Item_Details_1.png

                1. The Code field is a system-assigned number for the new Price List Line. Although system generated, you can edit the code if desired.
                2. Click on the Product Offering field's search icon, and select the desired Product Offering.
                3. The Unit of measure field is pre-populated based on the selected offering's configuration when created.
                4. Type in a Base list price. Use the field's drop down arrow to select a desired currency code. 
                5. The Start date is automatically date and time stamped. Edit this field as needed if a new start date / time is required.
                6. Click on the Save button.

                Price Line Item_Close Tab.png

                1. Close the Price List Line tab.

                Repeat steps 3 through 10 to add price lines for additional product offerings.

                Completed Price List.png

                Above we see the newly added Price List Lines for our Master Plan, Supplemental Plan, and NSO Offerings.

                Sync New Product Offerings to Aria

                PC_SYNC_Click on Aria Billing Studio.png

                1. From the ServiceNow Main Menu, click on Workspaces menu tab, then click on Aria Billing Studio.

                Click on List_Click on Sync Catalogs.png

                The Aria Billing Workspace screen displays as shown above.

                1. Click on the List Icon.
                2. Click on Sync Catalogs.

                Syn_Catalog Popup_Click on OK.png

                A Sync Catalog popup displays as shown above.

                1. Click on the OK button.

                Plans Synced to Aria.png
                NSO Synced to Aria.png

                Above we see our 2 new plans ( 1 Master Plan and 1 Supplemental Plan) and our 1 new NSO added to the Aria Product Catalog.

                Connecting Product Offerings to the Sales and Order Management (SOM) Process (CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT

                Once product offerings are created and published, they need to be connected into the SOM process, so sales agents and customers can use the product catalog to select product offerings in SOM transactions.

                Click on Aria Billing Studio.png

                1. From the ServiceNow Main Menu, click on Workspaces menu tab, then click on Aria Billing Studio.

                Click on ALL Menu Tab.png

                The Aria Billing Studio workspace screen displays as shown above.

                1. Click on the All menu tab.

                Click on Decision Tables.png

                1. Use the Filter search as shown above, and then click on Decision Tables.

                Type PlanID in Search.png

                The Database Tables screen displays as shown above.

                1. Use the Decision Table search and type PlanID, then hit the Enter key.

                Click on PlanID Mapping Decision Table.png

                1. Click on the PlanID mapping decision table.

                PlanID Mapping Screen_1.png

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