10Managing Products

Managing Products

This chapter provides information about standard Siebel Automotive functionality for product management. It consists of the following topics:

Note: Your company’s application configuration and business processes may differ from the procedures or business scenarios presented in this chapter.

Types of Products

There are two main types of products in Siebel Automotive:

  • Products of Type Vehicle and Type Option.

  • Product of Type Option can be associated with a product of Type Vehicle.

    Once this association has been made, the options associated with the vehicle product become valid options for the vehicle product.

Both vehicle and option products have their own distinct sets of features and specifications, which can be edited by the administrator.

About the List of Valid Vehicle Options

A list of valid options displays in the options view of the Vehicle screen. These valid options come from the product on which the vehicle has been based. You can select options for that particular vehicle from this list of valid options.

In Siebel Automotive, products may be vehicle models, options, or groups of options associated with a product.

Note: The Products screen displays information about hypothetical products that have no physical instance, while the Vehicles screen provides information about specific, physical vehicles. A product is an idea or a concept, while a vehicle is something real that can be driven, serviced, and sold to customers.

To effectively set up products and their associated attributes, follow the workflow process that is described in Siebel Product Administration Guide before performing procedures in this chapter.

Scenario for Working with Automotive Products

This scenario is an example of a workflow performed as an administrator. Your company may follow a different workflow according to its business requirements.

Administrator tasks, such as setting up products, specifications, features, and options must all be performed prior to the following business scenario.

A customer buys a new car from a dealership. There were three valid options for the product: CD player, cassette player, and sunroof. The customer chose only the cassette player and the sun roof. The sunroof and cassette player are the options for the vehicle. All three are valid options for the product and vehicle.

Products Process Workflow

The following image illustrates the administrator workflow for working with products, and it includes the following steps:

  • Define a Product as a Vehicle

  • Define a Product as Option, then Associate an Option with a Product

  • Create a Feature for a Product, then Associate a Feature to a Product

  • Create a Specification for a Product, then Associate a Specification to a Product

Go to the Siebel Automotive Products screen to carry out each of these tasks.


Products Workflow: This image is described in the surrounding text.
Note: For more information on initial set up for products, see Siebel Product Administration Guide.

Process of Managing Products

After a product has been created, you can define the features, specifications, and options for a product through the Product Administrations screen. Defining these attributes allows end users to view and use information about a product in a sales or service interaction with a potential customer.

To manage products using Siebel Automotive, perform the following tasks:

  1. Managing a Product’s Information.

  2. Associating Valid Options with a Product.

  3. Adding Product Features and Specifications.

Managing a Product’s Information

Use this procedure to view, edit, create, and delete a product. You can define product information about options, features, and specifications.

Note: The fields in the More Info view change according to what is chosen in the Type field on the Product form.

This task is a step in Process of Managing Products.

To view, edit, create, and delete a product as a vehicle

  1. Navigate to the Administration - Product screen.

  2. In the Products form, add, edit, or delete records.

Related Topics

Associating Valid Options with a Product

Adding Product Features and Specifications

Associating Valid Options with a Product

For an option to be associated with a vehicle as an installed option, you must first associate an optional product with the vehicle’s product definition as a valid option.

This task is a step in Process of Managing Products.

Related Topics

Managing a Product’s Information

Adding Product Features and Specifications

    Defining a Product as an Option

    Use this procedure to define a product as an option.

    This task is a step in Associating Valid Options with a Product.

    To define a product as an option

    1. Navigate to the Administration - Product screen.

    2. Create a new record.

    3. In the Type field, select Option.

    4. If the newly defined option is to be associated with one or more vehicles, click Create Asset.

    5. Complete the fields as necessary.

    Related Topic

    Associating an Option with a Product of Type Equal to Vehicle

      Associating an Option with a Product of Type Equal to Vehicle

      Use this procedure to associate an option with a product of type equal to vehicle.

      This task is a step in Associating Valid Options with a Product.

      To associate an option with a product of Type equal to Vehicle

      1. Navigate to the Administration - Product screen, then the Valid Options view.

      2. In the Valid Options list, add, edit, or delete records.

      Related Topic

      Associating an Option with a Product of Type Equal to Vehicle

        Adding Product Features and Specifications

        Use this procedure to add features and specifications that are related to an automotive product. This information is for the supply sales and service personnel.

        This task is a step in Process of Managing Products.

        Note: You must create features and specifications before adding them to a specific product.

          Working with Product Features

          Use this procedure to view, edit, create, and delete a feature for a product.

          This task is a step in Adding Product Features and Specifications.

          To view, edit, create, and delete a feature for a product

          1. Navigate to the Administration - Product screen, then the Product Features view.

          2. In the Product Features list, add, edit, or delete records.

            Associating a Feature with a Product

            Use this procedure to associate a feature with a product.

            This task is a step in Adding Product Features and Specifications.

            To associate a feature with a product

            1. Navigate to the Administration - Product screen, then the Products view.

            2. Drill down on the Name field link for a selected product record.

            3. In the Administration - Product link bar, click the Features link.

            4. In the Features list, create a new record.

            5. In the Category field, select the category for the feature you just created in Working with Product Features.

            6. Complete the fields as necessary.

              Working with Product Specifications

              Use this procedure to view, edit, create, and delete a specification for a product.

              This task is a step in Adding Product Features and Specifications.

              To view, edit, create, and delete a specification for a product

              1. Navigate to the Administration - Product screen, then the Specifications view.

              2. In the Specifications list, add, edit, or delete records.

                Associating a Specification with a Product

                Use this procedure to associate a specification with a product.

                This task is a step in Adding Product Features and Specifications.

                To associate a specification with a product

                1. Navigate to the Administration - Product screen, then the Products view.

                2. Select the product record that you want to associate a specification with.

                3. In the Administration - Product link bar, click the Specifications link.

                4. In the Specifications list, create a new record.

                5. In the Category field, select the category for the specification you just created in Working with Product Specifications.

                6. Complete the fields as necessary.