14Using Network Ordering
Using Network Ordering
This chapter describes how users work with network ordering. It includes the following topics:
Process of Ordering New Networks
A salesperson can order a new network for a new customer. The salesperson adds the customer and all features of the network. For general information about network ordering and instructions for setting up network ordering, see Using Network Ordering
To order a new network, perform the following tasks:
Creating an Account and Locations for a New Network
When a salesperson orders a new network for a new customer, first the salesperson creates a new account representing the customer and add locations for all the nodes of the network. For more information about creating an account, see Siebel Applications Administration Guide.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Networks.
To create an account and locations for a new network
Navigate to the Accounts screen, then the Accounts List view.
In the Accounts list, add a new record, and enter basic information about the account.
Click the name of the account.
Click the view tabs, and add more information about the contacts at the account, the account profile, and other data needed to create the account.
Click the Address Profile view tab.
In the Address Profile list, add a new record for each location of a node in the network, and enter information about that location.
The following fields are automatically populated based on data for the premise: Prefix, CLLI, LATA, and Rate Center. For more information, see Setting Up Premises.
Creating a Quote for a New Network
After adding records for all the locations of network nodes, the salesperson can create a quote for the new network. Later, the salesperson attaches all the components of the new network to this quote.
For more information about creating a quote, see Siebel Order Management Guide.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Networks.
To create a quote for a new network
Navigate to the Accounts screen, then the Accounts List view.
In the Accounts list, click the name of the appropriate account.
The Customer Portal view appears.
In the Installed Assets list, click New.
If the account type is not Residential, then the Line Item view of the Quotes screen appears.
In the Quote Header form, click the More button.
In the Network field, enter a name for the new network.
By default, the value of this field is the quote number. Enter a descriptive name to overwrite the number. The Siebel application uses this name as a key to link together components of the network and as the default for the Network field for all line items in the quote.
In the Line Items list, add a new record and complete the necessary fields. Some fields are described in the following table.
Field Description Product
Select a product with a Network Element Type of Network. For example, select a Frame Relay.
Qty
Enter 1.
Adding Nodes to a New Network
After creating a quote for a new network, a salesperson adds components of the network as line items of the quote. The salesperson must add a line item for each of the network nodes. For example, if the network nodes are ports, then the salesperson must add a line item for each port.
Add nodes most efficiently by adding one line item with a quantity of the number of nodes in the entire network. Then configure that line item with the attributes and components that are applicable to all nodes. Then ungroup that item to create a separate line item for each node.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Networks.
To add nodes to a new network
Select the quote that represents the network.
Click the Line Items view tab.
In the Line Items list, add a new record and complete the necessary fields. Some fields are described in the following table.
Field Description Product
Select a product with a Network Element Type of Network Node. For example, if Frame Relay is the network product, then select Frame Relay Port as the network node product.
Qty
Enter the number of nodes in the network.
For this line item, click Customize and use Configurator to enter the attributes that are common to all the nodes in the network.
In the Line Items list, click Ungroup.
The line item is ungrouped, and a separate line item exists for each node in the network.
Enter details for each node:
In the Line Items list, select one of the node line items.
Click the Network Line Detail view tab.
In the Network Line Detail form, in the Node field, enter the name of the node.
Enter a descriptive name, such as the name of the city in which this node is located. This name is used to connect to this node.
In the Network Line Detail form, in the Service Address field, select the address of this node.
The Prefix and CLLI field are automatically populated based on data for the premise.
Enter attributes for the node that are different from the common attributes that you enter in Step 4.
For a simple product, click the Attributes view tab and enter the attributes in the Attributes form. For a customizable product, click Customize to enter the attributes for the line item.
Repeat Step 6 for all of the nodes in the Line Items list.
Adding Connections to a New Network
After creating a quote for a new network, a salesperson adds components of the network as line items of the quote. The salesperson must add a line item for each of the network connections, for example, for each of the PVCs.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Networks.
To add connections to a new network
Select the quote that represents the network.
Click the Line Items view tab.
In the Line Items list, add a new record and complete the necessary fields. Some fields are described in the following table.
Field Description Product
Select a product with a Network Element Type of Network Connection. For example, select Frame Relay PVC as the network connection product.
Qty
Enter the number of connections in the network.
For this line item, click Customize and use Configurator to enter the attributes that are common to all the connections of the network.
In the Line Items list, click Ungroup.
The line item is ungrouped, and a separate line item exists for each connection in the network.
Enter details for each connection:
In the Line Items list, select one of the connection line items.
Click the Network Line Detail view tab.
In the Network Line Detail form, in the From section, in the Node field, select a node for this connection.
In the dialog box, you can select nodes from across the entire network.
In the Network Line Detail form, in the To section, in the Node field, select the other node for this connection.
The To node must be different from the node you select as the From node.
In the Service Address field, select a service address for the From and To Nodes.
Only addresses for the selected service account are available for selection.
Enter any attributes of the connection that are different from the common attributes that you enter in Step 4.
For a simple product, click the Attributes view tab and enter the attributes in the Attributes form. For a customizable product, click Customize to enter the attributes for the line item.
Repeat Step 6 for all of the connections in the Line Items list.
Validating a Quote for a Network
After a salesperson enters all the components of a new network, the salesperson must validate the quote and correct any errors.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Networks.
To validate a quote for a network
In the Network Line Detail form, click Validate.
Though the network product or any network component record is selected, the entire network is validated.
A dialog box appears indicating that the network is valid, or a dialog box appears listing network errors. If this dialog box does not appear or appears with an unexpected message, then the product is not set up correctly. For more information, see Setting Up Network Ordering .
Change network line items to resolve any listed errors.
Repeat Step 1 and Step 2 until you correct all errors.
Creating an Order for a New Network
After creating a quote for a new network, the salesperson presents the quote to the customer as a proposal document or in some other form. After the customer approves this proposal, the salesperson converts the quote to an order and adds final additional engineering details if necessary.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Networks.
To create an order for a new network
Navigate to the Quotes screen, then the List view.
In the Quotes list, click the Name field for the quote for the network.
In the Quote Header form, click Auto Order.
The quote is converted to an order.
Click the Network Line Detail view tab.
Add additional details (for example, the service ID and port number) to network components, as needed.
Click Validate.
A dialog box appears indicating that the network is valid, or a dialog box appears listing network errors. If this dialog box does not appear or appears with an unexpected message, then the product is not set up correctly. For more information, see Setting Up Network Ordering.
Change network components to resolve any listed errors.
Repeat Step 6 and Step 7 until you correct all errors.
To submit the order, click Submit.
Converting a Completed Network Order to Assets
As components of the network order are installed, convert the line items representing these components to assets so that you can track these assets for service and change orders.
For more information about converting orders to assets, see the topic about the workflow that applies an order to the service profile in Siebel Order Management Guide.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Networks.
To convert the network order to an asset
Navigate to the Sales Order screen, then the List view.
Click the name of the network order that you want to convert.
For each root line item:
Select Complete in the Status field of all subcomponents.
Click Auto Asset.
Viewing a Network as a Billing or Service Item
In the Billing Items view or Service Items view, only the network product appears.
This view does not list the other products that are components of this network. If you click the name of the network product, then the Networks screen displays the network product with all of the components.
To view a network as a billing item or a service item
Navigate to the Accounts screen, then the Accounts List view.
In the Accounts list, click the name of the appropriate account.
The Customer Portal view appears. The Billing Items list and Service Items list include the network products for the selected account.
Click the name of a billing item or service item that is a network product.
The Networks screen appears with this network product selected in the Networks list.
Note: Click the view tabs of the Networks screen to view network components and process changes orders for network components.
Process of Ordering New Sites in Existing Networks
A salesperson can take an order to add a new site to an existing customer network.
To order a new site in an existing network, perform the following tasks:
Adding a Location for a New Network Site
When a salesperson takes an order to add a new site to an existing customer network, first the salesperson adds the location of the site.
For more information about working with accounts, see Siebel Applications Administration Guide.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Sites in Existing Networks.
To add a location for a new network site
Navigate to the Accounts screen, then the Accounts List view.
In the Accounts list, click the name of the account for the new site.
Click the Address Profiles view tab.
In the Addresses list, add a new record for the location to add to the network, and enter information about that location.
The following fields are automatically populated based on data for the premise: Prefix, CLLI, LATA, and Rate Center. For more information, see Setting Up Premises.
Creating a Quote for a New Network Site
After adding a record for a location for the network site, the salesperson creates a quote for the network. The information about the products at the new site are line items of this quote.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Sites in Existing Networks.
To create a quote for a new network site
Navigate to the Networks screen.
In the Networks list, select the network to which to add a site.
Click the Nodes view tab.
In the Nodes list, click New.
The Line Items view of the Quotes screen appears with the quote populated with information about this account and network.
To confirm the selected network, in the Quote Header form, click the More button and look at the Network field.
Adding a Node for a New Network Site
After creating a quote for a new network site, the salesperson adds a line item for the node at that site.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Sites in Existing Networks.
To add a node for a new network site
In the Line Items view, add a line item for a product with the Network Element Type of Network Node.
For example, if you use Frame Relay as the network product, then use Frame Relay Port as the network node product.
Click the Network Line Detail view tab.
Enter details for the node:
In the Network Line Detail form, in the Node field, enter the name of the node.
Enter a descriptive name, such as the name of the city in which this node is located. This name is used to connect to this node.
In the Network Line Detail form, in the Service Address field, select the address of this node.
The Prefix and CLLI field are automatically populated based on data for the premise.
Click Customize and use Configurator to enter the attributes of this node.
Adding a Connection for a New Network Site
After creating a quote for a new network site, a salesperson adds a line item for the connection at that site.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Sites in Existing Networks.
To add a connection for a new network site
In the Line Items view of the Quotes screen, click Add Item and add a line item for a product with the Network Element Type of Network Connection.
For example, you can select Frame Relay PVC as the network connection product.
Click the Network Line Detail view tab.
In the Network Line Detail form, enter details for the connection:
In the From section, in the Node field, select a node for this connection.
In the dialog box, you can select nodes from across the entire network.
In the To section, in the Node field, select the other node for this connection.
The To node must be a different node you select as the From node.
Note: When selecting the From and To nodes, you can select from the existing nodes and the new sites just added to this quote.Click Customize and use Configurator to enter the attributes for this connection.
Validating a Quote for a New Network Site
After entering the components at the new network site as line items in a quote, the salesperson validates the network to make sure that this site is compatible with the rest of the network.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Sites in Existing Networks.
To validate a quote for a network site
In the Network Line Detail form, click Validate.
A dialog box appears indicating that the network is valid, or a dialog box appears listing network errors. If this dialog box does not appear or appears with an unexpected message, then the product is not set up correctly. For more information, see Setting Up Network Ordering.
Change network components at this site to resolve any listed errors.
Repeat Step 1 and Step 2 until you correct all errors.
Creating an Order for a New Network Site
After creating a quote for a new network, the salesperson presents the quote to the customer as a proposal document or in some other form. After the customer approves this proposal, the salesperson converts the quote to an order and adds final additional engineering details if necessary.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Sites in Existing Networks.
To create an order for a new network site
Navigate to the Quotes screen, then the List view.
In the Quotes list, click the Name field for the quote for the network site.
In the Quote Header form, click Auto Order.
The quote is converted to an order.
Click the Network Line Detail view tab.
Add additional details (for example, the service ID and port number) to network components, as needed.
Click Validate.
A dialog box appears indicating that the network is valid, or a dialog box appears listing network errors. If this dialog box does not appear or appears with an unexpected message, then the product is not set up correctly. For more information, see Setting Up Network Ordering.
Change network components to resolve any listed errors.
Repeat Step 6 and Step 7 until you correct all errors.
To submit the order, click Submit.
Converting an Order for a New Network Site to Assets
As components of the network order are installed, convert the line items representing these components to assets so that you can track these assets for service and change orders.
For more information about converting orders to assets, see the topic about the workflow that applies an order to the service profile in Siebel Order Management Guide.
This task is a step in Process of Ordering New Sites in Existing Networks.
To convert a line item representing a network component to an asset
Navigate to the Sales Order screen, then the List view.
Click the order number of the network order that you want to convert.
Click the Line Items view tab.
For each line item that represents a network component:
Select Complete in the Status field.
Click Auto Asset.
Process of Upgrading Bandwidth at Network Sites
A salesperson can take an order to upgrade bandwidth at an existing network site.
This example of how to upgrade bandwidth assumes that:
The Frame Relay Port product has a port speed attribute.
The Frame Relay PVC product has a Committed Information Rate (CIR) attribute.
These attributes represent the bandwidth.
The actual process of upgrading bandwidth depends on the attributes defined to represent bandwidth.
To upgrade bandwidth at a network site, perform the following tasks:
Displaying a Network to Upgrade
To upgrade bandwidth at an existing network site, first you display the network to upgrade.
This task is a step in Process of Upgrading Bandwidth at Network Sites.
To display a network to upgrade
Navigate to the Networks screen.
In the Networks list, select the network to upgrade.
Upgrading Bandwidth at a Network Site
To upgrade the bandwidth at an existing network site, you must increase the speed of the network node product, for example, the port speed of the Frame Relay Port product.
This task is a step in Process of Upgrading Bandwidth at Network Sites.
To upgrade bandwidth at a network site
After selecting the network to upgrade, click the Nodes view tab.
Use a query to find the nodes that you want to modify in the Nodes list.
After reviewing the current bandwidth in the attributes applet, click Modify.
A Configurator session appears. You can increase the port speed as required.
Click Done.
A change quote appears.
Upgrading Bandwidth of a Network Connection
To upgrade the Committed Information Rate (CIR) on a network connection, you use the change quote that appears after the last step in Upgrading Bandwidth at a Network Site.
This task is a step in Process of Upgrading Bandwidth at Network Sites.
To upgrade the bandwidth of a network connection
After modifying the speed of the node, click Back to return to the Connections view.
Select the network connection that you want to upgrade and view the current CIR for this connection.
Click Modify.
A Configurator session appears. You can increase the speed of the network connection CIR.
Click Done.
The change quote appears with a second line item you add.
Validating a Network After Bandwidth Upgrade
After upgrading bandwidth at an existing site, the salesperson validates the network to make sure that this site is compatible with the rest of the network.
This task is a step in Process of Upgrading Bandwidth at Network Sites.
To validate a quote for a network
In the Network Line Detail form, click Validate.
A dialog box appears indicating that the network is valid, or a dialog box appears listing network errors. If this dialog box does not appear or appears with an unexpected message, then the product is not set up correctly. For more information, see Setting Up Network Ordering.
Change network components in the quote to resolve any listed errors.
If necessary, return to the network view and modify other components to make the components compatible with the changes at this site.
Repeat Step 1 though Step 3 until you correct all errors.
Creating an Order to Upgrade Bandwidth
After creating a quote to upgrade bandwidth at an existing site, the salesperson presents the quote to the customer as a proposal document or in some other form. After the customer approves this proposal, the salesperson converts the quote to an order.
This task is a step in Process of Upgrading Bandwidth at Network Sites.
To create an order to upgrade bandwidth at a network site
Navigate to the Quotes screen, then the List view.
In the Quotes list, click the Name field for the quote for the upgrade.
In the Quote Header form, click Auto Order.
The quote is converted to an order.
To submit the order, click Submit.
Converting a Completed Order to Upgrade Bandwidth to Assets
As components to upgrade bandwidth are installed, convert the line items representing these components to assets so that you can track these assets for service and change orders.
For more information about converting orders to assets, see the topic about the workflow that applies an order to the service profile in Siebel Order Management Guide. For more information about assets, see Siebel Field Service Guide.
This task is a step in Process of Upgrading Bandwidth at Network Sites.
To convert a line item representing a network component to an asset
Navigate to the Sales Order screen, then the List view.
Search to display the network order.
For each line item that represents a network component:
Select Complete in the Status field.
Click Auto Asset.
Process of Disconnecting a Site from a Network
A salesperson can take an order to disconnect a site from a network.
To disconnect a site from a network, perform the following tasks:
Disconnecting a Network Node and Connections
When a salesperson disconnects a node from a network, all connections for that node are automatically disconnected.
This task is a step in Process of Disconnecting a Site from a Network.
To disconnect a node and all associate connections
Navigate to the Networks screen.
In the Networks list, select the network for the node to disconnect.
Click the Nodes view tab.
In the Nodes list, select the node and click Disconnect.
A new quote is created. The node and any of its connections are copied to the quote and marked for deletion.
Validating a Network After Site Disconnection
After disconnecting a node, the salesperson validates the network to make sure that removing this node does not compromise the network integrity.
This task is a step in Process of Disconnecting a Site from a Network.
To validate a quote for a network
In the Network Line Detail form, click Validate.
A dialog box appears indicating that the network is valid, or a dialog box appears listing network errors. If this dialog box does not appear or appears with an unexpected message, then the product is not set up correctly. For more information, see Setting Up Network Ordering.
Change network components to resolve any listed errors.
Repeat Step 1 and Step 2 until you correct all errors.
Creating an Order to Disconnect a Network Site
After creating a quote to disconnect a network site, the salesperson summarizes the changes to make and captures the due date. When the customer confirms this order, the salesperson converts the quote to an order.
This task is a step in Process of Disconnecting a Site from a Network.
To an order to disconnect a network site
Navigate to the Quotes screen, then the List view.
In the Quotes list, click the Name field for the quote for the disconnection.
In the Quote Header form, click Auto Order.
The quote is converted to an order.
To submit the order, click Submit.
Updating Assets After Network Site Disconnection
When the work to disconnect each component at a network site is complete, update the customer assets so that these assets no longer include the component.
For more information about converting orders to assets, see the topic about the workflow that applies an order to the service profile in Siebel Order Management Guide.
This task is a step in Process of Disconnecting a Site from a Network.
To update assets after disconnecting a network site
Navigate to the Sales Order screen, then the List view.
Click the name of the disconnect order.
For each line item that represents a disconnected component:
Select Complete in the Status field of all subcomponents.
Click Auto Asset.