Understanding Consumer Product Versions

A consumer product version records the product attributes and rules that are applicable for consumer contracts related to the consumer product version.

For a consumer contract that is created or changed using a customer service request, the consumer product version is determined using the Determine Version algorithm defined on the Consumer Product business object. The base package provides an algorithm type that determines the effective consumer product version by comparing the version’s offer effective date and the date the new contract or contract change was agreed. Alternative custom algorithms could use one or more of the consumer product version’s offer effective date, service effective date, offer end date, service end date and consumer product version selection. To see the list of available algorithm(s), search for algorithm types of the Consumer Product (BO) – Determine Version algorithm

Consumer products have two kinds of rules: consumer product rules and consumer contract rules. Consumer product rules are used to perform configurable services for a consumer product version. For example, a consumer product rule can determines the fallback product to use when a contract’s product is no longer eligible. Consumer contract rules are used to set up new consumer contracts and make changes to existing consumer contracts. For example, a consumer contract rule can be used to create or stop a service agreement.

Consumer product rules relate directly to a consumer product version. Consumer contract rules are organized into groups using consumer product components. The consumer product components can be linked together into a hierarchy. The consumer product version records the consumer product component at the top of the hierarchy.

A consumer product version’s attributes are recorded either as consumer product version characteristics or as consumer product component characteristics. Examples of attributes are: the duration of a fixed-price period and the amount of an exit fee.

Consumer product component eligibility criteria determine whether a consumer product component is applicable. The product attributes retrieved or consumer contract rules applied for a consumer product version will vary depending on the consumer product component eligibility criteria rules.