Price Group Maintenance

This program lets you create and maintain price groups that are used to manage the pricing for a customer, branch, geographic area, customer class or custom form field.

You can then configure price group rules against a price group.

Exploring

Things you can do in this program include:

  • Create a new price group

  • Maintain an existing price group

  • Delete an existing price group

  • Link one of the following to a price group:

    • Branch

    • Geographic area

    • Customer class

    • Custom form

  • Configure rules for a price group

A price group is not currency specific, as the currency is defined against the price rule. When determining the sales price for a customer, only the price rules that use the same currency as the customer will be applied.

This program is accessed from the Program List of the SYSPRO menu:

  • Program List > Sales Orders > Pricing Engine > Setup

The pricing engine is used to create flexible, multi-level pricing structures to manage a wide variety of price rules and methods. To facilitate this, a customer is linked to a price group which contains price rules. Price rules may refer to price lists or other configurations like invoice discounts or order discount breaks. Price lists can be created for stock codes, product classes, departments and price categories.

A stock code can exist on multiple price lists, which can have different price methods defined (e.g. flat price, price less %, etc.). In addition, multiple price lists can be linked to one price group, where each price list functions as a price rule.

The pricing method determines what price the system must use for a sales order line as well as the discounts applicable to the sales order lines and total merchandise value.

The pricing method for Contract Pricing is defined at company level (Setup Options > Configuration > Distribution > Sales Orders) and against stock items using the Stock Code Maintenance program.

To use the Sales Pricing Engine, your Pricing method must be defined as Price groups at company level (Setup Options > Configuration > Distribution > Sales Orders) and the pricing method must be specified against price lists using the Price List Maintenance program (not against stock items).

Price groups are used to assign prices and discounts to commercial entities (e.g. customers, geographic areas or branches).

Price groups can have multiple price rules, which are linked to price lists.

You can create a hierarchical pricing structure by defining priorities and contracts against price rules. The price rule with the highest priority trumps other price rules and overrides the ‘best price’. When a contract is linked to a price group, it becomes a price rule that is included in the pricing hierarchy.

The price group level establishes which price groups must be applied for the company.

For example:

If price groups exist for both the customer and geographic area, then this setting determines which price group takes precedence.

This indicates a list of prices for a grouping of stock codes, product classes, departments or price categories. A price method is specified for each price list, which may be a flat price, discounted price, or quantity discounted price.

You can define statuses against a price list, such as Blank - Active, R - In review or H - On hold.

Only price lists that have a status of Blank - Active are included when the Price Query determines the best price.

Topics

Sales Pricing Engine

Starting

To use this program, the following setup option(s) must be configured appropriately:

Setup Options > Configuration > Distribution > Sales Orders

  • Pricing method

    This must be defined as Price groups.

You can restrict access to the eSignature transactions within a program at operator, group, role or company level (configured using the Electronic Signature Configuration Setup program).

Electronic Signatures provide security access, transaction logging and event triggering that gives you greater control over your system changes.

Controls access to the New function of the Price Group Maintenance program.

Controls access to the addition of price groups in the SO Pricing Engine Price Group Setup business object.

Controls access to the maintenance of price groups in the Price Group Maintenance program.

Controls access to the maintenance of price groups in the SO Pricing Engine Price Group Setup business object.

Controls access to the Delete function of the Price Group Maintenance program.

Controls access to the deletion of price groups in the SO Pricing Engine Price Group Setup business object.

Controls access to the addition of price group rules in the SO Pricing Engine Price Group Rules Setup business object.

Controls access to the maintenance of price group rules in the SO Pricing Engine Price Group Rules Setup business object.

Controls access to the deletion of price group rules in the SO Pricing Engine Price Group Rules Setup business object.

The following configuration options in SYSPRO may affect processing within this program or feature, including whether certain fields and options are accessible.

Setup Options > Configuration > Distribution > Sales Orders

  • Pricing method
  • Price group level

  • You can only define one price group per branch, geographic area, customer class or custom form field, if the Price group level setup option is defined as Branch, Geographic Area, Customer class or Custom form field.

  • A price group can only be deleted if it hasn't been used on a sales order and a price group rule can only be deleted if it hasn't been been used on a sales order line.

  • Price groups can't be changed when they are used within active price catalogs.

Solving

This message is displayed when you attempt to open any of the following programs before the Pricing method setup option has been configured:

  • Price List Maintenance

  • SO Price Group Order Discounts

  • Price Group Maintenance

  • Price List Maintenance

  • Price Query

  • Price List Query

  • Price Group Query

  • Price List Browse

  • Price Group Browse

  • Price List Review

  • Price List Conversion

  • SO Stock Code Price Query by Price List

  • SO Contract Price Maintenance by Price Group

Ensure that the Pricing method setup option is defined as Price Groups within the Setup Options program (Setup Options > Configuration > Distribution > Sales Orders) before attempting to use any of these programs.

This error message is displayed when you have added a price group rule with the configuration Order discount and another price group rule with the configuration Invoice discount and the effective dates of both price group rules overlap.

When defining two rules within the same price group with the configurations Order discount and Invoice discount, the effective dates of the two price group rules may not overlap.

Ensure that the dates displayed on the Start date and Expiry date fields of both price group rules don't overlap.

This error message is displayed when you have selected a price list at the Price list column and have selected Manual at the Configuration drop-down.

The system can't apply a price list when selecting a manual configuration, as a manual configuration allows the user to manually enter a price at the point of sale. You can either select a price list or a manual configuration.

This message is displayed when you have entered a price list code that doesn't exist.

Select the search icon at the Price list column to search for and select a price list using the Price List Browse program.

This message is displayed when you have entered a discount code that doesn't exist.

Select the search icon at the Invoice discount column to search for and select a discount code using the Browse on AR Invoice Discounts program.

Follow these steps to set up the sales pricing engine:

  1. Ensure that you have configured the following Electronic Signatures within the Electronic Signature Configuration Setup program:

    • SO Add Price Group
    • SO Change Price Group
    • SO Delete Price Group
    • SO Add Price Group e.net
    • SO Change Price Group e.net
    • SO Delete Price Group e.net
    • SO Add Price Group Rule e.net
    • SO Change Price Group Rule e.net
    • SO Delete Price Group Rule e.net
    • SO Add price list
    • SO Change price list
    • SO Delete price list
    • SO Add price list e.net
    • SO Change price list e.net
    • SO Delete price list e.net
    • SO Add price list details e.net
    • SO Change price list details e.net
    • SO Delete price list details e.net

    This only applies if the Secure by default option in the Global configuration tab is enabled, i.e. Electronic Signatures are denied by default.

  2. Define the Pricing method setup option as Price groups and then select the level at which you want to implement price groups at the Price group level setup option (Setup Options > Configuration > Distribution > Sales Orders).

  3. Create a price list and capture price list details:

    1. Access the Price List Maintenance program.

    2. Create a new price list and capture the price list header information.

    3. Select the Maintain Price List Detail icon to add price list details at the Price List Details Entrylistview.

      Use the Price List Details Selection pane to add a range of items, e.g. stock codes, product classes, etc. to the listview.

    4. Capture all relevant price list information such as discounts, mark-up %, etc.

    5. Save your changes.

  4. Create the price group and price group rules:

    1. Access the Price Group Maintenance program.

    2. Create a new price group and capture the price group header detail.

    3. Add the price group rule detail, such as the price list on which the rule is based, the effective dates and invoice discount at the Price Group Rules listview.

      Maintain invoice discounts using the AR Invoice Discounts program.

    4. Save your changes.

  5. Configure order discount breaks for the price group:

    1. Access the SO Price Group Order Discounts program.

    2. Select the order discount level and the price group for which you want to maintain order discount breaks.

    3. Capture the order discount breaks within the listview.

    4. Save your changes.

  6. Link the customer to a price group:

    This only applies if the Price group level setup option is defined as Customer (Setup Options > Configuration > Distribution > Sales Orders).

    1. Access the Customers program.

    2. Select the price group to which you want to link the customer at the General Details pane.

    3. Save your changes.

The following order of processing is applied to the order line's price after you select the stock code and required quantity:

  1. The system checks if the customer is configured for contract pricing and if there is a current/active contract that applies.

    The Contract price is then applied to the order line (and supersedes any other pricing) if the following are true:

    • The Contract pricing option is enabled against the customer within the Customers program.

    • Valid contract prices have been maintained for the customer and stock code within the SO Contract Prices program.

  2. If contract pricing doesn't apply, then the system checks if the customer is configured as a Trade Promotions Pricing customer.

    The TPM price is then applied to the order line if the following are true:

    • There is no valid contract that applies to the customer and stock code.

    • The Trade promotions pricing option is enabled against the customer within the Customers program.

    • Valid TPM pricing has been maintained for the stock code within the TPM Prices program.

    • The Trade promotion pricing is defined against the stock code in the Stock Code Maintenance program.

  3. If there is a TPM price break configured by percentage discount that qualifies for the stock code and customer in question, then the system checks if the Sales Pricing Engine feature is in use, and if the customer and stock code form part of a price group.

    The Best price is then applied to the order line if the following are true, and the percentage discount configured on the TPM price break is then applied after you save the order line:

    • There is no valid contract that applies to the customer and stock code.

    • The Trade promotions pricing option is enabled against the customer within the Customers program.

    • A valid TPM price break is configured by percentage discount for the stock code within the TPM Prices program.

    • Your Pricing method setup option is defined as Price groups and the Price group level is configured accordingly within the Setup Options program.

    • A valid price group is configured against the customer within the Price Group Maintenance program and is defined accordingly against the sales order in the order header.

    The SO Pricing Best Price Query business object calculates the best price using the price group defined in the sales order header along with the stock code and quantity entered on the sales order line.

  4. If contract and TPM pricing don't apply, then the system checks if the Sales Pricing Engine feature is in use and if the customer and stock code form part of a price group.

    The Best price is then applied to the order line if the following are true:

    • There is no valid contract that applies to the customer and stock code.

    • The customer is not configured as a Trade Promotions Pricing customer and there is no Trade Promotion Pricing defined for the stock code.

    • Your Pricing method setup option is defined as Price groups and the Price group level is configured accordingly within the Setup Options program.

    • A valid price group is configured against the customer, branch, geographic area or customer class within the Price Group Maintenance program and is defined accordingly against the sales order in the order header.

    The SO Pricing Best Price Query business object calculates the best price using the price group defined in the sales order header along with the stock code and quantity entered on the sales order line.

  5. If none of the above apply, then the system checks if the stock code is configured with a list price.

    The List price is then applied to the order line if the following are true:

    • There is no valid contract that applies to the customer and stock code.

    • The customer is not configured as a Trade Promotions Pricing customer and there is no Trade Promotion Pricing defined for the stock code.

    • A valid List price code is defined against the stock code in the Stock Code Maintenance program.

  6. Alternatively, you may override the price and enter your own price manually, in which case your entered price is used for the sales order line.

Then, when you save the order line, the following occurs:

  1. The system checks if the Trade promotions customer option is enabled against the customer within the Customers program.

  2. If this is enabled, the system then checks for any active promotions which apply to the sales order line.

  3. If valid promotions are found, the system then applies these promotions to the order line and affects the price accordingly.

Using

  • Columns in a listview are sometimes hidden by default. You can reinstate them using the Field Chooser option from the context-sensitive menu (displayed by right-clicking a header column header in the listview). Select and drag the required column to a position in the listview header.

  • Fields on a pane are sometimes removed by default. You can reinstate them using the Field Selector option from the context-sensitive menu (displayed by right-clicking any field in the pane). Select and drag the required fields onto the pane.

    The captions for fields are also sometimes hidden. You can select the Show Captions option from the context-sensitive menu to see a list of them. Click on the relevant caption to reinstate it to the form.

    If the Show Captions option is grayed out, it means no captions are hidden for that form.

  • Press Ctrl+F1 within a listview or form to view a complete list of functions available.

  • The following Smart Links are available against all columns that contain a key field:

    • The Multimedia hyperlink opens the Multimedia program from where you can add, upload and view multimedia items.

    • The Open Link in a new SYSPRO instance hyperlink can be enabled (a tick is displayed beside the option) to open any of the relating programs in a new SYSPRO instance.

    • The Switch Smart Link off option lets you disable the smart link from within the program.

    • The Customize Smart Links hyperlink opens the Customize Hyperlink-Exception program from where you can customize hyperlinks and enable or disable smart links.

Referencing

This lets you capture a new data record.

This deletes the highlighted data record.

This saves the details you entered or changed.

This lets you enter or select a unique price group code.

Field Description

Price group

This indicates the unique price group code selected.

Description

This indicates a unique description for the price group.

Selection type

This indicates the basis to which the price group is linked.

This lets you link a customer to the price group.

Once selected, the price group will be available in the Customers program so that it can be linked to the customer.

This lets you link a branch to the price group.

This lets you link a geographic area to the price group.

This lets you link a customer class to the price group.

This lets you link a custom form field to the price group.

You can then specify the field name and item within the Custom Forms section.

You can only define one price group per branch, geographic area, customer class or custom form field, if the Price group level setup option is defined as Branch, Geographic Area, Customer class or Custom form field.

Branch

If you defined the Selection type as Branch, indicate the branch that you want to link to the price group.

Geographic area

If you defined the Selection type as Geographic area, indicate the geographic area that you want to link to the price group.

Customer class

If you defined the Selection type as Customer class, indicate the customer class that you want to link to the price group.

Custom Forms

If you defined the Selection type as Custom form, indicate the custom form that you want to link to the price group.

Field name

Indicate the name of the custom form field that must be linked to the price group.

You can only select a mandatory look-up custom form field that is configured against the customer.

Field item

Indicate the field item that is selected when browsing on the custom form field.

This saves the details you entered or changed.

This deletes the highlighted data record.

Column Description

Rule

Enter a unique code for the price group rule.

Description

Enter a description for the price group rule.

Configuration

Select the item to which you want to link the price rule:

This lets you link the price rule to an existing price list, which you can select at the Price list column.

Use the Price List Maintenance program to create the price list before linking it to the price group.

This lets you link the price rule to an existing invoice discount, which you can select at the Invoice discount column.

Use the AR Invoice Discounts program to create the invoice discount before linking it to the price group.

This lets you link the price rule to an existing order discount break.

Use the SO Price Group Order Discounts program to create the order discount break before linking it to the price group.

This lets operators enter a manual price at time of the sale in the Sales Order Entry program.

If you select Manual pricing in a price group, no other price rules can be added as a price can't be calculated by the program.

This can be selected against a price group rule to take contract prices into consideration when the SO Pricing Best Price Query business object determines the best price.

You can link the price group to a contract using the Sales Order Contract Price Query program.

Date basis

Indicate which date you want to use to determine a valid price:

This uses the date entered at the Order date field within the Sales Order Entry program to determine a valid price.

This uses the system or company date to determine a valid price.

Price list

Indicate an existing price list that you want to link to the price group.

The following Smart Link options are displayed when selecting the arrow on the field:

  • The Query hyperlink opens the Price List Query program from where you can view the price list detail lines, such as the stock codes that are included in the price list.

  • The Price list setup hyperlink opens the Price List Maintenance program from where you can capture or maintain a price list.

  • The Price list browse hyperlink opens the Price List Browse program from where you can browse and select price lists.

Priority

This lets you determine the priority by selecting a value between 0 and 9, where 9 is the highest priority.

If no value is selected, the priority defaults to 0.

The price rule with the highest priority will supersede price rules with lower priorities when determining the best price.

The following pricing rules don't take the priority into consideration, as they aren't used to determine the price of a single stock code.

  • Order discount breaks

  • Invoice discounts

  • Manual pricing rules

Invoice discount

Select an existing invoice discount that you want to link to the price group.

The following Smart Link options are displayed when selecting the arrow on the field:

  • The Query hyperlink opens the Browse on AR Invoice Discounts program from where you can view and select the AR invoice discounts.

  • The Discount code setup hyperlink opens the Browse on AR Invoice Discounts program from where you can capture or maintain discount codes.

Start date

Indicate the start date of when the price rule comes into effect.

Expiry date

Indicate an expiry date for the price rule.

This field isn't mandatory as a price rule doesn't necessarily need an expiry date.
Price basis

This lets you select which unit of measure are taken into considerations when the SO Pricing Best Price Query business object determines the best price.

This is only available when Price List is selected at the Configuration field.

Only price lists with the same unit of measure as the order unit of measure should be considered when determining the best price.

Only price lists with the same unit of measure as the default uom defined at the Stocking unit of measure setup option (Stock Code Maintenance) are considered when determining the best price.

This may result in some conversions taking place.

Price lists with both the order and default unit of measure are taken into consideration for the best price.

All price lists are considered when finding the best price.

This means that the order's unit of measure will be converted to the price list's unit of measure, then the price is calculated and converted back to the order uom.