The Product Details set up form is accessed via Miscellaneous Options / Product Management / Product Details and is used to create, edit and delete Product Types.
The form is split into three areas. These are the Titlebar, the Product Details Dialogue Box (this is sub-divided into fourTabs: - Details; Details2; Details 3; Details4) and the column of Command Buttons down the right-hand side of the form.
In addition to displaying the form name the Title Bar provides a number of useful buttons.
Selection of the Product Details from the Product Management menu immediately displays the Details Tab within the Product Details form.
To create a new product type select the Create Command Button.
To view or amend an existing Product use the following procedure:
The cursor is located in the Product Code field prompting selection of a product code/product description for the purposes of editing an existing product type. A single-left-click of the ellipsis (...) box to the right of this field will display a Products List Box from which the appropriate product type is selected for the core calculation method (either Contract Hire or another commercial product). This code has a matching product description and attached vehicle-type code (displaying either Pfor Private Light Goods vehicles or C for Commercials). A double-left-click selects and confirms the required product (alternatively, single-left-click and select the OK command button). The product description is now displayed to the right of the field in blue text and the appropriate details displayed in the various Tabs below:
The first area of the Details Tab displays a number of details relating to the selected Product Type, which are as follows:
- Product Description
Displays a free-format textual description for the selected Product Type e.g. Contract Hire With Maintenance
- Calculation Basis
Displays the calculation basis for the selected Product Type. A single-click of the down-arrow to the right of this field enables selection from the current available options:
- CH Contract Hire
- CP Contract Purchase
- LP Lease Purchase
- FL Finance Lease
- HP Hire Purchase
- FM Fleet Management
- Product for PLG/Comm
This field displays the available default vehicle types for the selected Product Type. A single-click of the down-arrow to the right of this field enables selection from the current available options:
- P Private Light Goods
- C Commercial
- H Heavy
Selection of this command button allows the user to create a form of text that is applicable to the selected Product Type and is accessible when quoting. A format Text Toolbar is available for formatting notes if required. The notes form can be viewed in the Product Review option when creating a quotation.
The second area of the Details Tab displays the selected Quotation Controls which are applicable to the product at the time of quoting. These are as follows:
- Default Finance Type
A single-left-click of the ellipsis (...) box to the right of this field will display a Search Box from which the appropriate default Finance Type can be selected. This will determine the default Finance Company used for all quotation calculations for that product. The selected Finance Type is displayed in blue text directly to the right of this field.
- Auto Review
A single-click of the mouse within this check-box displays a tick that switches this flag on. This indicates that finance details can be edited during a quote. A further click of the mouse deselects this option.
- Display Notes
A single-click of the mouse within this check-box displays a tick that switches this flag on. This denotes that the Product Notes (see Notes Command Button), held against this code, will be displayed if this product is selected for quotation purposes. A further click of the mouse deselects this option.
- Capitalise VRB
This option is of particular relevance for externally funded contracts. If a manufacturer's VRB (Volume Related Bonus) is available against the quoted vehicle variant, then the decision must be made whether to reduce the amount of capital financed by the VRB value (in the knowledge that this amount will be recouped from the manufacturer at a later date) or, to finance the vehicle inclusive of the VRB amount. Selection of this checkbox results in the inclusion of the VRB amount within the financed capital.
- Capitalise VAT
This option is of particular relevance for externally funded contracts. If the product/variant selection is VAT qualifying then the decision must be made whether to reduce the amount of capital financed by the VAT value (in the knowledge that this amount will be recouped from Customs & Excise at a later date) or, to finance the vehicle inclusive of the VAT amount. Selection of this checkbox results in the inclusion of the VAT amount within the financed capital.
- % of RV to take
This field enables a given percentage of the calculated residual value (see the Residual Value Review form) to be used in the rental calculation. For example, with a product such as "Contract Hire Without Maintenance" the vehicle may not be as well maintained as a "With Maintenance" product and this may well affect the residual value. Therefore, if it is believed that a particular product may not realise the original full calculated residual value then the estimated percentage is entered in this field.
- % of Excess/Under to take
This field enables a given percentage of the calculated excess/under distance value (see the Excess/Under Review form) to be used in the rental calculation. For example, with a product such as "Personal Contract Purchase" (with an associated buyback) the hire company may not want the the vehicle to go over the set excess mileage. Therefore, this value may be set to 120% as a deterrent.
The second column within the Quotations Controls contains data fields applicable to PCP-type products. These fields are currently as follows:
If this checkbox is selected then the input of a deposit amount is forced whenever a quotation is produced for the selected product.
- Refundable
Used for some products that may require a deposit e.g. PCP. If this checkbox is selected, then the system stores the deposit value and does not reduce the capital cost by this value within the quotation calculation.
- Deposit Min Percentage
If the Deposit Required checkbox is selected then this field may be used define the deposit criteria further by allowing the input of a minimum deposit value. This value is defined as a percentage of the OTR price of the vehicle. This field may be used in conjunction with the Max% field in order to define a deposit "range".
- Max %
If the Deposit Required checkbox is selected then this field may be used define the deposit criteria further by allowing the input of a maximum deposit value. This value is defined as a percentage of the OTR price of the vehicle. This field may be used in conjunction with the Deposit Min Percentage field in order to define a deposit "range".
- Zero mlg allowed
A checkbox which, if ticked, allows a zero value to be entered for contract mileage within a fleet quotation. This is useful for products such as Outright Purchase, etc.
- Quotation format
This field displays the chosen Stationery format code which is used to define the layout of the printed quotation e.g. K06(see Reports & Enquiries / Report Generator / format Stationery). If, within the Stationery format report, the name of the report is preceded and followed by two ampersands then this denotes a KPrint format e.g. @@QUP@@.
- Balloon Uplift Percentage
The "Balloon" may be defined as the residual value of final purchase repayment for the vehicle. If applicable, this field is used to uplift the balloon value by a given percentage for external vehicle funding purposes. This field may only be utilised within Product Types with a Calculation Basis of CP.
- Balloon Uplift £
The "Balloon" may be defined as the residual value of final purchase repayment for the vehicle. If applicable, this field is used to uplift the balloon by a given monetary value for external vehicle funding purposes. This field may only be utilised within Product Types with a Calculation Basis of CP.
- Show APR on Quote
A checkbox which when selected results in the display of the APR (Annual Percentage Rate) in the quotation makeup.
- Zero Mileage Allowed
A checkbox which when selected denotes
The third area of the Details Tab displays details of the Product Splits.
Up to six Product Splits are available within a Product Type. The In Use flag must be ticked for a particular Split number to become "active". Any text can be entered for the split description, although Finance and Maintenance are the two normally accepted types. However, splits are product dependent and a PCP product type may typically have a split of Personal Rental and Service Rental.
The following fields are displayed:
- Split
The number of the split. Up to six splits are allowed.
- In Use
A checkbox which, if ticked, denotes that a particular split is valid for the currently selected product.
- RPI
A checkbox which, if ticked, denotes that a particular split is linked to the Retail Price Index process for the currently selected product.
- Description
A free-format textual description for the product split.
The fourth area of the Details Tab displays details of Priorities required to carry out various functions:
- Priority to amend
Determines the user priority level required to amend constituent elements of a Product Type. Within the User Priority Level option individual users are given different permissions so that they only have access to selected options
- Priority to edit value
Determines the user priority level required to edit values related to the overheads and provisions. Within the User Priority Level option individual users are given different permissions so that they only have access to selected options
Details2, Details3 and Details4 control the Product Optionsthat make up a particular rental split for the Product Type under review. Displayed within the Product Option table are the following details:
- Option
Displays the Product Option name. There are thirty fixed product options and the first eight are displayed here in the Details2 Tab:
Maintenance
Motor Club
Relief Vehicle
Additional Relief
Additional RFL
Accident Mgt
Tyres
Fuel Card
- Quote
A single-click of the mouse within this check-box displays a tick that switches this flag on. This indicates that the selected item is now an active default Product Option for the selected Product Type and the budget amount will be calculated depending on the contract parameters, (period of hire, mileage etc). Ellipsis boxes, drop-down lists and option buttons cannot be selected for a particular option if the Quote flag is not selected. A further click of the mouse deselects this option.
- Option Type
This field displays the default Option Cover Type for the Product Option. The default Option Cover Type for an option may be amended, by simply clicking the ellipsis box and selecting another variable from those available. The Save button must be clicked for any changes to the record to be written back and used for future quotations.
- Option Description
Displays the associated default Option Cover Type Description in full e.g. Accident Immediate. If the Quote checkbox is not selected then a "greyed-out" description of Not In Use is displayed.
- Product Split Number
This is a series of mutually exclusive option buttons. The number of buttons is dependent upon the number of Product Splits previously defined as In Use within the Details Tab. A single-click of the mouse against the appropriate numbered product split allocates the budget to the appropriate rental split (the key to the numbered splits is located at the top of the Tab in blue boxes). To change any of these parameters the Amend button must be clicked and the fields within the elements table can then be edited.
Outside of the element table are three additional parameters which are as follows:
- VRB
A single-click of the mouse within the VRB Quote Checkbox displays a tick that switches this flag on. This indicates that VRB is to be included within a quotation for this Product Type. A further click of the mouse deselects this option. A single-click of the mouse against the appropriate numbered product split allocates the budget to the appropriate rental split (the key to the numbered splits is located at the top of the Tab in blue boxes).
This field only becomes available if the Capitalise VRB field on the Details Tab is not ticked. If the field is available in here then ticking this option enables the allocation of where the VRB is to be taken, if not capitalised.
- Overhead
A single-click of the mouse within the Overhead Quote Checkbox displays a tick that switches this flag on. This indicates that Overheads are included within a quotation for this Product Type. A further click of the mouse deselects this option. If the overhead box is selected then the calculated amounts may be split between the numbered Product Splits. Instead of utilising the mutually exclusive option buttons, percentage values are allocated within the boxes for the required numbered splits. The total value of all the Product Split boxes must equal one hundred percent, (although one value could be set to a hundred and the others set to zero).
- Provision
A single-click of the mouse within the Provision Quote Checkbox displays a tick that switches this flag on. This indicates that Provisions are included within a quotation for this Product Type. A further click of the mouse deselects this option. If the provision box is selected then the calculated amounts may be split between the numbered Product Splits. Instead of utilising the mutually exclusive option buttons, percentage values are allocated within the boxes for the required numbered splits. The total value of all the Product Split boxes must equal one hundred percent, (although one value could be set to a hundred and the others set to zero).
- VAT Assignments
For each Product Split the appropriate VAT rate must be selected. A single-click of the ellipsis box to the right of each Product Split field displays a VAT Codes List Box. This form is utilised to locate and select the appropriate VAT code. The current selection choices are as follows:
- C Vehicle Outputs
- E Exempt
- I Internal
- O Outside the Scope
- S Standard Rate
- V POS Adjustment
- W Warranty
- Z Zero Rated
- c Used Veh. with VAT
- o Menu Price Sys Only
- p Used Veh. No VAT
- r Used Veh VAT Outputs
- s Std. Rate VAT incl.
A single-mouse-click selects and highlights the appropriate code and the choice is confirmed by selecting the OK command button. Selection of the Cancel button exits without saving a selection.
The Details3 Tab is used in exactly the same way as the Details2 Tab and controls the Product Options that make up a particular rental split for the Product Type under review.
In addition to the Option, Quote, Option Type, Option Description and Product Split Number columns in Details Tab 2, there is an additional column directly to the right of the Quote column. This column displays a series of checkboxes applicable only to each of the Additional Costs (1-5) product options. The checkboxes are greyed-out until the relevant Quote checkbox is selected indicating that the selected item is now an active default Product Option for the selected Product Type. If required, the second checkbox may now be brought into effect. The purpose of this checkbox is to define how the cost of the Additional Costs (1-5) product options is to be allocated.. The cost may be allocated as a lump sum within the initial rental or spread over the term of the contract. This is best illustrated by way of an example:
For a PCP Product Type a "Handling Charge" may be required as a Product Option. One of the Additional Costs (1-5) product option checkboxes is selected. The default Option Cover Type for this option is amended to the appropriate "Handling Charge" variable by simply clicking the appropriate ellipsis box and selecting from those available. If the second checkbox is selected/ticked, the cost held against the "Handling Charge" variable (created via Monthly Value/Cost Type field selections in the Additional Costs menu option within Miscellaneous Options / Product Management) is allocated as a lump sum within the initial rental. If this checkbox is deselected the cost is spread over the term of the contract. The cost is automatically allocated against the first Product Split Number.
There are thirty fixed Product Options and options nine to seventeen are displayed in the Details3 Tab as follows:
Additional Costs 1
Additional Costs 2
Additional Costs 3
Additional Costs 4
Additional Costs 5
Drivers Insurance
GAP Insurance
Early Term Ins
Pay'mt Protect Ins
The Details4 Tab is used in exactly the same way as the Details2/3 Tabs and controls the Product Options that make up a particular rental split for the Product Type under review. There are thirty fixed Product Options and option eighteen is displayed in the Details4 Tab as follows:
Dealer Commission
A number of command buttons are available. Some buttons are context sensitive and are greyed-out and only become available dependent upon the particular process that is being accessed. The full list of command buttons is as follows:
Exits the Product Details form and returns to the Product Management menu.
Provides online access to a context sensitive Help form.
Enables the creation of an additional Product Type. Mutually exclusive option buttons allow this to be done in one of the two following ways:
- Blank
Used if a new Product Type is to be set-up without utilising existing criteria.
- Copy
Copies the values within an existing "nearest match" Product Type so that only required values need be edited.
Provides the facility for editing the set-up options of the current Product Type record. No edits can be made to a record until the Amend button has been selected.
Deletes the currently selected Product Type .
On first accessing the Product Details form this command button is greyed-out. Following selection of the Amend button the Confirm option then becomes available to enable any edits to be confirmed.
On first accessing the Product Details form this command button is greyed-out. Following selection of the Amend button the Cancel option then becomes available to enable any edits to be cancelled.
This is not a command button. This box is a way of displaying messages with regard to the status of the current record e.g. "Record Secured OK"
Selection of this button displays a further form that provides an Ad-hoc Report Generator for the creation of quick query reports to form..
Selection of this button displays a further form that provides an itemised display of all the selection criteria for the current Product Type .