Servigistics Pricing Release Notes 963MR4
Servigistics Pricing Release Notes 963MR4
Servigistics Pricing Release Notes 963MR4
Contents
1
Revision History................................................................................................................ 1
3.1.1
3.1.2
3.1.3
3.2
3.2.1
3.2.2
3.2.3
3.2.4
3.2.5
3.2.6
3.2.7
3.2.8
3.2.9
3.3
3.3.1
3.3.2
3.3.3
Scoring Folders....................................................................................................20
3.3.4
3.3.5
3.3.6
3.4
3.4.1
3.4.2
3.4.3
3.4.4
3.4.5
Page i
3.4.7
3.4.8
3.5
Promotions .................................................................................................................35
3.5.1
3.5.2
3.5.3
Added Ability to Add Parts to Promotion Datasets via Part Lists, Locations, and
Customers .........................................................................................................................39
3.5.4
3.5.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.8.1
3.9
3.9.1
AUTO_PILOT_OTF_NEVER_BLOCKS ...............................................................43
3.9.2
ENABLE_SCORING ............................................................................................43
3.9.3
ENABLE_SEGMENT_GROUPS ..........................................................................44
3.9.4
LOGIN_AUTOCOMPLETE ..................................................................................44
3.9.5
PRC_PRICECURVE_OTF_RUN_MINISYNCDB .................................................44
3.9.6
PRC_PROMO_SHOW_TRGT_VAL ....................................................................44
3.9.7
SEGMENT_GROUP_LOCKING_ENABLE ..........................................................44
3.9.8
SHOW_PROMO_CUSTOMER ............................................................................44
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
6.2
Page ii
6.4
Page iii
1 REVISION HISTORY
Revision No.
Date / Version
Changes
Version 1.0
03/20/2013
Original Document
9.6.3.1300
Version 2.0
04/12/2013
MR1
9.6.3.1301
Version 3.0
04/29/2013
MR3
9.6.3.1308
Version 4.0
06/15/2013
MR4
9.6.3.1312
Page 1
2 DOCUMENTATION LIST
Following are the most recent versions of technical documentation supporting version 9.6:
Page 2
ACE (Competitor)
Ramp
$5.00
1 liter
$25.00
PTC Customer
Price
(Extrapolated)
PTC Customer
Ramp
$15.00
3 liter
$35.00
7 liter
$45.00
9 liter
5 liter
$50.00
10 liter
$250.00
50 liter
As an example, if competitive parts use volume measures such as 1 liter, 5 liters, 10 liters, and
50 liters and PTC customer parts use volume measures such as 3 liters, 7 liters and 9 liters, the
price-to-liter ratio (Slope and Baseline price) will be derived for the competitive parts and can be
compared to the liter measures for the PTC customer parts.
Page 3
The results are displayed on the Edit Tier Group pages Key Competitor tab. These results can
be referenced by users to override calculated slope for the ramps using knowledge from
competitive data.
Page 4
This step can only be performed after the user attributes are defined for the part (SKU), and the
survey part and the services are restarted.
Page 5
Page 6
Survey part and survey part detail data can also be loaded using the Import button (
comma separated values should contain: HostTierGroupID, HostSurveyPartID,
HostPricingMarketID, HostSurveySourceID, EffectiveDate, HostSurveyCompanyID.
). The
Steps account for a varying in price due to attributes that improve value but cannot be
measured, such as a luxury item.
Page 7
Current Price represents a linear regression of the parts as they exist now.
Target Price represents the prices of the parts that are recommended after using the calculated
slope with any adjustments.
Company (ACE and ACME) Price represents the slopes of the competitive data. There is a line
for each customer.
Page 8
The slope needs to be manually copied to the Override prompt on the Ramps tab. In the sample
above, the slope of ACE competitor was chosen as an Override Target Slope.
Step 7: Establish Priority of Tier Groups
If a part belongs to a segment associated with multiple tier groups, define the sequence in which
tier groups are processed by clicking the Order button ( ). The part will use the Slope and
Baseline Price of the first tier group where the part falls in the segment of the tier group.
Page 9
curve is developed by applying simple linear regression on the existing competitive price data.
The price curve generates a logarithmic curve, but the equation is represented in linear form (y
= mx + c) only, and a slope (m) and an intercept (c) are calculated.
Once the price curve is established, the price for any part can be derived from Target Margin
using the following formulas:
Target Margin = m * ln(Cost) + c
(where m is the slope and c is the intercept for the cost curve)
Price = (1 / (1 - (m * ln(Cost) + c))) * Cost
(where Price = 1 / (1 - Target Margin) * Cost)
Steps in Using Price Curves
Step 1: Create price curves
Step 2: Change price curve sequence
Step 3: Process price curves
Step 4: Review price curve processing results
Step 5: Use price curves in pricing policies to price pairs
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2. Select the folder that contains the price curves you want to work with.
NOTE: The drop-down option will only list the folders to which the user has permissions.
3. Do one of the following:
).
6. To assign survey companies to the price curve, click the Assign Survey Companies button
( ). Survey companies assigned to the price curve are listed in the Selected box.
To assign a survey company to the selected price curve: Highlight the survey company in
the Available box and click the Add button ( ).
To remove a survey company assignment: Highlight the survey company in the Selected
box and click the Remove button ( ).
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).
To assign a pricing market to the selected price curve: Highlight the pricing market in the
Available box and click the Add button ( ).
To remove a pricing market assignment: Highlight the pricing market in the Selected box
and click the Remove button ( ).
8. To assign market relationship types to the price curve, click the Assign Market
Relationship Types button ( ). Market relationship types assigned to the price curve are
listed in the Selected box.
To assign a market relationship type to the selected price curve: Highlight the market
relationship type in the Available box and click the Add button ( ).
To remove a market relationship type assignment: Highlight the market relationship type in
the Selected box and click the Remove button ( ).
9. To assign segments to the price curve, click the Assign Segments button (
assigned to the price curve are listed in the Selected box.
). Segments
To assign a segment to the selected price curve: Highlight the segment in the Available box
and click the Add button ( ).
To remove a segment assignment: Highlight the segment in the Selected box and click the
Remove button ( ).
10. Click the Save button (
).
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The Edit Price Curve page's Analysis tab compares margin and cost. Margin is plotted in
percentage and cost is in natural log.
Hovering over a data point displays the competitor margin (y-axis) and natural log of part cost
(x-axis) for that data point.
Current and Target Slope and Intercept values are listed in the grid below the chart. Current
Slope and Current Intercept are calculated from the competitive data. You can override these
values by setting Target Slope and Target Intercept values. When the process is run for the first
time (when Target Slope and Target Intercept values are null) the Current Slope value is used
for Target Slope value and the Current Intercept value is used for the Target Intercept value.
However, when you change the Target Slope and Target Intercept values and click the Save
button ( ). The new target prices are calculated using the input Target Slope/Intercept values.
If Target Slope/Intercept fields are left blank and you click the Save button (
Slope/Intercept values are populated for Target Slope/Intercept values.
), the Current
Page 15
The Edit Price Curve page's Details tab lists all the pairs priced by the price curve. The Details
tab enables users to review the competitive data and part costs that contributed to producing
the calculated Slope and Intercept. All pairs in the price curve segment are displayed.
If a pair has a value greater than 0 in the Survey Detail Count field, then that pair has data
points in the chart on the Analysis tab. Click the linked Survey Detail Count value to open the
Price Curve Survey Details page, which lists the survey part details.
You can use this tab to display the Target Price field, which is what the price curve
recommends for a price for parts. Also, you can sort the grid by the Net Price Change field to
look for parts that may be outliers.
Click the View Pricing Dashboard button ( ) for a pair for more detailed information.
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NOTE: If the journal symbol on the Price Curve Journal action button is white, there are no
price curve journal entries for the price curve; if the symbol is orange, journal entries exist for
the price curve.
NOTE: If the journal symbol on the Price Curve Journal button is white, there are no price
curve journal entries for the price curve; if the symbol is orange, journal entries exist for the
price curve.
NOTE: If the journal symbol on the Price Curve Journal button is white, there are no price
curve journal entries for the price curve; if the symbol is orange, journal entries exist for the
price curve.
Page 18
).
).
Page 19
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To modify a scoring folder, click the Edit button ( ) for the scoring folder.
).
).
5. You are returned to the Scoring Folders page. Assign segments and manage the user rights
for the scoring folder as necessary.
3.3.3.3 Copying Scoring Folders
You can create a copy of a scoring folder (leaving the original intact). The copy process copies
all the scoring settings into a new scoring folder which can be manipulated separately.
1. From the Base Setup menu, click Scoring Folders. The Scoring Folders page appears.
2. Click the Copy button ( ) for the scoring folder you want to duplicate. The Edit Scoring
Folder page appears. Note that the name of the scoring folder is "Copy of [original scoring
folder]."
3. Rename the scoring folder and change the name and description as necessary.
4. Click the Save button (
).
5. You are returned to the Scoring Folders page where the copied scoring folder is now listed.
Assign segments and manage the user rights for the scoring folder as necessary.
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2. Select a user by highlighting the user in the Available box and clicking the Add button (
The user moves to the Selected box.
).
3. For Permissions, check the specific rights you want the user to have when working with the
scoring folder. For example, if you only want the user to be able to view a scoring folder but
not make any changes, you might check only View.
4. Click the Save button (
).
2. For Permissions, check the specific rights you want the user to have when working with the
scoring folder. Uncheck any rights you do NOT want the user to have.
3. Click the Save button (
).
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3. The Assign Segments page appears. Segments assigned to the scoring folder are listed in
the Selected box.
To add segments to the scoring folder: Highlight the segment in the Available box and click
the Add button ( ).
To remove segments from the scoring folder: Highlight the segment in the Selected box and
click the Remove button ( ).
).
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).
4. The Assign User Attributes to Scoring Folder page appears. User attributes assigned to the
scoring folder are listed in the Selected box. User attributes not assigned to the scoring
folder and with a data type of Float or Integer and with attribute usage as SKU, part, or
location selected are listed in the Available box.
To add user attributes to the scoring folder: Highlight the user attributes in the Available box
and click the Add button ( ).
To remove user attributes from the scoring folder: Highlight the user attributes in the
Selected box and click the Remove button ( ).
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).
4. When the process is complete, the Composite Score Analysis and Details tabs appear
displaying the results of the scoring analysis.
As a Scheduled Autopilot Job
Create the Autopilot job. Be sure to include a scoring folder and to check the Scoring process
when you assign processes to the job.
Note that a scoring folder must be selected to run scoring analysis for an Autopilot job.
Page 26
The Scoring Analysis page's Composite Score Analysis tab shows the results of summing the
user attribute weights to generate a composite score for each pair in the segments included in
the selected scoring folder.
Pairs can be grouped into scoring analysis threshold groups based on their composite scores.
For example, one threshold group might include all pairs with a composite score of 0-100, the
next threshold group might include all pairs with a composite score of 101-200, and so on.
On this tab, you can create/modify threshold groups and delete threshold groups for composite
score grouping of pairs.
The chart on this tab graphically shows the number of pairs in each scoring analysis threshold
group. The grid below the chart provides the same information in a tabular format. In the grid,
click the linked value in the Pair Count column to open the Details tab that lists the pairs in the
count.
Page 27
The Scoring Analysis page's Details tab lists all the pairs in the selected scoring folder. Notice
that pairs are grouped by scoring analysis threshold groups if they were established on the
Scoring Analysis page's Composite Score Analysis tab.
Clicking the linked value in the Composite Score column lists the pairs and their individual user
attribute weights that make up the composite score.
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To modify a scoring analysis threshold group, click the Edit button ( ) for the threshold
group.
).
4. Enter/edit the name and the upper limit for the composite score for the threshold group.
5. Click the Save button (
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Note that if you change the composite score threshold values after assigning a threshold group
to a segment, the pairs will re-align. For instance, using the example above, assume the
composite score threshold for EMEA Scoring Folder - Left Over was 800 out of 1,000 and it was
changed to 900 out of 1,000. Any pairs that had a composite score between 800 and 900 would
no longer be included in this segment.
Page 30
To modify a segment group, click the Edit button ( ) for the segment group.
).
).
Page 31
3. Click the Assign Segments button ( ). The Assign Segments to Segment Group page
appears. Segments assigned to the segment group are listed in the Selected box.
To add a segment to the segment group: Highlight the segment in the Available box and
click the Add button ( ).
To remove a segment from the segment group: Highlight the segment in the Selected box
and click the Remove button ( ).
4. Click the Save button ( ) to save your changes and close the page. Notice that the
segments you added are now listed on the Segments for Segment Group page, indicating
that they are assigned to the selected segment group.
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).
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).
5. The Status tab is selected. Click the Refresh button ( ). The message "Completed" in the
Status column indicates that the process has successfully run.
3.5 Promotions
3.5.1 Enhanced Edit Promotion Policy Pages Parameter Detail Tab
The Profit, Revenue, and Margin Comparison charts were added to the Edit Promotion Policy
pages Parameter Detail tab.
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Records are inserted in the IPCS_PROMOTION table for the promotions created. The user
can specify the folder in the import file in which he wants to create a promotion. Promotion
datasets are created in their respective folders after the completion of the gateway.
Current price/cost data is copied from the IPCS_PRICE/IPCS_COST table and is populated
in the IPCS_PROMOTION_PRICE/IPCS_PROMOTION_COST table for each of the
promotions.
Records are inserted in the IPCS_PROMOTION_HISTORY table for the pairs in the
promotion.
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PromotionName (nvarchar(80),null)
EffectiveDate (nchar(8),null)
EndDate (nchar(8),null)
Status (nvarchar(80),null)
HostCurrencyID (nvarchar(80),null)
HostPromotionPolicyTypeID (nvarchar(80),null)
PrmCust1 (nvarchar(80),null)
PrmCust2 (nvarchar(80),null)
PrmCust3 (nvarchar(80),null)
PrmCust4 (nvarchar(80),null)
PrmCust5 (nvarchar(80),null)
PrmCust6 (nvarchar(80),null)
ExpectedProfit (numeric(18,4),null)
ExpectedRevenue (numeric(18,4),null)
ExpectedVolume (numeric(18,4),null)
SuggestedPrice (numeric(18,4),null)
NormalForecast (numeric(18,0),null)
TargetVolume (numeric(18,0),null)
TargetPrice1 (numeric(18,4),null)
TargetPrice2 (numeric(18,4),null)
TargetPrice3 (numeric(18,4),null)
TargetPrice4 (numeric(18,4),null)
TargetPrice5 (numeric(18,4),null)
PromoCustom1 (nvarchar(80),null)
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PromoCustom2 (nvarchar(80),null)
PromoCustom3 (nvarchar(80),null)
PromoCustom4 (nvarchar(80),null)
PromoCustom5 (nvarchar(80),null)
TargetDiscountPercent (numeric(18,4),null)
3.5.3 Added Ability to Add Parts to Promotion Datasets via Part Lists, Locations,
and Customers
In previous releases, the user could add parts to promotion datasets via segments and by
manually adding a pair. In this release, the user can also add parts to promotion datasets via
part lists, locations, and customers. This is done by using the new Part List, Locations, and
Customer sections on the New/Edit Promotion Dataset page.
Part List Section
You can use the Part List section to add all the pairs in a part list to the promotion dataset.
When a part list is assigned to a promotion dataset, all the pairs in the part list are included in
the promotion dataset.
In the section, click the Assign Part Lists button (
Part lists assigned to the promotion dataset are listed in the Selected box. To assign a part list,
highlight it in the Available box and click the Add button ( ). To remove a part list, highlight it
in the Selected box and click the Remove button ( ).
Click the Save button (
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The Locations section lets you assign locations to the promotion dataset. When locations are
assigned to a promotion dataset, only the pairs in the selected segments and/or part lists for the
selected locations will be added to the promotion dataset.
NOTE: You can assign locations or customers to a promotion dataset. You cannot assign both.
To assign locations to the promotion dataset:
1. In the Locations section, click the Assign Locations button ( ). The Assign Locations
page appears listing locations assigned to the promotion dataset.
3. Enter the search criteria for the location and click the Find button (
locations, do not enter any search criteria.)
4. A list of locations matching your search criteria appear in the grid below the Search Criteria
section. Check the locations you want to assign to the promotion dataset and click the Save
button ( ).
5. The Assign Locations page reappears listing any locations you have selected to assign to
the promotion dataset. Click the Return to Previous Page button ( ) to return to the Edit
Promotion Dataset page. Notice that any locations you have assigned are listed in the
Locations section.
To remove location assignments:
1. In the Locations section, click the Assign Locations button ( ). The Assign Locations
page appears listing locations assigned to the promotion dataset.
2. Check the locations for which you want to remove the assignment to the promotion dataset.
3. Click the Delete button (
).
4. A window appears asking you if you are sure you want to remove the assignments. Click OK.
5. Click the Return to Previous Page button (
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3. Enter the search criteria for the location for which you want to manage promotions and click
the Find button ( ). (For a list of all locations, do not enter any search criteria.)
4. A list of locations matching your search criteria appear in the grid below the Search Criteria
section. Check the locations and click the Save button ( ).
5. The Select Customers page appears listing only customers for the selected locations. Check
the customers you want to assign to the promotion dataset and click the Save button ( ).
NOTE: The relationship between customer and location can be derived from
IPCS_Customer_Group, IPCS_Customer, and IPCS_Customer_Group_Customers.
6. The Assign Customers page reappears listing any customers you have selected to assign to
the promotion dataset. Click the Return to Previous Page button ( ) to return to the Edit
Promotion Dataset page. Notice that any customers you have assigned are listed in the
Customers section.
To remove customer assignments:
1. In the Customers section, click the Assign Customers button ( ). The Assign Customers
page appears listing customers assigned to the promotion dataset.
NOTE: Since the same customer can belong to different customer groups, the customer
group is displayed in brackets after the customer name.
2. Check the customers for which you want to remove the assignment to the promotion dataset.
3. Click the Delete button (
).
4. A window appears asking you if you are sure you want to remove the assignments. Click OK.
5. Click the Return to Previous Page button (
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When global setting SHOW_PROMO_CUSTOMER is set to false, the Customer picker does
not appear on the page.
When global setting SHOW_PROMO_CUSTOMER is set to true, the Customer picker is active
and you can pick the customer for the Promotion Dashboard.
NOTE: Only customers with the same location as the location of the pair appear as drop-down
options for the Customer picker.
Page 42
).
3.9.2 ENABLE_SCORING
Default value = false. Used to enable the scoring-specific menus in the application. When true,
scoring menu items are displayed in the application.
For more information about scoring analysis, see 3.3 Scoring Analysis on page 19.
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3.9.4 LOGIN_AUTOCOMPLETE
When set to false, the Login page does not auto complete the user name or password.
For more information, see 3.7 Improvements to Web Vulnerabilities on page 43.
3.9.5 PRC_PRICECURVE_OTF_RUN_MINISYNCDB
Default value = true. When true, the system runs the mini Synchronize Database Autopilot
process before running the Price Curve automatically. When false, the system considers that all
the segment coverage and pre-processed data is already up to date.
3.9.6 PRC_PROMO_SHOW_TRGT_VAL
Default value = true. When true, target fields will appear on all the promotion related pages.
When false, target fields on all the promotion related pages will be hidden. This includes
displaying data in charts, grids, individual fields, target financial drop-downs and aggregated
financial tables.
For more information, see 3.5.1 Enhanced Edit Promotion Policy Pages Parameter Detail Tab
on page 35.
3.9.7 SEGMENT_GROUP_LOCKING_ENABLE
Default value = false. When false, locking and on-the-fly processing on segment groups is
disabled. This includes hiding locking related columns, Lock/Unlock buttons, and the Run
button from segment details and segment groups related pages. When true, the locking feature
and the on-the-fly processing on segment groups are enabled.
3.9.8 SHOW_PROMO_CUSTOMER
Default value = false. Used to display customer-specific data on all promotion related pages.
When true, the Customer section on Edit Promotion Dataset page, select Customer dropdowns on the Promotion Dashboard Chart Configuration, and Customer and Customer Group
columns in the grids on all the promotion pages are visible. When false, these items are hidden.
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4 KNOWN ISSUES
The following items are known issues in 9.6.3.
No.
Summary
SPP-7698
GetHostData will fail when the Currency Exchange Rates are configured to
require triangulation between local European currencies, the Euro and the US
Dollar. The correction requires updating the Currency Exchange Rate table to
prevent triangulation from being required.
SPP-8665
SPP-9559
When filters are present on the Price Action page, if a filter is cleared and then
replaced with a different filter, the filter is lost after signing off.
SPP-9964
Name and Description in the audit trail are not getting generated when locking
and unlocking pairs on the Price Action page in some scenarios.
SPP-9974
SPP-9992
Group Price Analysis pages Analysis tab displays a strategy code count
mismatch between the chart and details when different strategy codes are
assigned to parts after the group price analysis process.
SPP-9993
Segment Groups pages Last Process Run Date field will not display a value. It
is recorded on the AutoPilot pages Status tab.
SPP-9996
Base Setup Approval Workflow Skipping Rules Details will not appear for users
that have view only rights for Price Approval Workflow.
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There is a requirement to specify a mapping between the specified location and pricing market.
Also, to view data on the Group Price Analysis page, there should also exist a default stream
mapping which contains pricing market stream 1. To create this mapping, select Base Setup >
Pricing > Market Stream Configuration Parameters and create your parameter.
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Here is a dialog showing more than 20 price streams configured. They are displayed in Price
Stream ID sequence. If any of the last rows are selected to display (after the first 20), the chart
will display a Null Pointer Exception error message.
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6 RESOLVED ISSUES
6.1 Resolved Issues (resolved since 9.6.2.MR5)
The following items are issues that have been resolved since the last 9.6.2.MR5 release.
No.
Summary
SPP-7726
Several pages, including the Pricing Policy List page, display misaligned grids
when using Firefox version 9 or higher.
SPP-7924
SPP-7925
Validation checks and rules need to be supported for the promotions module.
SPP-8103
SPP-8266
SPP-8546
SPP-8768
SPP-9413
SPP-9731
Pricing Monthly Financials process does not lose data for other locations
(segments) when run on a particular location (segment).
Export on Group Price Analysis Details tab now gives correct result set without
additional duplicate entries.
Policy Market Data and Statistics Rules section displays survey companies in
alphabetical order.
Pricing Engine clears out Custom Prices and Custom Costs from previous part
before generating the next price recommendation. The next part, if it has null
values in Custom Prices and Custom Costs, will retain these null values, rather
than hold the values from the previous part.
Summary
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Summary
SPP-10404 Tier Group process failing when multiple competitor steps are used.
SPP-10413 Gateway process failing when there are multiple entries for a same part in
IPCSDD_PRICE_ACTION
Summary
SPP-10605 Price Curve Engine has been modified to support the case when pair's cost lies
between 0 and 1.
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