Two of the important features that make ERP successful are its ability to seamlessly automate as much work as possible and to prevent human mistakes as much as possible. In certain industries, products and services bear a relation and once product is selected, selection of related services become just a decision between yes and no. “Services with products” is the mechanism of establishing these relations in ERP. It makes adding of services a matter of two clicks, saving time as well as preventing mistakes.
I will explain this with an example and in our example we will consider the case of glass industry. Glass is usually sold in lengths, breadths and number of pieces and is billed by area, say square meter. That means, when you raise a quotation, you usually (not necessarily always) enter length in meter, centimeter or any other unit of length. You enter breadth in any unit of length and you enter number of pieces for each set of dimensions. For example:
0.25 m * 0.50 m * 5 pieces = 0.625 square meter
0.50 m * 0.50 m * 2 pieces = 0.5 square meter
For the material, which is glass, customer will be billed for 1.125 square meter.
For each piece of glass, more often than not, there are services associated. Let us take example of two such services.
1. Tempering
2. Edge Polishing
In case of tempering, choice is simple. You just need to specify if tempering is required or not and for how many pieces. System already knows the dimensions. By default system will populate all 5 pieces for first set and 2 pieces for second, but this can be changed. Customer might not require tempering for all the pieces. System will calculate price based on area.
In case of edge polishing, there is a conversion involved. Unit of edge polishing is linear meter (or any other unit of length.) Therefore, system will give the choice of selecting the sides. Each rectangular piece has four sides, but customer might ask for polishing 1, 2, 3 or all four sides. Once sides are selected, system will automatically calculate linear meter and apply rates.
This not just makes the work very fast, it reduces chances of mistakes, particularly calculation mistakes.
How is the function of Services with Products enabled in Tuhund ERP?
Firstly this feature has to be turned on as it is off by default. Secondly, for each product category, related services have to be specified. Trust me, it is easier done than said (just reversed easier said than done). To turn it on please go to erp >> admin >> System configuration & settings and under, global sales settings, you will find the option “Enable option of services with product.” Turn that on.
Turning on service with product feature in Tuhund ERP
Once the feature is on, you will see section for “Related Services” within each product category. You can go inside each category and select the related services. At this stage you do not need to enter any other value.
Adding related services to product category in Tuhund ERP
Where do Services with Products show in ERP?
Services with Products will show in all the records in ERP where they are applicable in view, while adding and while editing. When you add a product in a quotation, proforma invoice or tax invoice, etc, normally ERP will by default take you to the screen where you add next product. Once you are done adding products, you close the dialogue. However, when there are services associated with the products, instead of taking you to the screen to add next product, ERP will first take you to the screen where you can add services for the product. Once you are done adding all required services, ERP will take you to the screen to add next product.
Enter product dimensions and quantity in ERP
Product dimensions and quantity entered in ERP
Select related service to be added for the product in Tuhund ERP
Change service data if required in case service and product have same units
Select sides and make required modifications if needed in case of square meter to linear meter conversion.
If you remove the product on top of which services have been added, ERP will automatically remove all these associated services for that product.
In case you want to add services with products afterwards, there is a special icon that appears only for those products that have associated services.
Can Services with Products feature be disabled?
Services with Products feature can be temporarily or permanently disabled. You can turn off the option in the admin module that had been turned on to enable it. None of the records created will be touched. The feature will be disabled from there on.
