Introduction

Here’s a clearer version of your statement:

This module is designed to manage the product catalogue.

For managing a catalogue of services, refer to Modules Services. To manage warehouses and stock, see the Module Stocks page.

Definition

Products

A product is an object you sell to customers or purchase from suppliers. It is a physical entity as opposed to services, which are intangible offerings. Products can include items ranging from consumer goods to industrial goods, and they typically have distinct features, specifications, and value that satisfy customer needs. It is a physical object as opposed to Services.

Here are the rules governing a product:

1. Stock Management: A product can be stored in a warehouse. Only products appear in the Module Stock, while services are not visible in this module.
2. Delivery: A product can be delivered to customers. Only products are listed in the Module Shipment, as services are considered realized rather than shippable.
3. Material Goods: A product is a tangible good, and its value typically decreases over time. For example, a used product generally has a lower value than a new one.
4. Product-Specific Fields: Certain fields are exclusive to products and are not applicable to services. These include:

• Weight
• Size
• Customs Code (also known as Commodity Code or License Code)
• HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) code, which is an international 6-character code used to categorize products.

These guidelines clarify the characteristics and handling of products in the system.

Kits products (also called Pack Products or Virtual Products)

Here’s a summary of the rules and distinctions regarding Kit products and their functionalities:

Kit Products

A Kit is a type of product, referred to as a “parent” product, that contains multiple individual products (components). This feature can be activated in the settings of the Products or Services module, allowing for the management of “packages” or “kits” as a single item in orders, invoices, and inventory.

Rules for Kit Products

1. Visibility in Documents:

• When adding a Kit product to any document (such as proposals, invoices, or orders), only the line for the virtual product (the “parent”) is displayed. The individual components are not shown.

1. Stock Management:

• The stock of each individual component within the Kit is adjusted (incremented or decremented) based on the acquisition and delivery of the parent product. This means that stock levels for components are only affected when the parent Kit is sold or shipped.

1. Composition of Kits:

• A Kit product can also consist of other virtual products (parent products), which may themselves contain individual components. This nesting allows for complex product structures.

Distinction from Manufacturing

• The Kit functionality is distinctly different from the Manufacturing/Production module:
• In manufacturing, when a “container product” is registered, the stock of its subcomponents is immediately decremented, rendering them unusable for other purposes.
• This means that once a container product is established in the manufacturing context, its components are considered consumed, regardless of whether the final product has been finished or shipped. They are not available for sale or other processes until the manufacturing process is complete.
• In contrast, when using Kit products, the sub-components remain available for other sales processes until the Kit is actually delivered. The components are only removed from stock at the time of delivery of the parent Kit product, allowing for flexibility in inventory management.

The Kit product function enables businesses to simplify transactions involving multiple components by treating them as a single product for sales and inventory purposes, while maintaining the individual stock availability of components until the Kit is sold or delivered. The distinction between Kits and manufacturing helps ensure clarity in inventory management practices.ub-components could no longer be reverse engineered as single products in stock.

Rules to manage sales prices

Sales Price Management in SolutionsInc

SolutionsInc offers four distinct methods for managing sales prices for products, and you must select one method in the setup of the Products module. You can choose only one of the following pricing strategies:

1. One Price per Product:

• Each product has a single price applicable to all customers, regardless of any other factors.

1. Different Prices per Segment of Customers:

• Prices are set based on customer segments. By default, there are five predefined customer segments, but this number can be customized. Each customer can belong to only one segment, which dictates the price they receive for a product. If a customer does not fall into a defined segment, they will automatically be assigned to segment 1 and receive that segment’s price.
• Note: As of version 12, the REST API supports retrieving multiprice information per segment for a product, but setting those prices can only be done through the back office.

1. Different Prices per Customer:

• This method allows you to set distinct prices for each individual customer. This provides the highest level of customization for pricing but may require more management effort.

1. Different Prices per Quantity (Experimental):

• This experimental option enables pricing to vary based on the quantity purchased. This could implement volume discounts or similar pricing strategies, but because it is experimental, it may be subject to additional changes or limitations.

In order to proceed, choose one of the four pricing management methods in the Products module setup. Each method has its own advantages depending on how you want to manage customer relationships and pricing strategies. Be sure to consider the implications of each method on your pricing flexibility and operational efficiency.

Categories

Products can be added to one or to multiple categories.

To set categories of a product with API, you must use the APIs /categories/…

Image

Managing Product Images in SolutionsInc

In SolutionsInc, you can associate one or multiple images with a product. Here’s how to manage product images both manually and through APIs:

Manual Management of Product Images

1. Accessing the Linked Files Tab:

• Navigate to the section of your product details in the SolutionsInc platform.
• Go to the “Linked Files” tab, where you can upload and manage images associated with the product.
• You can add multiple images here, which can then be displayed to customers or used for internal purposes.

Managing Product Images via API

To get or set images for a product using the API, you will utilize the /documents endpoint. Here’s how:

1. API Endpoint: /documents
2. Parameters:

• Set the modulepart parameter to either "product" or "service" depending on the type of item you are managing (products or services).

Example Workflow

• To Retrieve Images:
• Use a GET request to the /documents API with the appropriate parameters set. You will receive a response that includes the image URLs and related data.
• To Set or Update Images:
• Use a POST or PUT request to send the image data along with the product ID or service ID. Ensure that you properly include the modulepart parameter in your request.

In summary, you can easily manage product images through the SolutionsInc interface by using the “Linked Files” tab for manual uploads. For programmatic access, leverage the /documents API endpoint with the correct parameters to retrieve or update images as needed. This flexibility allows you to maintain up-to-date visuals for your products and services efficiently.

Variants

A product can have multiple variants, e.g. for sizes or colours.