Overview of CTO Process

The Configure-To-Order process is used to sell custom kits that are purchased from a vendor as a kit. For example, a user may purchase a custom machine with various options or components from a vendor. The custom machine may come in many variations and the seller using EBMS may not want to create an inventory ID code for each possible variation. Some possible vertical markets that may use this feature:

• Custom equipment with various options or variations

• Custom made hoses or assemblies that may contain various fittings or couplings

• Custom built storage sheds with various colors, sizes, and options

• Custom made furniture with various modifications, stains, or options

Do not use the Configure-To-Order process in the following situations:

• Items that are customized or modified internally. Review the Made-to-Order Overview section for instructions on how to build or assemble items with options that are assembled by the EBMS user.

• Parts that are purchased as components and sold as a customized assembly. Review the Components and Accessories Overview section for instructions on kitting and components.

• Variations of an item being sold that are purchased from a vendor using different vendor part numbers. Review the Product Attributes Overview section for instructions on compiling a catalog with a large volume of part numbers to identify the various options available.

The benefits of this process is that the user can create an inventory item with the following variations:

• Costs can vary based on the users selected components options. Review the Components and Accessories > Optional Components and Accessories section for more details.

• Pricing can be calculated based on the users selected components. Review the Components and Accessories > Optional Components Pricing section for more details.

• Optional components can be used to create a custom description for an inventory item. Review the following Selling a CTO Item section.

• The special order process within EBMS can create a purchase order including the custom item description directly from the sales order. Review the Purchasing a CTO Item section for more details.

• EBMS's powerful special order tools can assist with the ordering, receiving, and managing of the custom item from the time the customer places the order until the sale is completed.

Configure to Order ERP Support Training

Enable the Configure-to-Order option

The following global options must be enabled to use the new powerful CTO option:

1. Create a new inventory product within EBMS by selecting Inventory > Product Catalog and click Edit > New.  Review the Product Catalog > Entering New Inventory Items section for more information on creating new inventory items.

2. Open the General tab of the inventory item and choose your desired Classification such as Track Count, No Count, or any other classification with exception of Service. Review the Product Catalog > Item Classifications for a complete list of classification options.

3. Select the Pricing tab and setup the pricing for the custom CTO item. The pricing can either be setup to have a fixed price no matter which components are selected or the pricing can be setup so that the optional components change the pricing according to the options selected. Review the Components and Accessories > Option and Kit Pricing section for more details on variable prices based on the options selected. Review the Pricing > Price Formulas section for more details on fixed pricing.

4. Select the Count tab to set the correct Purchase Method. Associated is the recommended Purchase Method setting for a CTO item. Do not use the Stocked (Standard) or Replenishment purchase methods for a CTO item. Review the Purchasing > Purchase Methods section for more details on the purchase method options.

5. Select the Components tab as shown below:
   

6. Set the CTO prompt user to configure components to order option to set this product as CTO.   This option is located below the component list as shown above.
   Recommendation:  Filter down this setting for a group of items within a category.  

7. Complete the following steps to add the optional components to the CTO item:

1. Select New under the components tab to add a customizable option; the following dialog will appear.
   

2. Select the Component with Options type, as shown above.

3. Enable the following Show... options to copy the optional component description to the sales order and purchase order.

1. Enable the Show on Printed Document option to show the optional component description within a sales order, proposal, or purchase order.

2. Enable the Show Quantity on Printed Document option to display the quantity of items within each custom CTO item. If the quantity of items on the component list is equal to one, the quantity will not show even if this option is enabled.

3. Enable the Show Unit of Measure on Printed Document option to show the component's unit of measure setting.

4. Add a Category description. This description is used to categorize the optional components and will not show within the Configure-To-Order description.

5. Create the optional Component list by adding a list of inventory items. These inventory ID's need to be inventory items classified as No Count. Note that these items are not required to be actual inventory but may be items created only to identify the descriptions, pricing, and costs of the Configure-To-Order item. Review the Components and Accessories > Optional Components or Accessories section for more details on configuring optional components.

6. Select the inventory option most commonly used and select Set Default.

7. Click OK to save the component with the option list.

8. Repeat these steps for each component or option within the customized Configure-To-Order item.

All Kitting options must be disabled for Configure-To-Order items

1. The following Assembly Kit option must be disabled in the Components tab of an inventory item classified as No Count. Review the Materials List > Entering Components into the Materials List section of the sales documentation for details on enabling the Assembly Kit option for kits and assemblies.
   
2. The following Made to Order kitting option must be disabled in the Components tab of an inventory item classified as Track Count or any other perpetual inventory item. Review the Made to Order > Overview of the MTO Process section for more details on enabling the Made to Order kitting option.
   

Review the Product Catalog > Changing Inventory Items section for details on the inventory item settings.

Review the following section, Selling a CTO Item for details on processing the sale of a Configure-To-Order item.

Review the Purchasing a CTO Item section for details on creating a purchase order from the Configure-To-Order sales order.