Create products

In this topic, learn about the different ways to create products in Zilliant CPQ.

About product types

Zilliant CPQ defines two product types:

• Classified—Users cannot configure this product type. Classified products can include the KBClass that contains attributes with the product's default values and characteristics.
• Configurable—Users can configure this product type, as well as define the rules that enable the BOM explosion.

Use one of the folllowing methods to create products:

• Create a product in the UI
• Create a product via synchronization with the SAP ERP
• Create a product by uploading an Excel file

Create a product in the UI

1. From the application left navigation area, select Products.
2. From the top navigation bar, select .
3. In the Create Product dialog:
   • Product Name—Enter a unique name for the product.
   • Category—Optional. Select the product category.
   • Product Type—Select the product type, such as Raw Material, Solution, Machine.
   • Classified—If set to YES, the product cannot be further configured.
4. Select Create.

Create a product via synchronization with SAP ERP

Alternatively, you can define a product by synchronizing Zilliant CPQ with SAP ERP data.

Option 1: Use the ERP Id to synchronize product data

You can pull the product data from the SAP ERP system by using the product ERP Id.

1. Create a product by following steps 1 through 4 as described in the procedure above.
2. Select the product you created, then select the Detail tab:
   1. In the ERP Id field, enter the ERP Id of the product, then select Save.
   2. Select ERP Sync. The system will match the ERP Id with the product in the SAP ERP system and will pull the information into the newly created product.
   3. In the ERP Sync popup, select the options to include additional parameters for the sync process:
      • Product Variant—Select if you wish to include product variants in the sync process.
      • Product Attachment—Select if you wish to include product attachments in the sync process.
      • Run in background—Select if you wish to run the ERP sync continuously in the background.
   4. Select Synchronize.

Option 2: Create and run a system task

You can set up a sync job that the system will run in the background.

1. From the application left navigation area, select System Processes.
2. From the top navigation bar, select System Tasks.
3. Select .
4. In the Create New System Task dialog, in the Name field, enter the descriptive name for the task.
5. Select Create.
6. Select the task you created, and in the Overview section, enter information or make selections:
   1. From the Task Resource dropdown, select Product Sync Job.
   2. In the CRON Expression field, specify the value that will trigger a scheduled repetitive synchronization process. For example, you can specify that the sync will run every 30 min or every hour.
   3. Set the Active switch to YES.
   4. Select Save.

Option 3: Define ERP data synchronization in Data Management

1. From the application left navigation area, select Administration.
2. From the top navigation bar, select Data Management.
3. In the ERP Data Synchronization, choose one of two possible options:
   • Synchronize all products:
     • Set the Product switch to YES.
     • Select what information to pull from the ERP. For example, UoM, Product Hierarchy, Product Attachment, etc.
     • Select Synchronize.
   • Synchronize specific products:
     • In the Specific ERP IDs, enter the product ERP IDs as comma separated values.
     • Select Synchronize.

Option 4: Run the ERP synchronization job

You can set up a product synchronization job that the system will run in the background.

1. From the application left navigation area, select System Processes.
2. From the top navigation bar, select ERP Synchronization.
3. Select .
4. In the Sync Specific Object(s) dialog, from the Type dropdown, select the product type, such as MATERIAL.
5. In the ERP IDs field, enter the product's ERP IDs as comma-separated values.
6. Select Synchronize.

Create a product by uploading an Excel file

The product modeler can download the product template in Excel format. The modeler can choose whether to download the template with existing product data to modify existing products or an empty template to create new products.

1. Download a product template as described in Download a product template.
2. In the downloaded Excel file, enter information or make selections.
3. Select and upload the Excel file into the system.

Configure product properties

Regardless of the method you use to create a product, you can define product properties in the UI, Excel file, or by pulling those from the ERP.

1. Select the product you created, then select the Detail tab.
2. Define the following product properties:

   • Name—The product name must be unique in Zilliant CPQ.

   • Unit—Assign the unit of measure to the product. For example, kilogram.

   • Status—Mark the product as active or inactive.

   • Type—Define the product type, such as finished good or raw material.

   • Category—Use to organize products that belong to the same category, such as Tools or Machines.

   • Classified Product—If the product is marked as Classified, it means that the product cannot have the knowledge base to define the configuration rules. However, it can attach the corresponding KBClass to show the attributes of the classified product in the configuration page.

   • ERP ID—The product ERP ID must be unique in Zilliant CPQ. It is used to map with the ERP product. For a numeric ERP ID, there is a setting to set the leading zero. By default, the length of leading zero is 18.

   • CRM ID—The product CRM ID must be unique in Zilliant CPQ.

   • Allows export to CRM—Set to YES if the product is integrated with an external CRM system and to export the product to CRM.

   • Allows export to ERP—Set to YES if the product is integrated with an external ERP system and to export the product to ERP.

   • Product Tags—Assign product tags in the Detail section for easy identification and filtering. You can assign product tags manually in the UI or use the mass assign option in the Excel file.

   • Dimensions—Enter the product's gross weight, net weight, volume, and size.

     Notes

     • If you are creating a product by synchronizing with ERP, then product Dimensions are defined automatically.
     • If you are creating a product by uploading an Excel file into the system, then you can fill the ProductDimension sheet in the Product.xlsx template. For more information, read Configure product templates.