Install/Implementation
- Can I install RPM myself?
The install itself is simple and straightforward and could be done yourself. You will need to import the necessary data in order to use RPM with your ERP. Setup will require Rockton to create Company & User records for access to the Web UI. The customer will need to create a SQL database to hold the replicated data from their ERP (we can provide SQL Script to create this). This database will need to allow access to the RPM Web UI.
- Where does RPM get installed?
The data entry and maintenance application is a web application we host on our servers. This app is where you configure your pricing information. It Connects to a SQL Server database which contains a copy of data replicated from your ERP system that is needed for pricing.
The database can be hosted in the cloud (for a no-deployment configuration) or leverage an existing SQL Server in your environment if you already have one.
A Connector is also installed on the ERP to connect to the RPM engine to retrieve pricing information during transaction entry.
- Where is all the data stored?
The RPM engine and the Connector have tables in the database on the SQL Server that stores the information.
- Do you need a SQL Server license?
The same SQL Server instance you use for your ERP is all you need. No additional license is required. If the customer is using GP on SQL Server, they can leverage their existing license. However, if they are using a SaaS ERP like Acumatica they will need to get a SQL Server license. They can utilize SQL Server Express which is free.
- What is a Connector?
A Connector is an add-on to the ERP that connects the ERP to the RPM engine. This allows information from RPM to calculate the prices in the ERP when transactions are being entered.
Setup
- Can you import data?
RPM has an import/export function. The import button appears in most windows if the user has administrator privileges. If they are not an administrator, then the import option won’t appear in those windows where the data originates from the ERP.
You may also export data. This is helpful if you need to make multiple changes to records. You may export the records, make the needed changes, and then import the records.
It is also helpful for reporting purposes.
- What are the price filter options?
Price Filters are used to group values together. The following options are available in the Price Filter window.
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- Customer – apply the filter to all customers, a specific customer, or a set of customers based on attribute(s).
- Item – apply the filter to all items, a specific item, or a set of items based on attribute(s).
- Unit of Measure – apply the filter to all UofMs or a specific UofM.
- Location – apply the filter to all Locations or a specific Location.
- Document – apply the filter to all Documents or a Document Filter based on Document level attributes.
- Date – apply the filter to All Dates or a Date Filter using the date setting specified in the RPM Connector.
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- How do you layer the Price Calculations?
You may have multiple Price Calculations. You may choose whether each Price Calculation is calculated from the base price or off of the last calculated price.
When you set up the Price Calculation you choose whether to mark the’ From the Base Starting Price’ option. When marked, each Price Calculation is calculated from the base price of the Item. If unmarked, the Price Calculation is calculated from the last price calculated based on the rank of each Price Calculation.
- Is there ‘and/or’ logic when using the price filters based on pricing attributes?
Price Filters can be based on either. The Or logic can be achieved using the ‘One Of’ and ‘Not One Of’ operands. Price filters will be enhanced soon to allow for easier creation, maintenance and additional flexibility when complete.
- Definitions of the hierarchy and how do they work? (Price Book, Price Schedule, Price Sheets.)
Price Sheets contain Price Sheet Details and the Price Sheets are assigned to Price Books.
Price Books may be assigned to Price Schedules (using the Price Source Option), but are not required to be used.
Price Schedules correspond to the ERP (IE – Customer Price Class in Acumatica or the Price Level in Dynamics GP).
For more information on the difference in these windows, see KB article Difference Between the Price Windows | RocktonSoftware
- What currencies do you support?
RPM supports all currencies. However, we currently do not support exchange rates.
- What Pricing Methods are available?
Static
The Static Price Method always uses the Price Schedule that defaults onto the transaction in the ERP. The Price Level or Customer Price Class remains the same and drives the Price Schedule RPM uses to calculate the price. For example, if Dynamics GP has a Price Level called Retail and is the default for the Sales Transaction Line when you enter the transaction, then the Retail Price Schedule is automatically used. The price from that Price Schedule is assigned to the line. The same is true in Acumatica. If a Customer Price Class of Retail is used on the Sales order or invoice, then the price is determined by the Retail Price Schedule in RPM.
Dynamic
The dynamic Price Method is a more advanced method for assigning a Price Schedule to a transaction. It lets RPM determine the best Price Schedule to use. When a transaction is entered, RPM reviews the valid Price Schedules in RPM and the first Price Schedule found that matches the information on the transaction is used. This is usually based on combinations of Customer, Item, Date, and many others. Dynamic pricing allows for more complex pricing scenarios.
Hybrid
When the hybrid Price Method is selected, both Static and Dynamic Pricing Methods are used. With this option, you allow the ERP system to specify which Price Schedule to use (Static Pricing) or leave the Price Schedule blank and a Price Schedule is selected for you (Dynamic Pricing). This allows the flexibility of allowing a specific Price Schedule to default, allow the user to override the Price Schedule, or use Dynamic Pricing to determine the best Price Schedule for the scenario.
- What is the difference between price adjustment and price calculation?
The Price Calculation is the record that is set up in RPM. It can modify the Unit Price if the ‘Modify Unit Price’ is checked. If ‘Track Adjustments’ is checked, then it creates Price Adjustments in the ERP that are tracked to GL Accounts. While it is possible to have a Price Calculation that is not an Adjustment, it is not possible to have an Adjustment without a Price Calculation.
Daily Use
- What is the default pricing if RPM is not used?
If no price is found in RPM, the price from the ERP is used if one exists. If no price is found, the price is $0. If RPM is not enabled in the connector settings then the default ERP pricing will be used.
- Can your price be based on units of measure?
Yes, you may assign pricing based on the Unit of Measure sold.
- Is there a way to be notified when a contract expires?
RPM has date-driven pricing. If no price is found for the date entered, then the ERP price is used or the price is $0. You are not prevented from entering a transaction. There is currently no functionality to provide external notification from RPM.
- Does RPM allow a mass update of pricing?
This depends on how you set it up. Using Price Books, then Price Sheets – you could update the Price Sheet Details. Recommend you group items as much as possible to easily update.
You can also export to excel, make updates and then import.
Reports/Inquiries
- What reports can you run?
Currently, RPM does not have any default reports. You may create your own reports or SmartLists based on what your needs are. The data for RPM is stored in tables. Rockton Software can help you determine which tables you would need. You can perform advanced filtering and sorting on any grid within the application and export that data to Excel.
- Can you look back at historical pricing? If so, how far back?
Currently, RPM does not store historical pricing. This functionality is set to be added this year (2021). You do have the ability to look back on expired Price Sheets to determine what a price for an item was during a specific time.
- Is there a way to capture and record how we get to a specific price?
Yes, RPM comes with a tool to show you how a price was calculated. It is called Pricing Diagnostics. When a price is calculated during transaction entry, a log is captured to show what steps RPM went through to determine the price. This information can be viewed from within the web application when performing Get Price Scenarios and also from within the ERP itself after a price call has been made for a transaction.
Scenarios
- Is there really an unlimited amount of pricing scenarios that you can do?
RPM was designed to handle unique pricing needs. There are a lot of scenarios it can handle. We probably haven’t tested every single scenario but RPM is very flexible so that you can price as you need.
- Is special processing per project allowed?
Yes, you could do it through price filter based on class, or another filter, or even select the items. For example, you may want 30% off of a specific group of items. You can put those items in a group and set it as a filter. Then filter based on the Customer for the specific project.
- Can you track rebates where they buy $100 of items and then send them $10?
The rebate would be considered a Price Calculation. The Price Calculation could then post to a specific GL account. You can then use that account to get the amount of the rebate.
We currently don’t have a way to automatically create a receivable for that but it is on our list of ideas for future enhancements.
ERP
- What fields are used/sync from Acumatica and GP to RPM and vice versa?
This will vary by Customer and be based on what attributes they need to determine their prices.
- Are you modifying the prices in Acumatica?
We update the Unit Price on the transaction line, but we do not update any source data in the ERP.
- What ERPs work with RPM?
Acumatica
Dynamics GP