Asset-Based Ordering (ABO) in Oracle CPQ transforms how businesses manage and modify customer assets over their lifecycle. By enabling the ABO feature, companies can offer a seamless experience for modifying, upgrading, or renewing services and products directly from the CPQ platform. This technical guide will explore the feasibility of integrating real-time asset data from a downstream application into Oracle CPQ for ABO processes, outline the steps for setup, provide sample code for both systems, and present three real-world examples to illustrate its application.
Understanding ABO in Oracle CPQ
ABO allows businesses to manage customer assets efficiently, enabling them to handle modifications or upgrades to existing orders. It leverages the data within CPQ to streamline the quoting process for repeat or additional orders based on the assets a customer already owns.
Key Considerations for ABO Implementation:
- Asset Data Availability: Whether asset data needs to reside within Oracle CPQ or can be fetched in real-time from an external system.
- Integration: The ability to integrate CPQ with external systems to fetch asset data when needed.
- Real-Time Data Mapping: The capability to map and utilize fetched asset data in the quoting process without manual intervention.
Setting Up ABO with Real-Time Data Integration
Step 1: Enable ABO Feature in Oracle CPQ
Ensure that the ABO feature is enabled in your Oracle CPQ system. This usually involves configuration settings in the admin interface to activate ABO functionalities.
Step 2: Establish Integration with Downstream Application
- Identify Integration Points: Determine the API endpoints of your downstream application where asset data is stored.
- Secure Authentication: Setup OAuth or similar authentication methods to securely access the downstream application.
Step 3: Fetch and Map Asset Data in Real-Time
- Develop Integration BML Scripts:
- Use BML (BigMachines Language) scripts in Oracle CPQ to call the API of the downstream application and fetch the required asset data.
- Sample BML Script for Data Fetching:
var httpClient = new HttpClient(); var request = new HttpRequest(); request.setMethod('GET'); request.setUrl('https://downstreamapp.com/api/assets'); // Replace with your actual API endpoint // Add authentication headers request.addHeader('Authorization', 'Bearer ' + accessToken); var response = httpClient.send(request); var assets = []; if (response.getStatusCode() == 200) { var responseBody = response.getBody(); assets = JSON.parse(responseBody); // Assuming the response is in JSON format // Further processing to map assets to CPQ fields } - Map Fetched Data to CPQ Fields:
- Once the asset data is fetched, use BML scripts to map this data to the relevant fields in CPQ for use in the ABO process.
Real-World Examples of ABO Implementations
1. Telecom Service Upgrades
A telecom company uses ABO to manage customer subscriptions. When a customer wants to upgrade their data plan, the CPQ system fetches the current plan details from the downstream CRM system in real-time, allowing the customer to see the available upgrades and seamlessly complete the order process.
2. Software License Renewals
A software provider enables customers to renew or upgrade their licenses through CPQ. The system fetches the current license details, including expiration dates and feature entitlements, from an asset management system, presenting the customer with personalized renewal options based on their existing assets.
3. Equipment Maintenance Services
An industrial equipment manufacturer offers maintenance services through CPQ. When a customer requests a service quote, CPQ fetches the equipment details, including model, purchase date, and service history, from the downstream ERP system. This information is used to generate an accurate and customized maintenance quote.
Conclusion
Integrating real-time asset data from a downstream application into Oracle CPQ for ABO processes is not only feasible but also enhances the flexibility and efficiency of order modifications. By following the outlined steps and leveraging the provided sample code, businesses can implement a robust ABO system that dynamically fetches and utilizes asset data, thereby improving the customer experience and streamlining the sales process. This approach allows companies to maintain a single source of truth for asset data while leveraging Oracle CPQ’s powerful quoting capabilities.