Before setting up product selection, you must determine how substitution is to be carried out, as well as evaluate the process flow from beginning to end. Here are several questions to help you prepare:

• How are substitute products determined?

By the product entered in the order, or by material group?

• How many substitutes are offered for each product?

How are they prioritized?

• Are there any product attributes that would cause a customer to refuse or accept a substitute?

For example, coupons, packaging, or special offers.

• Are products substituted consistently, or does the substitution process change according to dates or seasons?

What is the date range validity for the substitution rules?

For example, material A is substituted with material B in November and December. The rest of the year, it is substituted with material C.

• What number is printed on documents?

The product number entered in the order, the substitute product number, or both?

Is this consistent for all documents, for example, order confirmations, deliveries, and invoices?

• How is pricing performed when a product is substituted?

Are prices based on the product entered or the substitute product?

• Are standard item and schedule line categories suitable for your company’s product selection?

• Should the system carry out a new product selection when you copy data from document to document?

For example, you may want a new product selection when copying from sales order to delivery, but not from sales order to return.