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Function documentationPool Linkage

 

You can link different contracts with a pool contract in usage-based service contract management. You use a change process within a single contract to create a link to a pool contract.

A pool linkage is always time-specific, which means you can link a contract with different pool contracts in different time segments. If conditions change, for example, you can define a new pool linkage with a different contract to reflect these changed conditions. The periods may not overlap. When you create a link, the system activates this link until December 31, 9999. The system always sets an unlimited validity period for the last active pool linkage that was created. To link the contract with a pool contract, you can move the end date to an earlier date by using the change process Change Pool Linkage. You can also move the start date of the link forwards or backwards.

A contract can only be linked with one pool contract within any given time segment. The pool linkage must be active in order to bill the contracts through the pool contract. When you bill a pool contract, all existing pool linkages are taken into account automatically.

You can define the pool linkage either before or after inception of the single contract.

You can use pool contracts to perform the following actions:

  • Automatic termination of all linked contracts at the end of the pool contract

    You find action definition UBB: UNASSIGN TO CONTRACT END in action profile UBB: Pool Contract Item (UBB_POOL_ITEM).

You can use pool contracts to execute the following change processes:

  • Collective Termination of Pool Linkage

    All linked contracts are terminated from the pool contract.

    If the end date of a pool linkage falls chronologically after the termination date that you entered in assignment block Change Process Parameters in the Valid To field, the system moves the end date of the linkage until it is the same as the termination date. If a pool link falls after the termination date, the system cancels this link.

  • Change Billing Plan Periodicity for Pool Contracts

    If you change the periodicity of the billing plan, the periodicity of the linked contracts is changed automatically.

Prerequisites

  • You have created a single contract and a pool contract.

  • You have saved the pool contract before you create the link.

  • Since the change process Collective Termination of Pool Linkage affects all linked contracts, you can only execute this change process when it can be executed for all linked contracts. If just one linked contract is currently blocked, for example, you cannot execute this change process.

Features

The following link functions are available:

Creating the Pool Linkage

You can create the linkage before or after you release the contract. The handling is identical for single pool contracts and aggregate contracts. The system only bills the usage volume using the pool contract. It continues to bill the flat rate through the single contract.

When you create a pool linkage, the system accrues the billing periods.

The system generates a pool redistribution plan starting with the linkage date and the periodicity of the billing plan for the pool contract. The pool redistribution plan ends on the termination date of the pool linkage. In other words, a pool redistribution plan only exists as long as the single contract belongs to a pool contract.

You can link the pool manually or use a rule-based pool linkage.

Maintaining the Pool Linkage

The following processing options are available:

Processing

Description

Please Note

Change

You change pool linkages when you change the start date or end date in case of a termination. You do not change the pool contract type, however.

You can only change a pool linkage when the existing pool linkage is active and there are no relevant billed periods as of the execution date.

Cancel

When you cancel a pool linkage –for example, if the wrong copying machine was specified –the system restores the original status of the single contract and the pool contract.

If the contract or pool contract expires, the linkage is cancelled automatically.

You can only cancel a pool linkage when the existing pool linkage is active and there are no relevant billed periods as of the execution date.

Note Note

The system cancels the pool linkage automatically on the end date of the linked single contract. A change process can also cancel the pool linkage.

End of the note.
Status Display

The different functions assign different status values to the pool linkages:

Status

Description

Active

You have created a pool linkage between a single contract and a pool contract.

Canceled

You have canceled the pool linkage.

Changed

You have changed the date information for a pool linkage.

Indirect

You have created a rule-based pool linkage.

Example

A copy shop has 20 copying machines and wants to lease another one. You bill the usage of the new machine using the existing aggregate contract that is used to manage the other 20 copying machines.

You prepare the single contract and link it with the aggregate contract (rule-based linkage). At the same time, you install the copying machine at the copy shop. The link is not canceled, which means it does not have a defined end date.

Instead, it is billed through the aggregate contract. The flat rate is billed through the single contract, however. The pool redistribution plan exists as long as the contract belongs to the aggregate contract.

One year later, you want to cancel the linkage of the single contract to this pool contract at the end of the month and then link it with a different aggregate contract that has different price conditions.

As a result, the single contract is used for usage billing after the linkage is canceled. Usage billing is not performed through the aggregate contract until a new linkage with another aggregate contract is defined.