This guide covers the key terminology and vocabulary of extended product management features. The guide helps you understand how different product types and definitions work and how they are used.

You can view and manage products by selecting Products > Products and services > Product view.

CONTENTS

Product group

A product group groups products and defines which product group an individual product belongs to.

  • A product group is used for grouping products.
  • A product can be assigned to one product group.
  • In extended product management, it is possible to create hierarchical product groups and create value sets from attributes for the product group. More information: Hierarchical product groups

Main product group

The main product group is the top level of the product group hierarchy.

  • A product group at the root level in the product group hierarchy.

Product/Normal product

A product or normal product is a basic product used in sales, purchasing and inventory management.

  • A sellable and/or storable service or product.
  • Usage locations are sales invoices, sales orders, purchase orders, inventory management, etc.
  • If sub products are added to a product in extended product management, the product also becomes a composite product.
  • When attributes are assigned to a product and models are formed from these attributes, the product becomes a main product and is no longer storable/sellable. Models are storable/sellable.
  • Product view

Main product

A main product is formed when attributes and models are added to a product in extended product management.

  • Used only in extended product management.
  • If attributes are added to a product and models are formed, the product becomes a main product.
  • A main product has no usage locations.
  • If sub products are added to a main product, the product also becomes a composite product. The created models inherit the sub product hierarchy of the main product.
  • Product view

Model

A model is a sellable and/or storable product formed from the attributes of a main product in extended product management.

  • Only in extended product management.
  • A sellable and/or storable service or product.
  • Usage locations are sales invoices, sales orders, purchase orders, inventory management, etc.
  • A model is always formed from the attributes of a main product.
  • A model inherits some of its values from the main product, and some values are common to all models of the main product through the main product.
  • If sub products are added to a model, the model also becomes a composite product.

Temporary product

A temporary product acts as a temporary product when a corresponding product is not found in the product register.

  • A product used when a corresponding product is not found in the product register.
  • Usage locations are sales invoices, sales orders, purchase orders, etc., but not, for example, inventory management.

Sub product

A sub product is a product or model that is linked as part of the structure of a composite product.

  • When a product or model is connected as part of a composite product structure, it becomes a sub product.
  • A sub product can also be a composite product at the same time.

Composite product

A composite product consists of several sub products.

  • When sub products are connected to a product, main product, or model, it becomes a composite product.
  • A composite product can also be a sub product at the same time.
  • For example, a table could be constructed from a tabletop and legs.

Physical product

A physical product is a storable composite product to be manufactured.

  • A composite product to be manufactured.
  • A storable product whose sub products’ inventory quantity decreases at the time of construction.

Virtual product

A virtual product is a non-storable composite product that is assembled from other products at the time of use.

  • A non-storable composite product.
  • The sub products of a virtual product are storable, but the product item itself is not storable; instead, the product is assembled from other products at the time of use.

Sellable product

A sellable product is a product that can be used in accounts receivable and for which sales prices can be defined.

  • Only sellable products can be used in accounts receivable.
  • Only sellable products have sales prices.
  • Can be of type physical or virtual product.

Storable product

A storable product is a product for which inventory events are created and which is always a physical product.

  • Inventory events are created only for storable products.
  • Of type physical product, cannot be virtual.

Frequently asked questions

Question: What is the difference between a product (normal product) and a model?
Answer: A product/normal product is a directly sellable and/or storable product. When attributes are added to a product and models are formed from these attributes, the product becomes a main product and is no longer sellable or storable. In that case, the models are the sellable and storable products.

Question: When does a product become a main product?
Answer: A product becomes a main product when, in extended product management, attributes are added to the product and models are formed from these attributes.

Question: When is a product a composite product?
Answer: A product, main product or model is a composite product when sub products are connected to it. A composite product can also be a sub product at the same time.

Question: What is the difference between a physical and a virtual product?
Answer: A physical product is a storable composite product to be manufactured, where the inventory quantity of the sub products decreases at the time of construction. A virtual product is a non-storable composite product whose sub products are storable, but the product item itself is not storable; instead, the product is assembled at the time of use.

Question: What does a sellable product mean?
Answer: A sellable product is a product that can be used in accounts receivable and for which sales prices can be defined. A sellable product can be a physical or virtual product.

Question: What does a storable product mean?
Answer: A storable product is a product for which inventory events are created. A storable product is always a physical product and cannot be virtual.

Keywords: product, model, storable product, product group, vocabulary, terms

This article has been translated using an AI-based translation tool. The contents or wording of these instructions may differ from those in other instructions or in the software.


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