The Subscription Order Release program generates the Release or Bulk Run process. In this process the Product Lists are linked to the Subscription Lists (customers) determining which ISBNs are to be dispatched for which customers. Multiple Subscription Lists can be released against the same Product List.
If the Product List and Subscription List have similar identification codes, the margin for error is reduced. Transactions to either dispatch Titles or issue renewals are created. A list of the transactions generated can be reviewed and any changes made via the menu option Release Run Management. A Run has to be specifically flagged as completed and until this is done, runs can be cancelled and regenerated until the operator is satisfied with the results.
Subscriptions can be excluded for stopped or closed customers.
Credit lines are generated if there are Fixed Service Plan (FSP) subscription printed items and charge method is ‘Pay as You Go’. This is to recognize revenue as each subscription for printed items is released.
The Subscription Count increments whenever a subscription order is released / generated.
Book Club shipments use the release process by building a “release product set”, (which would be the titles for the shipment) and then this list is applied to all the subscribers in the subscriber list for the Book Club. A preliminary orders work file is generated that can be listed in summary or detail for checking purposes (if required) before sending through to fulfilment. The generated orders then pass through normal order processing including pending checks and backorder generation in case the stock is not available.
The number of orders generated is limited per run which permits the user to adapt the volumes and maximize efficiency. Orders missed in the first sweep should be picked up in subsequent sweeps and still be grouped by carrier sequence.
Invoices are selected by carrier and ADC sort sequence in order to minimize freight costs.
Select by subscription order status (for example new customers being those with a New status, meaning they have not yet had a shipment of Book Club books before). New subscribers can be released against two product sets, the shipment for this cycle plus a bonus product set if there is a bonus incentive.
A trigger updates the status for the processed subscriptions from New to Active.
Subscribers who have not received this product set yet (this caters for any re-instated subscriptions that missed the first release of the product set as the releasing of a specific product set can take place over a number of weeks) are selected.
Payment points are generated for marked subscriptions.
Event based subscription are allowed to be renewed by time or by event. If a subs term is defined with time definition on TMSSM/SL-STRMT, this subscription will be renewed by time. If there is no time definition then it will be renewed by event.
Customer groups for PIA anniversary subscriptions that are renewed manually can be excluded in Bulk Renewal Process using control file TMSSM/SMO005-C.
When renewing PIA subscriptions if the renewal item is not on the product list the system will use the renewal item from the subscription list.
The system can be configured to hold back subscription orders when it fails credit card validation. If control file TMSSM/SR-CCF is setup with subscription order status (e.g. Held) then the system will do a credit card check. If it fails then the subscription order status will be changed to the status defined in TMSSM/SR-CCF. If credit card validation is not required, then leave this control file blank i.e. do not populate it with any status.
- In the menu, expand Publishing Modules > Subscriptions Management > Subs Release/Renewal and then double-click Subs Order Release. SMO005 Subscription Order Release panel appears.
| Field | Description |
| Output type | Select the output type from TMSSM/SMO005-B. |
| Customer select | Select a Subscription selection rule as defined in TMSSM/SMO005-A. |
| Check existing | Select Yes if you would like the system to check for existing orders so the system checks the delivered and backordered quantities and prevents subscription releases being sent out twice. |
| Option | Description |
| Prod list | Select a product list to link to a subscription list for release. |
| Subs list | Select a Subscription list to link to the product list for release. |
- Link the Product and Subscription lists and click OK.
- Select/enter any of the order information as required.
- Click OK to release the order.
