Top 10 Salient Features of Apttus CPQ

Top 10 Salient Features of Apttus CPQ

Apttus CPQ is one of the front runner CPQ solutions in enterprise space. In recent time, it has been accepted by top enterprises as standard CPQ solution over SFDC platform. Likewise an ideal CPQ application, it provides the capability to configure complex products, smart pricing methods and quick quoting process. But if we dig the ground further, it has lot more capabilities and functional richness to help organizations get most out of CPQ process.

This article is not about outlining the general CPQ features of Apttus, but the focus is on some of the salient features, which are not widely known in community. The list could be very long, but I’ve chosen top 10 features, which you should be ware while implementing Apttus CPQ.

1. Numeric Expressions

Apttus provides a custom expression builder to help writing expressions which are similar to SFDC formulas but are much more powerful and controllable. These expressions are evaluated at runtime and provide more dynamics to product configuration and rules. The expressions can be used to set the values of product attributes, min/max quantities of option groups and min/max/default quantities of option components inside those groups. Numeric Expressions can also be used in writing highly complex rollup summaries and used those to set the option quantities or prices at run time.

A simple example could be the scenario where value entered in one or more attribute would define the default quantities of option components in the configured product.

As a more complex example, the value of an attribute could be driven by a complex arithmetic formula involving values of other attributes, and finally use this value to define the quantities of multiple option components within configuration.

This is an extremely powerful feature which provides high level of dynamics and avoids static configuration restrictions. Please see my blog on Apttus Numeric Expression for detail on this feature.

2. Attribute Based Configuration (ABC)

The client–side Attribute Based rule framework is the latest feature in Apttus Nov’15 release. It provides a highly flexible rule based framework to define attribute dependencies and governing rules. For e.g. depending on the value selected in Attribute A, the values in picklist of Attribute B can be restricted. Also selecting certain values in Attribute A can mandate Attribute C, while disable Attribute D and default a value in Attribute E.

This feature brings the Guided Configuration to higher level and provides an easy way for error-free, compatible and correct product configuration for complex models.

3. Promotions and Incentive Management

Apttus provides out-of-box promotions and incentive capabilities. Comprehensive promotion schemes can be defined (for e.g. Buy X get X, Buy X get Y etc), with complete control over applicability, limits and when to apply. Also comes with provision to generate and manage coupons codes.

4. Asset Based Ordering (ABO)

Apttus CPQ provides comprehensive Asset management functionality and capability for cross/up sales through customer’s purchased products and services. The new Asset Based Ordering (ABO) interface provides functionality to cancel, suspend, change, swap and move assets, along with mid-cycle upgrades/downgrades of usage based subscriptions.

5. Guided Selling

Apttus provides rule-based Guided Selling feature to help sales rep and customer narrow down the product catalog and expedite the quoting process.

6. Advanced CPQ Approvals

Apttus Advance Workflow & Approvals (AWA) is a new generation approvals framework which supports almost all possible scenarios of configuration, pricing, operational and legal approvals. The CPQ approval package provides required approval capabilities for CPQ, covering quote/cart approvals and Personalized central interface for all approval actions.

7. APIs

Apttus exposed all key operations through APIs for smooth integration and interfacing with external systems. As example, creating a cart, adding products, copying carts, price/reprice/finalize a quote, generate quote document, sync with opty, submit for approval etc, all key functions can be achieved through APIs.

8. Extended Configurability

Apttus has been designed considering Configurability as a key factor. Most of the features can be controlled using custom settings. This gives an easy interface for admins to control the behaviour of the system without any customization or IT involvement.

9. eSignature for Proposals

Apttus DocuSign Integration package facilitates the e-signature of generated Quote by DocuSign, from within the Apttus interface.  

10. X-author for CPQ

X-author is Apttus proprietary protocol for communication between MS office applications and SFDC. As example XA-Contract can used to define templates in MS word and use the same to generate real-time proposals/contracts with values inserted from SFDC data. Similarly XA-Excel can be used to migrate data from one SFDC instance to another or load data in any instance.