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V1 Dynamic Pricing
V1 Dynamic Pricing
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Note

IMPORTANT: There are two methods for configuring Dynamic Pricing – this Legacy Dynamic Pricing and our new Reimagined V2 Dynamic Pricing module which utilizes the same back end as this legacy version, but makes configuration easier with a new interface. You need to decide which one you are going to use to set up dynamic pricing for a given product and CHOOSE ONE METHOD. Using both methods on a given product can cause issues with pricing setup.  

Setup Checklist

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Set-up Checklist
Set-up Checklist
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1. POS Tasks

1. Follow the POS standard product setup requirements from Configuration: Product Shell

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  • If you are selling these products onsite, you’ll want to set up pricing for these products so that you can leverage whatever demand based pricing your POS makes available for on-site sales (i.e. Pricing Seasons in RTP|One)

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2. Aspenware Commerce Tasks

Configure Core Product

1. Configure Core product according to product shell standards Configuration: Product Shell with the following additional setup:

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  • Add “Start Date” attribute with

    • [Date] [Dynamic] added to Text Prompt

    • Control Type set to Date picker

    • And Is required selected

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  • Generate attribute combinations and check to make sure the attribute combination table is perfect before beginning pricing activities

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  • If utilizing the Large calendar view, add “[Pricing Calendar]” Text prompt to required attributes

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2. Add product classification(s)

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  • Dynamic Pricing Days to Arrival

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  • Is consecutive multi-day if using inventory pools and the product has multi-day options

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  • Show pricing Calendar view if using the pricing calendar display

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Update Settings

  1. ccatalogsettings.dynamicpricingcalendar.pricingcountmessagethreshold

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  2. catalogsettings.dynamicpricingcalendar.inventorymessagethreshold

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  3. seasonsettings.enddate is set to the season end date

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  4. seasonsettings.startdate is a date in the past

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Additional commonly utilized setup

  • Setup inventory pools if adding inventory to products

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  • Add reloadable media

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  • Setup cutoff days/time if preventing purchase x days or hours prior to start

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Configure Language String for Savings Display on PDP

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Dynamic Pricing Module Configuration

1. Create Pricing Season(s)

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3. Configure Season Type(s)

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3. Assign Season Type to product

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4. Configure Products for Dynamic Pricing

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  • Set up Base & Override Windows (must have “Base” and “Online” at minimum

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  • Set up Tiers

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5. Price Product Using Pricing Tool

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  • “Base” values can be priced for the entire season

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  • “Online” override windows values must be priced for the entire season and the top level “quantity” must be set to a value that will have no chance of selling out such as 10,000

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  • Price and set quantity for Tiers

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6. Export/Import Excel Pricing Spreadsheet

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7. Add Pricing Savings Display to the PDP

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Prerequisite Tasks

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Prerequisites Tasks Excerpt
Prerequisites Tasks Excerpt
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POS Tasks

  1. Follow the standard product setup requirements from Configuration: Product Shell.

    1. If you are selling these products onsite, you’ll want to set up pricing for these products so that you can leverage whatever demand based pricing your POS makes available for on-site sales (i.e. Pricing Seasons in RTP|One)

Commerce Tasks

1. Configure Core Product

Before dynamically pricing a product, ensure the following is true:

  • The product is fully set up and prepared for dynamic pricing:

    1. The attribute “Start Date” has been added with “[Date] [Dynamic]” added to the Text Prompt field and the control type is “Date picker”.

    2. If utilizing the large pricing calendar view then all required attributes have the text prompt [Pricing Calendar]

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      All attributes and values are configured on the product, and the product attribute combination table is built out fully and perfectly. Ensure the attribute combination table has all necessary attribute combinations and there are no unnecessary rows or duplicates before proceeding.

      1. If the attribute is required to book the core product, such as Age and Number of Days, it is a Required attribute. 

      2. If the attribute is an add-on attribute and does not impact the price or SKU (RTP|One product header) of the core product, it should not be Required and should not be present in the attribute combination table. (e.g. An add-on rental to a ticket or lesson should not be required or included in the product attribute combination table.)

    4. The SKUs have been entered in the product attribute combination table.

      1. Only combinations that require dynamic pricing show in the combination table. Add-ons should not be included in the combinations. 

Note

IMPORTANT: Any required attributes on products that are dynamically priced CANNOT use the Checkbox control type, use Radio Button control type instead.

Note

IMPORTANT: This step should be fully complete before beginning to dynamically price the product. Making additional changes to the core product after dynamically pricing it will cause unwanted behavior.

2. Add Product Classification(s)

  • Go to Aspenware Commerce > Product Classifications and click Add assignment.

  • Select the product you created above.

  • Scroll to ‘Dynamic Pricing Days to Arrival’ and click the Assign checkbox.

  • Optionally if you’d like to show the large pricing calendar view, scroll to ‘Show pricing calendar view’ and click Assign checkbox.

  • Optionally if the product has inventory controls and is a multi-day product, you’ll want to allow consecutive multi-day selections. If this is not necessary for your product, skip to the next step.

    • If you’d like to require consecutive multi-day selection, scroll to ‘Is Consecutive Multi-Day Product’ and click Assign checkbox.

  • Optionally if the product has inventory controls and is a single-day only product in your POS, but you want to allow guests to select multiple single-day options on a calendar and check out with multiple date bookings as if it’s a single “cart item” online, you’ll want to allow non-consecutive multi-day selections. If this is not necessary for your product, skip to the next step.

    • If you’d like to require consecutive multi-day selection, scroll to ‘Is Non-Consecutive Multi-Day Product’ and click Assign checkbox.

  • Click Add.

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3. Optional Product Setup

The following steps are optional but are commonly used for dynamically priced products.

  • Set up inventory pools for the product. See Inventory Configuration for instructions.

  • Add reloadable media for the product. See Pass Media Reload Configuration for instructions.

  • Set up [Cutoff Days] and/or [Cutoff Time] in product attributes if you'd like to limit the availability of products within a certain number of days/hours from purchase.

Settings for this Feature

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Setting, Language String and/or HTML Widgets for this feature
Setting, Language String and/or HTML Widgets for this feature
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Settings

See Store-wide Settings (All settings) Library for the latest up-to-date settings, examples, and configuration.

Setting

Use

Image example (click to enlarge)

CatalogSettings.DynamicPricingCalendar.PricingCountMessageThreshold

For dynamically priced products utilizing the large calendar view, if the number of products left at the current pricing tier is less than this setting amount, then a message will display notifying guests of how many products are left at the current tier’s price.

(note: this setting’s messaging will be replaced with low inventory messaging if the minimum quantity setting “shoppingcartsettings.minimumquantity.quantitymessage” is triggered)

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catalogsettings.dynamicpricingcalendar.inventorymessagethreshold

For products utilizing the large calendar view and inventory pools, if the number of available reservations is less than this setting amount, then a message will display notifying guests of low availability.

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seasonsettings.startdate

Defines the first day that date-based products are available for reservation.

Note: If you operate multiple stores through Aspenware Commerce then this setting is required to be set for “All stores” and each individual store may have a unique setting if desired.

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seasonsettings.enddate

Defines the last day that date-based products are available for reservation.

Note: If you operate multiple stores through Aspenware Commerce then this setting is required to be set for “All stores” and each individual store may have a unique setting if desired.

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If you are adding the Dynamic Pricing Savings Display to the PDP, you have the ability to show and hide the amount remaining beneath the savings display. Resorts on 2.16 or later will have the amount remaining automatically enabled. If you care to disable this feature follow the instructions below:

  • Go to Configuration > Languages > Edit

  • Scroll to the bottom and add the language string Resource Name shown in the table below

Resource Name

Value

Location

Example

unity.dynamicpricing.inventoryremaining

Only {CountRemaining} left on this date

Shopping Cart

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  • Add the text you would like displayed beneath the price on the PDP in the Value field making sure to keep the {CountRemaining} token which will display the inventory # remaining (in the above example {CountRemaining} = 614

  • Select Add new record.

Detailed Setup Guide

  1. Create Pricing Season(s) - (Optional)

  2. Configure Season Type(s) - (Optional)

  3. Assign Season Type to product - (Optional)

  4. Configure Products for Dynamic Pricing

  5. Price Product Using Pricing Tool

  6. Export/Import Excel Pricing Spreadsheet

  7. (Optional) Add Dynamic Pricing Savings Display to PDP

1. Create Pricing Seasons - (Optional)

Pricing Seasons are created so that dates can be blocked together when updating pricing for a product in the dynamic pricing tool. These should be set up prior to pricing the product. Pricing seasons are assigned to pricing season types that are assigned to products. 

  • Go to Aspenware Commerce Plugins > Dynamic Pricing

    • Click Seasons (button in the upper right corner) and specify:

      • Name: Enter the name for the season (ie: weekends, weekdays, winter season 20/21, etc)

      • Display Order: (optional) used to determine the display order in Admin.

      • Season Type: Leave blank for now, will be added in step 2.

    • Click Add.

    • Select Set Datesbeside the newly created season (table is organized by display order).

    • Navigate to the first month and year with dates included in this season. Highlight the appropriate dates in the left column. 

      1. Select multiple dates in a row using the Shift key; select multiple non-consecutive dates using the Command key on a Mac and Control on a PC. When all the desired dates in the month are selected, select the > arrow key in the center of the modal. 

    • Continue for each month within the season you are planning to have sales for and when complete, select Save

    • Season names, display orders, season types can be edited and de-activated/activated by selecting Edit. To edit dates, select Set Dates

2. Configure Season Type(s) - (Optional)

“Season Types” group seasons together to assign to products (e.g. a Summer 20/21 Season Type may be assigned to all summer products and include a Summer Weekdays Season and a Summer Weekends Season.)

  • Go to Aspenware Commerce > Dynamic Pricing > Seasons

  • Click Seasons (button in the upper right corner)

  • Click Season Types (button in the upper right corner)

  • Specify the Season Type Name and click Add.

  • Once the Season Type is created Click Seasons (button in the upper right corner).

  • Find all seasons that correspond with the Season Type, select Edit, and update the Season Type.

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NOTE: Currently, each season can only be assigned to one season type. If product A and product B both use the Saver Season, but product A’s seasons are Saver, Off-Peak, and Holiday, and product B’s seasons are Saver and Regular, then create a different season type to assign to product A and B. Two Saver seasons will also need to be created, one for the season type that will be assigned to Product A, and another for the season type that will be assigned to Product B. Alternatively, just create the seasons Saver, Off-Peak, Holiday, and Regular, and don’t bother with season types and assigning a season type to a product. If a product is not assigned a season type, it can price products based on any active season.

3. Assign Season Type to Product - (Optional)

  • Go to Aspenware Commerce > Dynamic Pricing > Seasons > Season Types > Assign Products to Season Types

  • Select the desired Product

  • Select the Season Type

  • Click Add

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4. Configure Products for Dynamic Pricing

Note

WARNING: Once a product has been dynamically priced, dynamic pricing cannot be undone.

Setup Override Windows

  • On the Seasons page, click Dynamic Pricing and search for the desired product.

  • Select Edit Override Windowswithin the desired product’s row.

    1. Days to arrival windows are defined here (e.g. rules like unique pricing for day-of purchasers, within 48-hour purchasers, outside of 48 hours, etc.)

  • Override Window setup depends on pricing window rules. Specify the following for all of the days to arrival windows for the product:

    1. Window Title: Enter a descriptive name for the window (ie: “Day of Pricing”)

    2. Display order: Set to 101 for the window that is closest to the start date, 102 for the next furthest window out, and so on. For example, 101 for Day of Pricing, then 102 for the 7 days out until the day before pricing, 103 for the 14 days to 8 days before pricing, etc. 100 or any lesser number should not be set as “Base” will appear automatically and is reserved for 100. The order of the windows matters greatly, so follow these instructions exactly.

    3. Days out start: This is the number of days from the arrival date when the pricing will apply. For example, if setting up an ‘outside of 48 hours’ window, set this to 2 and it will apply two days out from the arrival date if there isn’t a more specific (closer to arrival date) level set that applies to the reservation date. 

    4. Days out end: Set to 100000. Do not set this to a value higher than 100000.

    5. Track Quantity: Check this for all override windows. Checking this will cause the Type drop-down to appear.

    6. Type: select ‘Price’, do not select 'Percent.' 

    7. Click Add.

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  • Once all Override Windows are added, and if you are not using tiered pricing, the product can be priced. (If you are using Tiers scroll down to the “Setup Pricing Tiers (Optional)” section.)

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Tiers can be used to set limited quantities at discounted pricing.

Go to Aspenware Commerce > Dynamic Pricing > Search for your product > and click Edit Tiers.

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  • Tier Title: enter “Tier 1” for the initial tier customers will buy from

  • Description:enter “Tier 1” for the initial tier customers will buy from

  • Display Order: enter “1” for the initial tier customers will buy from

  • Then click Add.

Repeat this process by adding “+1” for each required tier. In the example below products will sell through tier 1 then through tier 2.

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5. Price Product Using Pricing Tool

  • Go to Aspenware Commerce > Dynamic Pricing in Admin.

  • Search for the product using the Product name field (e.g. type “ticket” to find lift tickets).

  • Find the desired product’s row and click Edit Pricing. 

Set Base Pricing

Base pricing is used to show the %savings the customer is receiving by buying online. Configuring base pricing is required.

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In the pop-up enter the price that will be used as the base price aka ‘window rate’ and click Update.

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Info

NOTE: Depending on the number of attributes and the number of dates being input this can take a few minutes for the data to save into the system.

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Optionally, individual date(s) can also be modified by selecting the date(s) on the calendar then clicking Edit Date Range. There is also a “Month View” toggle on the calendar that can be used to see a wider set of date ranges.

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Quantity: enter 10,000. If sales surpass this number then products will be sold for $0. (see BLUE highlighted area in screenshot below).

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#: enter the quantity to be sold at this tier (see GREEN and BLACK highlighted areas in the screenshot below)

Once all fields are completed click Update

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NOTE: If you are using multiple override windows and tiers, tiers always have their own individual available quantities. So if 1 day out sells through tier 1 and begins selling into tier 2, day of pricing will still start at Tier 1.

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Optionally, individual date(s) can also be modified by selecting the date(s) on the calendar then clicking Edit Date Range. There is also a “Month View” toggle on the calendar that can be used to see a wider set of date ranges.

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NOTE: You will need to manually clear the cache in admin in order for your price changes to appear in the store to guests.

6. Export/Import Excel Pricing Spreadsheet

If using multiple tiers and override windows it is recommended to use Aspenware’s Import Pricing upload to manage pricing. Importing pricing works for all variations of dynamically priced products, including products with tiers restricting the quantity of certain prices, override windows, and more.

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Once a product is “dummy priced,” or priced with real values, the pricing export can be download and re-imported.

  • Go to Aspenware Commerce > Import Pricing search for the desired product using the product name, category, or both. 

  • If the product is set up with tiered pricing, there will be two buttons under Import Pricing. Products that have tiers require downloading and uploading two separate spreadsheets.

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3. End Date: enter the last date you want to update

4. Click Prepare Import Spreadsheet

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NOTE: only dates and attributes you have priced or “dummy priced” will show up in the excel file.

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Once the pricing spreadsheet updates are completed and saved in a CSV format, it can now be uploaded.

Go to Aspenware Commerce > Import Pricing search for the desired product using the product name, category or both. 

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3. End Date: enter the last date you want to update

4. Click Import Pricing Spreadsheet

5. Click Ok

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NOTE: Likely you will define the same date range as downloaded before. Once uploaded a message will appear detailing how many rows were affected; you can check your Excel file to ensure the total number of rows matches.

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  • If the product being priced doesn’t have tiers, the import is complete. Be sure to check the product in the Dynamic Pricing plugin to ensure prices were properly updated as expected. 

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NOTE:If some override windows should not have tiers (such as Day of Pricing), they will still appear in the export. Filter out or remove pricing rows for invalid Override Windows that should not have tiers when updating the pricing spreadsheet. 

7. (Optional) Add a Pricing Savings Display to the PDP

To show an old price on a product that is dynamically priced follow the instructions below:

  • Go to Catalog > Products > Select your product.

  • Select the Advanced tab at the top of the product admin page.

  • Scroll to the Price widget.

  • Type the price that you would like your product to be compared to in the Old Price field.

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