Testing Service Calculation Output Follow

Once services have been set up in Printer's Plan there are several ways to test the service's calculations output. Testing a service that has been created is an important part of the service setup. Do not enter the data available and assume that it will work as expected. This document will outline how to effectively test and adjust services.

Building a Test Quote

• Click 'New' button
• Select quote 
• Assign to walk-in customer
• Select CSR
• Click the green checkmark at the bottom of the window
• Deselect all options except for Item Specs

• Create a new item based on the existing item options. 
• Add the service that needs to be tested. Test orders can be as limited as a paper service and a printer service.

Now there will be a quote with minimal information added except for the service information selected previously for the item. In this view, the item price and totals can be viewed.

For more information click on the "Edit Costs" button highlighted in the image below.

Edit Costs Window

The 'Edit Costs' window will provide more detailed information based on the item that was highlighted before opening the window. In this view all of the item's services are broken down into their time costs and material costs. The final window is labeled 'Time + Material' and shows a total service cost plus the markup providing the service pricing. 

At the bottom of the final column displays the item total as well as the profit margin.

• Service

  • Category Name: The name of the service

• Time

  • Cost Per Hour: If the service has a time cost associated with it, it will display the service's defined cost per hour rate.
  • Actual Time: The time this service is calculating based on the speed defined on the service.
  • Charge Time: The time that was charged based on the production speed and the service's hourly cost rate.
  • Time Cost: The calculated monetary cost of the service based on the item's production time.

• Material

  • Unit cost: The service's material cost entered on the service.
  • Per: The service's material cost definition. Example: per each, per thousand or total. 
  • Actual Quantity: The adjusted quantity based on waste or set up sheets entered on the services in this item. A printer with setup and waste applied will adjust the materials needed.
  • Charge Quantity: The amount of material the customer is being charged for
  • Mat'l Cost: The adjusted material cost for this job after adding setup sheets and waste.

• Time + Material

  • Service Cost: The cumulative cost of the service that takes into account the total time and material costs.
  • Markup: The difference between the costs entered on a service and the price entered on a service.
  • Service Price: The price a customer pays for this service on the item. 
  • Total: The totals for the service costs, markups and service prices respectively.
  • Margin = Price - Cost: The total for 'Markup' will be the item's total markup based on costs and the 'Service Price' column displays the profits for this item.
• Default Pricing: Beneath all other rows is a colored row labeled 'DEFAULT PRICING' which displays the default values for the total values. 

After reviewing your service output and determining which area of a service needs to be updated, returning to the order and clicking in this margin will open the service.

Click the 'Reprice' button to update the item's information once changes have been saved. 

If prompted to use different price levels always choose 'Default' price and costs for testing. The adjustments made will be the new default.

If using the 'Edit Costs' window doesn't provide enough information for the service being tested there is a deeper audit that can be done through the 'Quantity Detail' window. 

Click on the service that is being tested and click the 'Quantity Detail' button at the bottom of the window.

Quantity Detail Window

Once the quantity detail window is open it will display all of the factors for the service's calculations. 

In the image above we can see all of the details for this digital printing service including the item's paper specifications and the setup and run waste that is included. 

If troubleshooting a service and one or more of the calculations seem off, this window will explain how the program is coming to the service's waste, difficulty, costs, and pricing.