Using Product Schedules with Quotes & Quote Line Items

Salespeople in some companies create Quotes and Quote Line Items rather than adding products directly to an opportunity. In this case, you sync the ‘most likely’ Quote to the Opportunity; this process adds Opportunity Products matching the Quote Line Items.

So, you might wonder how the GSP Product Schedules app works with Quotes and Quote Line Items.

The answer is that you have a choice:

1. Enter the schedule parameters (# Schedules, Schedule Start Date) once the Opportunity Products are created.
2. Enter the schedule parameters on each Quote Line Item, and have these sync to the Opportunity Products.

In either case, the app will automatically create the appropriate Product Schedules.

Let’s consider each option in turn.

Enter Schedule Parameters on Opportunity Products

With this option, salespeople create their Quotes and Quote Line Items and sync the most likely Quote to the Opportunity.

The schedule parameters are manually entered for each Opportunity Product. This is straightforward using the Manage Schedules feature.

Optionally, the schedule parameters are only entered once the Opportunity reaches a specified stage. You can use a validation rule to make sure the details are entered.

Overall, this option is the easiest to set up and implement.

Enter Schedule Parameters on Quote Line Items

With this option, salespeople can enter schedule parameters for the Quote Line Items. When the Quote syncs to the Opportunity and the Opportunity Products are created, the schedule parameters also sync and trigger the Product Schedules.

Nevertheless, the standard Quote sync function does not facilitate the synchronization of custom fields (e.g., the schedule parameters) to Opportunity Products. You’ll need a custom sync function to replace the standard sync button.

Alternatively, if you use CPQ, you already have a custom sync function. The question is more operational: do you want salespeople to enter schedule parameters for each Quote Line Item or only on the Opportunity Products for the synced Quote?