Product definition: Using features.

Last week we described the product definition problems a company can experience installing an ERP system. A product structure should be well defined before trying to enter it in the system. Do not expect that the ERP system will solve the problem, it actually will show the problem even more if there is one. This is caused by the consistence the system is enforcing.

Although there are different ways of defining the product in a system, the more different ways you use the more complicated the system will be for the future user. If you have structured the products, you will also need to organize them for administrative or e-commerce website purposes (some category types are shown at different places of the website). First we will explain the products structure side of things and then the organizational aspect.

In OFBiz the product definition and maintenance is done in the back-end of the system, under the tab 'Catalog'. You can see this option now at the system at the ofbiz demonstration site

In OFBiz there are several ways to structure and organize products:
1. Using features
2. Using virtual- and variant products.
3. Using configurations
4. Using subscriptions
5. Using electronic content.
6. Organization: Using Catalogs and Categories and features.

This week we will explain the use of features which is the most important concept with is the basis of point 2 and 6 in the above list. What are features? Features are characteristics used to sell and to differentiate products as is stated on the official OFBiz documentation site. We are trying to make the information more and more complete and accept help for users of the system. A small payback for the free OFBiz system you are using? Please send me any contributions you may have...

Back to features: the famous example is a 'T-Shirt' which has 'sizes' and 'colors'. Sizes and colors in the system are feature types. Features are 'brown' or 'white' A feature has always a one feature type and a one feature category. Features can also be part of one or more featureGroups.

Features can be assigned to one or more products using the application type value which can be 'selectable', 'standard' and some other values. 'selectable' means that this feature needs to be selected in order to order this product. Normally the product has more 'selectable' features in the same type, for example different colors in the featureType 'color'.
The 'standard' is used to define the actual feature of the product. If the product is 'white' the feature type 'white' is assigned as a 'standard' feature. No other features in the same featureType color will be assigned in this case.

Next time we will explain the usage of variant, virtual and configurable products and how to decide between them. Not sure if that is in a week time, because we then start the Thailand new year days where we have a big party here. That is also a good time to visit the country if you like throwing water at other people and getting wet yourself.