Subscription Start Date Configuration

Introduction

This article guides administrators through configuring the logic for setting Subscription start dates in the Platform. Understanding these configuration options helps ensure accurate Billing Cycle management and proper invoice generation timing. Configuration can be applied at Vendor, Offer type, or Offer levels.

In this article:

• Understanding Subscription start date options
• Subscription Start Date configuration
• Inherit from Invoice configuration
• Subscription Coterm Date configuration
• Subscription Start Date Exact configuration

Understanding Subscription start date options

The Platform allows you to specify how Subscription start dates are calculated, which directly impacts the Billing Cycle and invoice grouping. Four configuration options are available, each designed for specific business scenarios.

Subscription Start Date configuration

The Subscription Start Date option uses the purchase date as the start date, with a special exception for month-end purchases.

When a Subscription is purchased on the 29th, 30th, or 31st of any month, the Platform automatically adjusts the start date to the 1st day of the following month. This standardization simplifies billing management and prevents complications with varying month lengths.

NOTE! If your invoice cycle is set to the 1st and you purchase a Subscription on September 29th, the Subscription will not appear on the October 1st invoice. Instead, it will be included in the November 1st invoice, as the Subscription start date becomes October 1st.

Inherit from Invoice configuration

The Inherit from Invoice option groups subscriptions under invoices based on the Invoice Date cycle.

With this configuration, every Subscription uses the invoice Billing Cycle date as its start date, meaning all subscriptions will have a start date of the 1st of the month. For example, an invoice with a Billing Cycle of September 1st will include all subscriptions from the previous month.

This approach ensures consistent billing alignment across all subscriptions, regardless of their actual purchase date.

Subscription Coterm Date configuration

The Subscription Coterm Date option aligns the new Subscription start date with existing subscriptions from the same Vendor.

This configuration is particularly useful when you want to synchronize multiple subscriptions to renew on the same date, simplifying license management and consolidating Auto-Renewal dates.

Subscription Start Date Exact configuration

The Subscription Start Date Exact option uses the precise purchase date as the start date, including purchases made on the 29th, 30th, or 31st of any month.

Unlike the standard Subscription Start Date configuration, this option does not adjust end-of-month purchases to the 1st of the following month. This provides maximum accuracy for scenarios where exact billing dates are critical.

Summary

The Platform offers four distinct Subscription start date configuration options that can be applied at Vendor, offer type, or Offer levels. Selecting the appropriate configuration ensures accurate Billing Cycle management, proper invoice timing, and alignment with your business requirements. Standard configuration adjusts month-end purchases to the 1st, inherited configuration aligns with invoice cycles, coterm configuration synchronizes with existing subscriptions, and exact configuration maintains precise purchase dates.