Service Packages - Create & Manage

Use Packages to define how you want to sell your services to customers. Each package is defined by its content (services) and its pricing. The Packages page is where you create and manage your service offering which includes bundled service packages, options, devices and service fees (referred to as "package" or collectively "packages").

Packages created in this section can be made available to all value-added-resellers (VARs) or to specific ones. To manage packages available to a specific VAR, go to the VARs page. See Manage VAR Packages for details.

Packages Page

From the Packages page, you can:

  1. Create new packages, options, devices and service fees.
  2. Modify existing packages, options, devices and service fees.
  3. Enable or disable packages, options, devices or service fees.
  4. Replicate packages in order to create similar packages faster.
  5. Organize the display order of packages by priority.
  6. Export the details of your service offering to a CSV or PDF file.
  7. Search, filter and sort the list of packages, options, devices and service fees.

Packages can be made available to all VARs or to specific ones (via the VARs section). In all cases, they must first be created in the Packages page, regardless of their scope.

For information on assigning/unassigning packages to a specific VAR account, see Manage VAR Packages.

Package Management Roles

The right to access and manage service packages depend on the type of administrator in session. See User Types and Permissions for details.

Only administrators can access and manage packages:

  • The System Administrator is the only one that can create and edit packages. The System Administrator is also responsible for selecting and assigning packages to VARs. By default, all packages are available to all VARs.
  • VAR Administrators cannot modify the packages assigned to their account, but can choose how to assign their packages to all or specific customers (company and professional accounts).
  • Company Administrators cannot modify the packages assigned to their account but can select and assign packages to their users (employees).

Interface Overview

The Packages page is accessible from the main menu. It offers 5 tabs:

  • Packages are the service bundles offered as the main subscription packages for companies and professionals.
  • Options are the options that customers can add to their packages (ex: voice access to emails, calendar and contacts, voice alerts, voice-to-text transcription, etc.).
  • Devices are the telephone devices and mobile applications supported by the system.
  • Service Fees are the setup fees charged to customers for specific actions such as the configuration of a virtual receptionist service including phonetic fine-tuning of names in a company directory.
  • Basic Services are the basic service functions that form the content of packages and options. Basic services are the core functionalities granted with each subscription package.

Each package is reserved for use by specific account types:

  • Company package: This package can be assigned to a company to provide general services usually shared by its employees. This includes general services such as virtual receptionist, phone lines, shared long distance units, automatic call distribution (Duty Agent), etc.  See User Types for details.
  • Employee package: This package can be assigned to company employees or members. This user account is created and managed by a Company Administrator. See User Types for details.
  • Professional package: The package can be assigned to a single-user account (professional or independent entrepreneur). This user account is created and managed by the VAR Administrator. See User Types for details.

This page displays a list of all current packages with the following information (some headings are context-specific):

COLUMN HEADING

DESCRIPTION

Checkbox

 Check the box next to one or several items in order to apply certain actions (ex: view properties, export details, etc.)

PID

 This field corresponds to the unique product identification code.

Package

 Displays the name of the package, option, device or service fee. Click this link to modify the package settings.

Pro

 A check mark in this column indicates that the package can be assigned to a Professional account (single-user account).

Biz

 A check mark in this column  indicates that the package can be assigned to a company account (multi-user account).

Emp

 A check mark in this column  indicates that the package can be assigned to an Employee account (member of a Company account).

ETS

 This flag indicates that this package is available only for users of ETS, the built-in phone system managed by the virtual assistant.

Basic Services

 Click the View icon to display the list of basic services included in this package.

3yr

 Displays the monthly subscription fees with a 3-year contract.

2yr

 Displays the monthly subscription fees with a 2-year contract.

1yr

 Displays the monthly subscription fees with a 1-year contract.

Open

 Displays the monthly subscription fees with no contract.

Setup Fees

 Displays the one-time setup fee charged to customers when they subscribe to this package.

Create Packages

To create a new package, option, device or service fee:

  • From the main menu, click Packages.
  • Click the tab corresponding to what you want to create: Packages, Options, Devices or Service Fees.
  • Click the New button. The wizard to create and edit packages starts. 
  • Fill in the fields as required. See Package Settings for details.
  • Click Save to create the new package, option, device or service fee.

​Once you create a package, you can make it available to all VARs or only to some of them. To learn more on how to assign and unassign packages to a VAR, see Manage VAR Packages.

Delete Packages

For billing and archiving purposes, you cannot delete packages but you can make them unavailable for new subscribers. See Enable or Disable Packages for details.

Modify Packages

Modifying the settings of a package will affect its users. Your changes can be applied to the existing package or saved as a new package.

To manage VAR-specific packages, see Manage VAR Packages for details.

To modify a package:

  • From the main menu, click Packages.
  • Click the tab corresponding to what you want to modify: Packages, Options, Devices, or Service Fees.
  • From the list, click the name of the package, option, device or service fee to view and edit its settings. The wizard to create and edit packages starts. 
  • Modify fields as required. See Package Settings for details.
  • Click Save to apply the changes.

Enable or Disable Packages

As a System Administrator, you can disable packages, options, devices and service fees from the list of packages. Disabled packages are not available to VARs. For billing and archiving purposes, disabling existing packages will not affect customers currently using them but future customers will not be offered the disabled packages.

To manage VAR-specific packages, see Manage VAR Packages for details.

To disable a system-wide package, option, device or service fee:

  • From the main menu, click Packages.
  • Click the tab corresponding to what you want to enable or disable: Packages, Options, Devices or Service Fees.
  • Check the box next to the package to enable or disable.
  • Click the Disable button to disable a package, or click the  Enable button to enable it.
  • A confirmation window will open.
  • Click OK to confirm the removal.

Replicate Packages

You can replicate any package to quickly create a new package with similar features.

To replicate a package, option, device or service fee:

  • From the main menu, click Packages.
  • Click the tab corresponding to what you want to replicate: Packages, Options, Devices or Service Fees.
  • Check the box next to the package to replicate.
  • Click the Replicate button.
  • The system will automatically duplicate. The copy of the package has the same properties but its name has a copy number at its end.
  • Modify the package name in English and French as well as all other fields as required. See Package, Options, Device and Service Fee Settings for details.
  • Click Save to create the package.

Assign or Unassign Packages to a VAR

Packages can be assigned or unassigned to specific VARs as needed. VARs can only see and use packages assigned to them.

You can select more than one package then assign or unassign them to a VAR. See Manage VAR Packages, Options, Devices and Service Fees for details. 

To assign or unassign a single package:

  • From the main menu, click Packages.
  • Click the tab corresponding to what you want to assign or unassign: Packages, Options, Devices or Service Fees.
  • From the list, click the name of the package, option, device or service fee to assign or unassign.
  • Click the Reseller tab to view the list of VARs.
  • Check the box of the VAR for which you want to make the package available. Alternatively, uncheck the box to make it unavailable.
  • Click Save to apply the changes.

Display Ranking of Packages

You can determine the display order of packages, options, devices and service fees based on their importance and priority in your sales strategy. This makes it easier for users to identify key packages at various locations on the Web Portal.

To set the display order of packages:

  • From the main menu, click Packages.
  • Click the tab corresponding to what you want to sort: Packages, Options, Devices or Service Fees.
  • Click the Ranking button.
  • From the list, click a package then use the up, down, top and bottom arrows to place the package in the desired position.
  • Click Save to apply the changes.

Package Settings

To access the settings of a package, option, device or service fee, click Packages from the main menu, then select and click on the name of the package. The Package Properties Wizard will allow you to view and edit the package settings.

Target Subscribers

Select the type of subscribers that this package is designed for. Select all options that apply.

  • Individuals: The package will be available to single-user accounts (Professionals). See User Types for details.
  • Companies: The package will be available to multi-user accounts (Companies). See User Types for details.
  • Employees: The package will be available to employee accounts created and managed by a Company Administrator. See User Types for details.

Name

Enter a name in English and French for this package. This is the name that will be displayed on the Web portal, bills and any other communication with customers and resellers.

Description

Enter a description in English and French for this package. This is the description that will be displayed on the Web portal, bills and any other communication with customers and resellers.

Hide this option

Check this option if the package must not be offered for selection by VARs and customers. This is useful for implicitly assigned options, devices or service fees. Phone numbers and office extensions are good examples of hidden options because they get assigned automatically when a new phone number or office extension is added or modified.

Package Type

From the dropdown list, select the type of this package:

  • Package: Select Package for a set of service options bundled together and offered as a main subscription package for a company, an employee or a professional account. Packages are made of service options in single units or multiple instances (quantities). Packages are the main subscription plans for new accounts (companies, employees and professionals).
  • Option: Select Option for a set of basic services bundled together and offered as part of a main package or as a separate subscription option. Options are offered after the selection of the main subscription package.
  • Device: Select Device for a telephone device or software phone. Devices are offered as an option to users with an office extension option.
  • Service Fee: Select Service Fee for a professional service such as configuring the virtual receptionist call flow, the phonetic fine-tuning of names in voice directories, the call distribution of duty agent services, etc.

Package Image

This is the icon that will be displayed to identify this package. Use the dropdown list to select one of the icons already provisioned with the system, or choose your custom icon by clicking the Choose File button. The image file can be of type GIF, PNG or JPG with a maximum size of 100x120 pixels.

Quantities

Check this box if users can have multiple instances of this package. For example, a user can have multiple phone numbers and office extensions but only one option for voice transcription or voice access to emails, calendar and contacts.

Package Content

The package content is where you select the basic services and options to be included in the package. The package content section depends on the package type chosen in the previous step:

  • Package: The package content is made of service options that have already been defined. In the Add column, enter the quantity for each option to be included in the package. Click Details to see the description of the option.
  • Option: The option content is made of basic services. Use the right-arrow to Add basic services to the option and the left-arrow to remove basic services from the option.
  • Device: The device content is the description of the device or software offered: brand name and model, number of lines, remote provisioning capability, etc.
  • Service Fee: The content of a service fee is empty. 

Options Content

When defining the basic services included in an Option, you will be required to select the virtual assistant services (selection boxes in the first row) and the telephony services (selection boxes in the second row) to be included in the new option.

Select the basic services on the left then click the right-arrow to add them to the new option. To remove basic services from the option, select them in the right column then click the left-arrow.

Devices Content

For a Device type package, you will specify if the device is a SIP Phone that can be provisioned and configured remotely for users. If this is the case, click Yes to display device properties such as type (software or hardware), brand and model, supported media (voice, video, fax, SMS), number of lines, number of calls per line, etc.

  • Phone Type: Select the type of phone from the dropdown list
      • Phone: Check this option if the device is a physical telephone device.
      • Softphone: Check this option if the device is a software used on a PC or mobile device.
      • ATA: Check this option if the device is an analog telephone adapter (ATA). Such devices are used to connect traditional analog telephones and fax machines to a SIP extension on a IP PBX.
  • Brand: Enter the brand name of the device.
  • Device Model: Enter the model number of the device.
  • Number of Lines: Enter the number of lines that the device can handle simultaneously.
  • Calls per Line: Enter the number of calls that the device can handle on each line.
  • Device Options: Check all boxes that apply to this new device:
    • Evatel Button: The device has a button that connects directly to the virtual assistant when pressed.
    • Voice Calls: The device can be used to make and receive voice calls.
    • Fax Reception: The device can receive faxes.
    • SMS Text Messages: The device can receive and send text messages.
    • Video Communications: The device supports digital video communications (example: video conferencing).

Pricing  

Enter the one-time prices for devices and service fees or the monthly fees for subscription packages and options that will be charged to users, resellers and distributors for this package, including one-time setup fees and special introductory offers.

  • Direct Customers: Enter the fees that will be charged to end-users (professionals, companies and employees) based on their contract term: no contract, 1-year, 2-year and 3-year contracts. See User Types for details.
  • Resellers: Enter the fees that will be charged to VARs reselling the services and charging their customers directly. The resellers fee is what you the System Administrator bill the VAR. See User Types for details.
  • Promotion: If you wish to setup a introductory offer (e.g. first month free), enter the special monthly amount in Promo Price and the duration of the promo price in the Months field. This field applies only to new subscriptions and only to packages and options.
  • Setup Fee: This is the one-time fee that will be charged when activating a new package, option or device.

Replication

When modifying the features of an existing package, you can choose to apply changes to the existing package or create a copy that includes the changes without affecting the original package.

  • Modify the existing package: This option will apply changes to the existing package, thereby affecting all users who are already using this package.
  • Create a new package: This option will create a new package that includes the new changes and keeps the original one unchanged.

Resellers 

You can choose to make a package, option, device or service fee available only to specific VARs or to all VARS.

To make a package available only to specific VARS, check the box next to the name of the VARs who will have access to this package, option, device or service fee.

To make the package available to all VARS, click the box in the top left column to check all VARs.

Search and Filter Packages

You can quickly find packages either by searching for a keyword or by filtering the list based on the type of package.

Search

From the Packages page, click the tab corresponding to what you want to search for: Packages, Options, Devices or Service Fees.

  • The first row is a search field where you can type a keyword to search for a specific package, option, device or service fee. For example, type "Companies" in the Package column and press enter to view all packages containing the word "Companies". Do not enter the dollar sign (ex: 39.95) when searching for a specific amount in the pricing columns.
  • To remove the search filter, delete the keywords typed in the first row of the table and press enter.

Filter by Package Type

You can filter the list of packages based on the package status (enabled or disabled).

  1. From the Packages page, click the tab corresponding to what you want to search for: Packages, Options, Devices or Service Fees.
  2. Using the dropdown field, select Enabled to view only active packages or select Disabled to view only inactive packages.
  3. Click All to view the full list of packages.

Sort Packages

By default, the Packages page displays the package description in alphabetical order.

You can sort the packages alphabetically or numerically (as per the type of information in the columns) by clicking on any of the column headings. 

Export a List of Packages

You can export the details of one or several packages, options, devices and service fees in CSV format (comma separated file) or PDF. You can export packages one category at a time: packages, options, devices or service fees.

Export to a CSV File

To export packages, options, devices or service fees to a CSV file:

  • From the main menu, click Packages.
  • Click the tab corresponding to what you want to export: Packages, Options, Devices or Service Fees.
  • Select the packages to export:
    • One or several packages: Check the box next to the name of packages to export.
    • All packages: Check the box at the top of the list. All boxes will automatically be checked.
  • Click the  CSV button to open the export window.
  • By default the file is named PackagesView.csv and ready to be saved to a directory on your computer.
    • Change the file name if needed but keep the CSV extension. Example: rename PackagesView.csv to MyPackages.csv.
    • Make sure that you are saving the file to the desired directory.
  • Click Save.

Export to a PDF Document

To export packages, options, devices or service fees to a PDF file:

  • From the main menu, click Packages.
  • Click the tab corresponding to what you want to export: Packages, Options, Devices or Service Fees.
  • Select the packages to export:
    • One or several packages: Check the box next to the name of packages to export.
    • All packages: Check the box at the top of the list. All boxes will automatically be checked.
  • Click the  PDF button to open the export window.
  • The PDF document will automatically open in a new window and be saved to a default directory defined in your computer.