IS nested Characteristics Supported in SOMT

MalayanurKR · ‎01-28-2025

Let me elaborate:

Question1:

Under Product offering say I have A,B,C, D as characteristics.

Can i have x,y,z characteristics nested under my main Characteristic "A"?

Question :2:

I have to pre - sync few billing related characteristics(some may have prices) before commencing of order ? (EPC)

How do I achieve this using which entity?

MC30 · ‎01-28-2025

Hi Malayanur,

Nested characteristics are not natively supported in the standard Product Model data model.

However, you can achieve this functionality using a workaround. Below are the workarounds with pros and cons

Approach	Pros	Cons
Characteristic Groups	OOB, Standard Approach	No strict hierarchy
Dependent Characteristics (Scripted)	Conditional logic	Customization required
Custom Data Model (Parent-Child Relationship)	True hierarchical nesting	High customization effort

For most implementations, Characteristic Groups or Dependent Characteristics via scripting are preferred since they keep the data model aligned with standard ServiceNow practices while achieving the required functionality.

Question -2:

Since you need to pre-sync billing-related characteristics, including those with prices, before the order is connected in an EPC (Enterprise Product Catalog) + SOMT setup, the best way to handle this is through:
1 Product Configuration Item (Product CI)
2 Order Item Dependencies & Pre-Provisioning Flows
3 Service Configuration (Service Configuration Specification)
4 Price Synchronization via TMF Standard APIs (TMF622, TMF637)

The best approach is using Product Configuration Item (Product CI). Below are the implementation Steps:
1 Extend Product Configuration: Add required billing-related characteristics.
2 Create a Business Rule on Order Item: Generate Product CI before order reaches "Connected" state.
3 Use Flow Designer/Workflow: Automate syncing of pricing & billing characteristics before activation.

Please mark this as helpful

If my response helped, please mark it correct.

Regards,

Madhuri

View solution in original post

bmedic · ‎01-30-2025

Hi @MC30 ,

I am reading your post and find it most interesting. It's a similar thing I had to do in one of my projects but could not do in the way you describe. Main, the basic thing I am missing is that I cannot find modules you described:

- Telecom Service Management > Catalog & Order Management > Product Models

- Service Orders > Orders

- CMDB > Product CIs

You might know which plugin I am missing?

Thanks in advance

@StašD0768271011

MC30 · ‎01-30-2025

Hi @bmedic ,

You need to request the app in ServiceNow store in order to use Sales and Order Management (SOM) applications to manage the product sales life cycle in your organization. You can view all the details from the below ServiceNow product documentation:

Sales and Order Management

Please mark this as helpful if my reply helped you.

Regards,

Madhuri

bmedic · ‎01-31-2025

Hi @MC30

I already have the plugin installed, but I still can not find the module you are referring to.

Would you be so kind as to share a print screen with me, print screen of those modules you are talking about?

Thanks in advance!

@StašD0768271011