Gartner defines configure, price and quote (CPQ) applications as software that enables sales organizations to automate and optimize the creation of quotes and capture of orders. A CPQ application is a sales tool that captures the new goods and services a customer wants to buy or the changes a customer wants to make to existing goods and services. While generally focused on assisted sales channels, CPQ capabilities such as product configuration and pricing must be shared with the self-service commerce channel. The new purchases and changes must be priced and a binding contract must be formed with the customer before sending an order to downstream fulfillment systems.
Gartner defines the invoice-to-cash (I2C) applications market as cloud-based applications that enable corporate controllers to automatically manage collections and apply customer payments to invoices. I2C applications typically gather, disseminate, track and analyze data from and to internal and external sources. They make I2C processes more efficient and effective, including managing and monitoring deductions, disputes and credit risk. They also typically can ensure invoices are delivered to customers and that customers have options to pay them. I2C applications enable I2C transaction processing across multiple ERP systems. Organizations use I2C applications to collect and apply customer payments to open invoices, perform credit and collections activities, manage deductions and disputes, and deliver and present invoices to customers for payment. I2C applications are cloud-based tools that provide organizations with a standard way of processing across ERPs, while creating flexibility for buyers in how they receive or access invoices as well as pay and dispute them. I2C applications allow an organization to connect and exchange data with multiple ERP systems and other operational tools, such as customer relationship management tools, as well as with partners such as credit and collections agencies, logistics providers, banks and payment service providers. They use data to determine credit risk, automate collections and cash applications activities as well as help manage the resolution of deductions and disputes. Such activities result in faster collection of cash, improved visibility to cash flow, an improved customer experience and reduced process cost.
A recurring billing application enables organizations to bill customers for one-time, subscription-based and usage-based fees for goods and services. It consumes orders and/or service contracts documenting the goods and services the customer has purchased, periodically generates fixed recurring fees, and ingests and rates product usage data. It issues one-time or periodic roll-up invoices to the customer and collects payments before determining recognizable revenue and posting to an external general ledger. APIs or UI fragments support a self-service billing portal. Modern recurring billing applications are an important customer touchpoint for measuring customer sentiment and for delivering marketing messaging. Recurring billing is mission-critical for invoicing customers and collecting revenue for a business. It ensures billing for all goods and services is aggregated into one periodic invoice to the customer. It enables value-based pricing models that are charged based on actual usage of the service. Payment can be automatically collected by a wide range of payment mechanisms. Dunning workflow optimizes the collection of failed or delinquent payments. Revenue recognition logic ensures adherence to the latest international standards such as IFRS 15 and ASC 606.