Operate > WebSphere Commerce Accelerator > Promotions
Promotion evaluation sequence
When you define multiple promotions for the store, you increase the possibility that a customer can qualify for promotions that should not be considered together.
To reduce the chances that a conflict could arise, promotions are evaluated according to a generated sequence.
This promotion evaluation sequence is created by the WebSphere Commerce Server, based on the following criteria:
- Redeemed coupon promotions are listed first. If two or more coupons are redeemed, but belong to different promotion groups, the groups are considered, and they are added to the list in the following sequence: product level promotions, order level promotions, and then shipping promotions. If the two promotions belong to the same group, the promotion with the highest priority takes precedence. If the two promotions have the same priority, and belong to the same group, they are considered interchangeable, and will be evaluated in random sequence.
- Any promotion for which a promotion code is entered is then added to the list. If two or more promotion codes are entered, but belong to different promotion groups, the groups are considered, and they are added to the list in the following sequence: product level promotions, order level promotions, and then shipping promotions. If the two promotions belong to the same group, the promotion with the highest priority takes precedence. If the two promotions have the same priority, and belong to the same group, they are considered interchangeable, and will be evaluated in random sequence.
- Promotions from the product level promotion group are added to the list, in priority sequence.
- Promotions from the order level promotion group are added to the list, in priority sequence.
- Promotions from the shipping promotion group are added to the list, in priority sequence.
Promotion policies
Promotion policies determine whether a conflict situation will arise when a particular promotion is applied in addition to any previously applied promotions. If no conflict is detected, this promotion is added to the list of applicable promotions; otherwise it is eliminated and will not be applied to the order.
Policies are the business rules on how to eliminate similar promotions for the same order or same product. Policies are preconfigured for each store. Policies can be optionally associated with one or more promotion groups. If a policy is not associated with a promotion group, it is considered a global policy which applies to all promotions. If a policy is associated with a promotion group, it is considered a local policy, and applies only to those promotions in the group to which this policy is associated.
WebSphere Commerce includes the following policies:
- Enforces that each unit of each order item cannot be used more than once to qualified for a given promotion.
- Enforces the exclusiveness of promotions at a global level, so that they cannot be combined with any other promotions.
- Enforces the exclusiveness of promotions at a group level, so that they cannot be combined with any other promotions.
- Enforces that no promotion results in an order total being sold at a negative price.
- Enforces that only one order level promotion can be applied to a particular order. However, the same promotion could be applied to multiple orders.
- Enforces defined promotion application limits.
- Optional policy used to enforce compatibility with previous versions, if required. This policy is similar in the behavior as demonstrated by order level promotion in V5.5, which specified that each order item cannot be used more than once to qualify for a given promotion. The difference between this and the first policy is illustrated by the following example: If a customer buys five pairs of pants, and you have a promotion which gives a free gift for every three pair purchased, the current version will still consider the remaining two pairs of pants for other promotions. The policy of backward compatibility with previous versions removes the remaining two pair from consideration for other promotions.
By default, WebSphere Commerce associates the policies to the promotion groups...
- Global Policies: 2 and 7
- Order Level Promotions: 5 and 6
- Product Level Promotions: 1, 3, and 6
- Ship Promotions: 1, 3, and 6
At the end of this process, no promotions have been evaluated. This only generates a list. The promotion engine takes this list, and then begins evaluating each promotion in order. If a promotion qualifies, the promotion engine then evaluates any promotion policies that can apply. This includes all of the global promotion policies, and the group level promotion polices for the group to which the qualified promotion belongs. When a promotion policy is evaluated, it can disqualify promotions that have yet to be evaluated, which are then skipped as the promotion engine continues through the generated promotion evaluation sequence.
Example
Consider a store that has the following promotions:
- A product level promotion, using a promotion code, that discounts the price of a pair of pants from $30, to $25. This promotion is exclusive within its group, and has a maximum redemption limit of once per order.
- A product level promotion that offers a free t-shirt to any customer that buys a sweater which costs $50 or more. This promotion is globally exclusive.
- An order level coupon promotion that offers a 5% discount to orders by customers who are senior citizens. This promotion is globally exclusive.
- A shipping promotion that offers reduced shipping to customers that order $100 worth of clothes. By definition, this promotion is exclusive within its group.
If a customer adds two pair of pants, and a qualifying sweater to their shopping cart, and enters the promotion code corresponding to the first promotion, the promotion is added to the promotion evaluation sequence first. Once the promotion engine evaluates the promotion, and discounts the price, the promotion engine then evaluates the defined policies. The second pair of pants does not qualify for the first promotion because that promotion can only be applied to the order once. As a result of the promotion being exclusive within its group, the second promotion is disqualified by the Group level exclusivity policy. The third promotion is evaluated, but it does not quality because the customer has not redeemed a coupon. The fourth promotion is evaluated, and does apply. Even though the one pair of pants has already participated in a promotion, its value still contributes to the order total, which in this case exceeds the $100 requirement.
Suppose this same customer then redeems a coupon, corresponding to the third promotion. Prior to checkout, the promotion engine will regenerate the promotion evaluation sequence, placing the coupon promotion in the list first. When this promotion is applied the order is reduced by 5%, and the policies are subsequently evaluated. As a result of the third promotion being globally exclusive, the remaining promotions are automatically disqualified, and not evaluated.
For an example of how the promotion evaluation sequence can be changed, see to Consumer direct sample store: Hints and tips.
Related concepts
Related tasks
Activating or deactivating a promotion