Commissions Overview

The Softrip Commission screen is designed to allow users to set up commission values that will be paid to contacts that are travel agents.        The commission screen is flexible, giving users the ability to set up multiple commission percentage tiers, associate commission values to different service types, products, suppliers, services, and market codes, and assign booking and departure dates to the commission code.

Open

Not only can users create baseline commission codes in this screen, but the flexibility this screen offers also provides users the option to promote travel to a specific location, to a specific hotel, or during a certain timeframe. 

Below are two scenarios that users can apply when using the Marketing commissions screen to promote their product line.    

Creating New Commissions:

Once the commissions screen is accessed from the Marketing menu, users can begin creating a new commission code by selecting the plus (+) sign.  Here, users will be prompted to create new content within the fields that are displayed at the bottom of the screen.  

Open

Defining the fields: 

Commission Code

The commission code is the naming convention for the commission being created.  This can range anywhere from typing the word "basic," or "advanced," to coding the commission codes as "tier01," and "tier02."

Users can use the same commission code multiple times.  The application does not check for duplicate data which allows users to add multiple layers to the same commission code.   

Currency

If multiple currencies are offered by the business within the Softrip application, then users can set a currency value against the commission.  This commission value will only be applied if a reservation is created in that currency.

Brands

If multiple brands are supported under one Softrip application, then users can either select all brands if the commission percentage applies to all brands, or select the brand the commission code will be associated with.

Sell Method

There are two main types of sell methods supported in Softrip: Web and Call Center.  Users can select either or both of these options when creating a commission.  

If the sell method is set to "web," then the commission will only apply to reservations created online.  If the sell method is set to "call center," then the commission will only apply to reservations created within the call center.

Commission Percentage

The commission percentage is the amount of commission that will be calculated against the services that exist on the reservation.

GST on Commission

The amount of General Sales Tax or Value-Added Tax to be paid on commission.  

Service Types

Users can assign a different commission value to different services that may exist on reservations.

Market Codes

Each company can create market codes under the Product application.  How these market codes are used within each company can vary.

Supplier ID

Commission values can be set against specific suppliers.  Doing this can help organizations run promotional advertisements for specific hotels, sightseeing tour providers, cruises, and more by raising the commission percentage.  

Service ID

By creating a commission value against a specific service ID, users have the capability of paying different commission values for different room categories, different cabins, and more.  

Gateways

The ability to set a value against a gateway is beneficial for users that are offering airfare to their customers on reservations.  By doing this, promotions can be created to push for more travelers out of a certain gateway.  This is particularly helpful if a company has purchased block space on an airline and they need to do a final push to sell additional seats.  

Booking/Departure Date Values

Booking and Departure dates can be applied to commissions.  

Override Caps

Other systems exist within Softrip that allow users to set commission values, such as the pricing profile in Product and under the supplier rates in Product. 

Sell as NET

If "sell as net" is selected, then the actual price of the service will be changed by the commission percentage value entered instead of giving commission. 

Entering information into the fields:

When entering criteria into the available fields while building commissions, users will be able to choose options from a drop-down list, type the information they are looking for, or expand the search box to select from a search grid. 

Example of choosing from a drop-down list:

Example of responsive text options:

Example of expanding the search grid:

Searching for Existing Commissions:

When conducting a search for existing commissions, users can either begin typing their search criteria, expand the search results, or they can choose an option from a list.

Defining the search options

The following search options are available on the Marketing Commissions screen:

Comm Code

• Search by the commission code or "comm code."  The comm. code is the naming convention for the commission tiers.  

Brand

• If there are commission tiers created to support multiple brands and there are multiple brands existing within the application, users can search by the brand name.  This is a drop-down list which will return all brands available within the application.  

Sell Method

• Users can search for commission tiers that apply to reservations that are created online, created through the call center, or both.  

Service Type

• Users can choose service types from a list.  This list will display results for all service types available such as hotels, transfers, sightseeing tours, and more.  

Service ID

• Users can either begin typing in the service ID field to display search results or they can expand the field to open the search grid.  

Results Grid Options

When working within the results grid, there are a variety of different options available to users.  Overall, these options are consistent with the other screens available within the Softrip NEXT application.  

Creating New Data:

• The option to create data can be accomplished by selecting the plus sign icon at the top of the screen.  Review the creating new commissions paragraph for more information.  

Deleting Data:

• Deleting data can be accomplished in one of two ways:

• 1)  Using the trash can icon. 

• 2)  Using the right-click option.

• Deleting data using the trashcan icon will give users the ability to delete multiple rows at one time

• Deleting data using the right click option will give users the ability to delete one row only.

Grouping Data:

• Grouping Data will allow users to group their results by commission code, by brand, or by service type. 

• Using the grouping option will assist users with managing a large amount of data that may exist on the screen.   

• Expanding and collapsing the data that exists on the results grid will give users a cleaner view of the screen.   

Editing data:

• There are multiple options for users to edit existing data.

• The first option is to use the right click option.

  • Using the right click option will allow users to update the fields at the bottom of the screen.

• The second option is to make edits directly into the results grid.  

  • Not all fields can be edited directly on the search grid.

  • All edits will appear in "red" until the changes are saved. 

• The final option is to mass change data.

  • Mass changes are available under any column that displays two arrows on the column header. 

  • Users can mass change data or find and replace data using this option.  

Update Grid Settings:

Users also have the option to customize the order in which the data appears on the results grid.  This option is available on most screens throughout Softrip NEXT.

This option also allows users to reorder the columns per user to ensure the most important column and data per their preference displays first.  Once users access the grid settings, which are available under the user name, and save their changes, the grid will automatically update.  Users will be able to view these settings on the screen each time the screen is accessed in the future.