Tip #2 - Cancellation of Offline Subscriptions based on the Expected Payment Date

Hello everyone,

As you all know, we are coming up with a custom function workflow every week to address specific business scenarios. In continuation of this previous blog, this week we will be seeing about Cancellation of Offline Subscriptions based on the Expected Payment Date.

Business Scenario:

In general, for any business, the customers make payments via online as well as offline. In case of subscription where the automatic collection of charge is enabled (aka online subscription), the customer's card on file will be automatically charged on the renewal date on a regular basis. If for some reason the collection of charge fails on renewal, the Retry Settings (Dunning Settings) will handle the payment collection and sending notification reminders on specified intervals. Upon failure of all the retry attempts, the system will automatically cancel that subscription.

Whereas in the subscription for which the payment is made via cash (or) check, the business (sales) person collects the payment and record it manually into the billing system. There can be situations where even after multiple reminders and personal follow-ups by the salesperson, the customer might not have still paid for the invoice. In such cases, to avoid churn and to keep the cash flow coming, there can be a negotiation between the salesperson and the customer to collect the payment before a final date. This final date can be marked as the Expected Payment Date in that particular invoice.

In most of these scenarios, the customers will usually pay within the expected payment date which was previously agreed upon. However, if the customer fails to do so, the salesperson might have to cancel their subscription manually as there is no business value associated with it. 

Now, let's see how we can automate this process without any manual work. By doing this, you could save a significant amount of time which can be put into developing your business.

Logic Explanation:

As you would have guessed by now, we would be using our Custom Function Workflow to achieve this. Since this scenario involves date based actions, we will be using Date based Workflow. The Date based workflow is something that can be configured to run after a particular date and at a particular time depending on our requirement.

Now, if you were wondering how to configure the custom function to automate our process, please find the answers to your questions below.

What type of Workflow is to be followed?
Date Based Workflow

When is the date of execution?
1 day(s) after the Expected Payment Date.

Are there any additional filters required?

Yes. Execute this workflow only for unpaid invoices.

So to summarize, this custom function should be set to run exactly one day after the expected payment date for the unpaid invoices. After configuring this custom function, you would have to code (the functionality) in such a way that the subscription associated with the invoice is cancelled immediately.

Please be informed that this custom function workflow will work only on the invoices which are created after configuring this custom function.

Code Explanation:

You can refer the code through this GitHub link. The code is written in Deluge script, which is easily understandable to non-programmers. 

1) This snippet of code will be executed only for invoices which are unpaid even after the expected payment date. Kindly replace the "authtoken variable" with your generated authtoken.

2) Initially, we will retrieve the Subscription that is associated with that particular invoice.

3) After retrieving the associated subscription, we will be cancelling it by using the Cancel Subscription API.

Getting started with the Custom Functions: 

1. Go to Settings -> Automation -> Custom Functions.

2. Create a new Custom function. Provide a name for the function. 

3. Choose the module as 'Invoice' and click on 'Create Custom Events'. 

4. Choose Date Based workflow type and Date of Execution as 1 day(s) after Expected Payment Date. You can also set a different Execution Time based on your requirement.

5. In order to run the function for unpaid invoices, Apply Advanced Filter as When Status isn't Paid. 

6. Copy the code which was given above.

7. Save the Custom function and you are good to go.

Further Enhancements:

1)  While using this custom function, there might be a scenario where you would like to exclude a few of your prime customers' subscription from being cancelled automatically without your consent. In order to do this, you can add a Custom Field of type CheckBox to the Subscription. 

While creating a subscription, you can leave this CheckBox marked (or) unmarked in order to differentiate your prime customers from others. Later, you can add this custom field in the Addition Criteria of your workflow, such that the workflow is executed only for your non-prime customers.

Please refer the below image for your reference, where the CheckBox custom field is named as "Cancel subscription automatically?".

2) When the subscription is cancelled, the last renewed invoice will still be in open status. If you would like to void that invoice before cancelling the subscription, you can modify the workflow to address that need. 

Found this useful? Try it out and let us know how it works! If you have questions, do not hesitate to ask!

Cheers,

Sasidaran K,

Zoho Subscriptions.

• Topic Participants

• Sasidaran K

  

• Justin Ferriman

• Sasidaran Kumar

  

• 693923671@zohoclosedAccount.com

• bilbox

• Sticky Posts

• Tip #4 : Refer and Earn Workflow system for your Subscription Business

  Hello everyone, We've been coming up with a tip every week to address specific business scenarios which can be implemented for your business. In continuation to the previous post, this week we will be seeing about how you can implement the Refer and Earn Workflow system to acquire more customers. Why are Referrals important? Customer Acquisition is crucial for any business to sustain itself in a constantly evolving market. It involves persuading new consumers to purchase your products. Customers

• Tip #2 - Cancellation of Offline Subscriptions based on the Expected Payment Date

  Hello everyone, As you all know, we are coming up with a custom function workflow every week to address specific business scenarios. In continuation of this previous blog, this week we will be seeing about Cancellation of Offline Subscriptions based on the Expected Payment Date. Business Scenario: In general, for any business, the customers make payments via online as well as offline. In case of subscription where the automatic collection of charge is enabled (aka online subscription), the customer's

• Tip #3 : Send SMS Reminders for your Subscription Business

  Hello everyone, As you all know, we are coming up with a tip every week to address specific business scenarios. In continuation to the previous blog, this week we will be seeing how you can use SMS reminders for your Subscription Business. Using SMS messages for your Subscription Business: While managing your subscription business, more often than not, you need to keep your customers informed about upcoming renewals, payment reminders and cancellations. By keeping them informed in advance, you can

• Tips And Tricks - Announcement

  Hello everyone, Every business is unique and each of them follows a specific workflow. While managing your customers' subscriptions with Zoho, you might have some needs unique to your business. Custom Functions helps you address such needs. This is a start to a series of posts, where we will be coming up with a custom function workflow every week that addresses specific business scenarios. Watch this space for further updates! Also, if you have any specific business scenario which needs to be addressed,

• Tip #6 : Accessing external URLs from Zoho Subscriptions

  Hello everyone, We have been sharing a tip every week to address specific business scenarios which you can implement for your subscription business. Last week, we shared a tip about implementing the Approval Workflow system. This week, let's look at how you can access external URLs with the help of Custom Link. Business Scenario: Every business functions differently and has its unique requirements. At times, businesses might want to access other websites or applications by appending specific information

• Recent Topics

• Unable to Access Admin Console and Email Sending Issues

  Hello Zoho Support Team and Community, I hope this post finds you well. I am currently facing two significant issues with Zoho services: Admin Console Access Issue: Every time I try to access the Zoho Admin Console, it gets stuck on the loading screen

• Tracking new lead response time

  Hi, I have a team of Sales Development Reps, who have a KPI of responding to a lead within 20 mins or less once it hits the system.  I seem to recall that Zoho CRM had the capability to track this in a previous version, but don't see it anywhere.   It's

• Getting The Following Error.. 550 5.4.6 Unusual sending activity detected

  I just launched a marketing campaign and I got this error. Everything was working fine previously. This is a big launch so need to fix it asap. Can anyone help?

• Printing on 80mm bluetooth Pos Printer

  Hello. I am trying to print receipts and invoices using my 80mm bluetooth connectivity Pos printer. I have configured the Templates to Retail so that it matches the paper width of the Pos printer. However, when I click Print in zoho, first it opens the

• Trying to integrate gmail but google keeps blocking Zoho access for integration??

  hi i am trying to integrate a gmail account so can track/access business emails this way. I have followed the instructions but after selecting my email account it gets re-routed to this message (screengrab below) Can anyone advise a way around this or

• Which attribute in Zoho books invoice api represent branch attached to the invoice?

  Hi Zoho Team, We have done the integration with Zoho Books API. While fetching data from Invoice API we want to get branch value attached to the invoice. We could not figure out which field in "Get an Invoice" api represents branch value attribute. Thanks

• How to Billed from two different GST Numbers

  How to Billed from two different GST Numbers. Suppose ABC & Co had GST registration in Delhi and Haryana and Zoho account is created with Delhi GST Registration number. Now i also want to issue invoice from Haryana GST Registration number. How can i proceed ?

• How to hide Predefined views

  Hi, I would like to know how to hide: Predefined views and Recent views or some records from this list. If I'm using it form iPad I have to scroll to see User created views. Or maybe it's possibility to move User created views on the top. All the best,

• Deleting Views

  How do you delete views? Please syd

• Fixed Assets

  Where would I manage my fixed assets

• Report on Assets

  Hi,  Is it possible to report purchased assets on a specific year? The Balance Sheet shows everything up to the current date, and the expense reports will not show purchased assets because they are assets not expenses. If it is not possible, then is it possible to setup an API connection with Books to extract data from to another Reporting application?

• Purchase of Fixed Assets

  How can I record the purchase of assets using zoho books? For example, I purchased 4 laptop for 100000 $ each and paid it through my bank account. How can I record this transaction and maintain track of how much of the assets I bought?

• Where is the Fixed Asset Register?

  I am a Zoho One user for 18 months, using invoicing and CRM and now ready to migrate my books to Zoho Books. Where do I keep the fixed asset register for the equipment that I use in my business? I have a service based business with a lot of gear and business

• Kaizen #168 - Incremental Authorization

  Welcome to this week's post in the Kaizen series. In this post, we will discuss Incremental Authorization. What is Incremental Authorization? Incremental Authorization is an OAuth strategy that allows a client to request specific authorization scopes

• Configure Notes Title for Blueprint Transition

  It'd be very helpful to be able to configure note titles on blueprint transitions when requiring notes. This would help tie back the history of notes to the blueprint actions. We have some approval processes in our blueprint and require notes for the

• An update to improve email delivery | Email Authentication & Relay

  Dear Zoho Recruit Community, We hope this message finds you well. This post is to inform you about an important update regarding the authentication of all email domains in your Zoho Recruit account. Effective 31st December, 2024, emails sent using email

• Stop adding Default ID column to xls exports

  When anything is exported to xls, Zoho adds a column with an ID.  WE DO NOT WANT THIS COLUMN.  We use an automated report to a team.  We have our own tracking number.  1. This makes the report messy, it just pushes OUR data off to the right.  2. We have

• Zoho cases and remote work api

  How to use zoho cases listing api? When i try to hit the endpoint specified in the docs , i get the error : the page you are looking for does not exist with a 401.

• Calendly does not show scheduled Meetings

  I use Calendly as my standard booking tool, but no matter what I am doing, Calendly shows any appointment as free (when in fact there already is an appointment in CRM Calendar or Zoho Calendar). Drives me nuts - cannot go away from Calendly due to various

• I want the currency in my account to be Mexican pesos.

  Hello, I am a Mexican citizen and live in Ukraine. When I registered to your system, it was seen that I was from Ukraine, so the default currency is Euro. This is causing me a problem. Please change the standard currency in my account to Mexican Pes

• Year-End Wrap: Don't rewrite - Switch to Email Templates

  As we're half-way through December, now is the perfect time to start sending out festive greetings. Whether it is to your clients or your team, it is important that every mail is tailored to the recipient and feels genuine, which allows you to make better

• Elevating Email Security on Zoho Desk: DKIM Now Mandatory

  Hello Zoho Desk Users! It has been a wonderful journey with you on Zoho Desk. As we prepare to welcome 2025, we are strengthening our efforts to ensure a secure and seamless experience for you. To enhance email security, DKIM configuration will be mandatory

• How to view shared mailbox in Outlook

  How to view shared mailbox in Outlook or in another software

• Necesito el código ZB para mi cuenta

  Hice cambio de servidor y no encuentro el codigo unico de cname.

• Privacy error

  Privacy error on Chrome for all embedded forms and reports, this is a huge issue: "Your connection is not private Attackers might be trying to steal your information from creator.zohopublic.com (for example, passwords, messages, or credit cards). NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID"

• Automate Backups

  This is a feature request. Consider adding an auto backup feature. Where when you turn it on, it will auto backup on the 15-day schedule. For additional consideration, allow for the export of module data via API calls. Thank you for your consideration.

• Customise Search Bar in CRM

  Is there a way to customise this search bar in the CRM to add fields?

• Counting downloads of a file

  Hello Could anyone help me, I would like to use a custom script to count how many times a file contained in a record has been downloaded. Is that something that is possible in Creator? Thanks Estelle

• Is there any way to prevent emails from being sent from zoho crm without pressing email opt out?

  When I left my desk yesterday I excitedly thought I had fixed my problem, by making use of the "Inactive" field ... However after contacting the support chat, they have advised to stop emails being sent I need to update the "Email Opt Out" field - which

• New Search Function

  Hey Team, The search function updated in our CRM about a week ago, so I assume it was an automated update across Zoho. It no longer displays leads/deals etc in Chronological order so that the most recently created or updated is the first to display which

• New permissions for accessing emails sent via Zoho CRM

  Last modified on Nov 4, 2024: Permissions for accessing emails sent via Zoho CRM have now been extended to the IN DC. With this rollout, the feature is now available to all users across all DCs. Resources: Data sharing for emails, Configuring email compose

• is it possible to add more than one Whatsapp Phone Number to be integrated to Zoho CRM?

  so I have successfully added one Whatsapp number like this from this User Interface it seems I can't add a new Whatsapp Number. I need to add a new Whatsapp Number so I can control the lead assignment if a chat sent to Whatsapp Phone Number 1 then assign

• Request for Alerts on Workflow and Function Changes.

  I want to get an alert whenever a new workflow or function is added or an existing workflow or function is edited. Is there any way to do that? I need to log all changes whenever updates are made or new ones are added.

• Transfer Amount from One Vendor to Another Vendor

  One of the vendors, who has a balance with us, has closed the business and has started a new business; Now he wants me to transfer the outstanding from the old account to the new Vendor Account. I am trying to do this using Payment Settlement a/c, But

• How to make Branch compulsory in Zoho Books invoice?

  How I make Branches compulsory in Zoho Books invoice?

• Regarding GST Report Issue in Zoho Books

  Hi, Right now, the very important point from my end is this Zoho Books issue. Here, you can see that we have created the invoice with the items of account sales and expenses. The journal is also correct. The profit and Loss statement is also correct.

• Default Ship To Address on Purchase Orders cannot be different than Organization Address

  Our organization address is not where we want shipments delivered, it is just a mailing address. We would like to change the Ship To address on our PO's so that by default it is our warehouse (not the mailing address). I understand that when creating

• Function #57: Automatically group items in invoices based on categories

  Hello everyone, and welcome back to our series! As a business expands and new product lines are launched, it becomes important to organize the items for better inventory management. The Category field in Zoho Books helps here by allowing you to add and

• Differences between Zoho Books and Zoho Billing

  Without a long drawn out process to compare these. If you were looking at these Books and Billing, what made you opt for one and not the other. Thanks

• unable to import transactions into zoho books

  I download a csv with separate columns for deposit and withdraw. The sample has zero's in the blank spaces so I ensure mine does too. When I try to import it says the fields must have values greater than zero.

• Next Page