Optional Services

Last verified with: 10.8.6.0

Overview #

Optional Services give organizations a flexible way to build packages that can adapt to different customer needs without requiring a new package for every variation.

Instead of creating many near-duplicate packages, a business can define a core package and then allow specific services within that package to be included, added, removed, or scaled by quantity. This creates a cleaner product catalog while still supporting a wide range of commercial offers.

For customers, that means faster packaging changes, easier reuse of services, and more control over how bundles are sold and expanded over time.

What They Are #

Optional Services are reusable services attached to a package that can be configured to:

• be included automatically,
• be optional at the time the package is added,
• be added later,
• be limited by minimum or maximum quantities,
• and begin charging only after an included quantity has been exceeded.

In simple terms, they allow a package to say:

“This package includes these core services, and it can also support additional services or additional quantities of a service when the customer needs them.”

This makes Optional Services useful for both add-on selling and flexible bundle design.

How They Work #

From a business perspective, the model is straightforward:

1. A package is created using reusable services from the product catalog.
2. A service within that package can be configured as optional by controlling how many instances are included by default and how many are allowed overall.
3. When the package is added to an account, the platform can automatically add the default number of those services.
4. Users can then add or remove those services over time, as long as they stay within the configured package rules.
5. Pricing is driven by the service itself, so the same service can be reused across many packages without redefining it each time.

This approach allows one package to support multiple selling patterns while keeping service definitions reusable and consistent.

Why They Matter #

Many businesses want to give customers choice, but too much package duplication quickly becomes hard to manage.

Without Optional Services, teams often end up creating:

• one package for the base offer,
• another package for the same offer plus one add-on,
• another for the same offer plus two add-ons,
• and many more variations for each quantity or inclusion scenario.

That creates catalog bloat, slows product changes, and makes pricing harder to maintain.

Optional Services solve this by separating the reusable service from the package combination. A service can be defined once, then reused across many offers with different package rules. That gives product teams more freedom to build flexible offers without multiplying catalog complexity.

Business Benefits #

Optional Services deliver value in several important ways:

• Greater package flexibility. A single package can support base services, add-ons, and scalable quantities.
• Less catalog bloat. Teams can avoid creating many near-identical package variations.
• Better service reuse. The same service can be used across multiple packages, which improves consistency and reduces maintenance effort.
• Easier pricing control. Included quantities, optional quantities, and chargeable quantities can all be supported within one package design.
• Faster product launches. New offers can often be introduced by reusing existing services and package structures instead of creating entirely new catalog entries.
• Better long-term manageability. Product catalogs stay easier to understand, maintain, and evolve as offerings grow.

Pricing Scenarios #

Optional Services are especially powerful because they support different pricing strategies within the same package framework.

Included Plus Paid Expansion #

A package can include a certain number of services by default, then charge for any additional services after that point.

This is useful when a business wants to offer an attractive base package while still creating natural upgrade paths.

Examples:

• a package includes one mailbox, with additional mailboxes charged separately,
• a telecom plan includes one phone number, with extra numbers available for an added fee,
• a SaaS package includes five users, with additional users billed individually.

Opt-In Add-Ons #

A service can be available in the package but not added automatically.

This is useful when a customer should only pay for a feature if they explicitly choose it.

Examples:

• installation assistance,
• premium support,
• additional reporting modules,
• compliance add-ons,
• or partner pass-through fees.

Opt-Out Charges #

A service can be included by default, while still allowing it to be removed if needed.

This is useful when a charge normally applies but may occasionally be waived as part of a sales or service process.

Examples:

• standard installation fees,
• setup charges,
• onboarding services,
• or activation-related fees.

Scalable Quantity-Based Services #

Some services need to exist many times within the same package.

Optional Services make it possible to support this through reusable service definitions and quantity rules rather than separate package designs.

Examples:

• multiple phone numbers,
• multiple SIMs,
• multiple email addresses,
• multiple seats,
• multiple devices,
• or multiple licensed locations.

Telecom Examples #

Internet Package With Optional Email Accounts #

A telecom provider can offer one broadband package and attach an email service as an Optional Service.

The package might include one email account by default, allow up to fifty total accounts, and begin charging only after the first five.

Benefit:

• The provider avoids creating separate internet packages for one-email, five-email, and ten-email variations.
• Sales teams can tailor the package to the customer.
• Pricing stays clear and scalable as the customer grows.

Voice Package With Additional Phone Numbers #

A voice or UC provider may want a package to include one phone number, while allowing customers to add more as needed.

Optional Services allow those numbers to be added under the same package instead of forcing a new package every time the customer needs another number.

Benefit:

• Supports growth without package replacement.
• Keeps quoting and fulfillment simpler.
• Makes per-number monetization easy to manage.

Flexible Channel Or Feature Bundles #

A provider may offer one core TV, voice, or connectivity package, with optional premium channels, add-on features, or device-related services.

Optional Services allow those extras to be attached to the same package framework rather than maintained as a long list of package variants.

Benefit:

• Reduces catalog complexity.
• Gives customers more choice.
• Helps product teams launch promotions or feature bundles more quickly.

SaaS Examples #

User Or Seat Expansion #

A SaaS business can offer one core subscription package and allow additional seats as Optional Services.

The package might include one user by default, allow expansion up to a high maximum, and start charging after an included quantity.

Benefit:

• Supports land-and-expand selling.
• Lets customers grow without migrating to a different package structure.
• Keeps packaging simple across small, mid-market, and larger customers.

Feature Module Add-Ons #

A software provider may sell a base platform with optional analytics, compliance, workflow, or integration modules.

Optional Services make those modules reusable across multiple package offerings while still allowing each customer to buy only what they need.

Benefit:

• Encourages modular packaging.
• Reduces duplication of nearly identical subscription bundles.
• Makes cross-sell and upsell motions easier.

Included And Paid Resource Allowances #

A SaaS company may include a small number of managed resources in a package, then charge for more once the included quantity is exceeded.

Examples could include:

• projects,
• environments,
• storefronts,
• managed endpoints,
• or connected devices.

Benefit:

• Creates a clear entry-level offer.
• Supports transparent expansion pricing.
• Aligns revenue growth with customer adoption.

Why Customers Value This Capability #

Optional Services are especially valuable for organizations that:

• want flexible packages without an oversized catalog,
• sell both base offers and add-ons,
• need reusable services across multiple packages,
• support included quantities plus overage-style expansion,
• or want product structures that can grow with the customer.

For these businesses, Optional Services are not just a convenience feature. They are a practical way to balance product simplicity with commercial flexibility.

Summary #

Optional Services allow businesses to build packages that are more adaptable, scalable, and easier to manage.

By letting reusable services be included, added, expanded, or monetized within the same package structure, they help organizations:

• reduce catalog bloat,
• support more pricing scenarios,
• reuse services more effectively,
• and give customers more choice without making the catalog harder to manage.

In short, Optional Services turn a package from a fixed bundle into a flexible commercial framework that can support both standard offers and tailored customer needs.