Free trial

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Free trial

A free trial is a promotional period during which a customer can use a product or service without incurring charges. It is typically offered to allow potential customers to experience the product before committing to a paid contract.

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Trial phase

A trial phase in Zenskar is a special type of phase within a contract used to represent a free trial period. During a trial phase, no products or features can be added. It is typically used to delay the start of billing and revenue recognition while still reflecting the overall contract timeline.

When a customer enters into a contract with a trial phase, they will not be billed for the service during the trial period. After the trial phase ends, the customer will move to a paid phase of the contract, based on the plan or products associated with it.

Example: Free trial followed by a paid subscription

During Trial Phase, invoices are not generated. Once the trial period ends, the customer transitions into Phase 1, where billing begins.

Configuring a free trial in Zenskar

Add trial phase

In Zenskar, a free trial is defined within a contract using a predefined trial phase.

1. Create a new contract or open an existing one.

2. In the Summary tab of the Contract Details page, add a trial phase by clicking on the + Add Trial Phase button.

3. Set up the trial phase duration. The system will automatically adjust the start and end dates of the Phase 1.

4. The trial phase appears in the Summary tab of the Contract Details page.

Zenskar automatically transitions the customer from the free trial phase to the paid subscription phase once the trial period expires, ensuring seamless billing without requiring manual intervention.

Edit or delete trial phase

• A trial phase duration can be edited.
• A trial phase can be deleted.

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Note

The system will automatically adjust the duration of Phase 1 to reflect any changes made to the trial phase.

Managing the free trial workflow

Once the free trial period ends, Zenskar ensures the transition to the paid subscription phase is smooth. Customers will receive notifications about the upcoming transition, and the system will automatically begin invoicing based on the terms defined in the paid phase.

Key points:

• Billing pause: No billing occurs during the free trial phase.
• Automatic transition: After the trial ends, billing will commence for the paid phase.
• Revenue recognition: If revenue recognition is required, Zenskar will account for the trial period as part of the overall contract, ensuring proper recognition once the paid phase begins.

Summary

Free trials in Zenskar provide businesses with the ability to offer a no-cost evaluation period for customers. By integrating free trials within the contract phases, businesses can ensure smooth transitions from free access to paid subscriptions while managing billing and revenue recognition automatically.