Evolving from Salesforce CPQ Configuration Attributes to Dynamic Attributes in Salesforce RCA

 

In Salesforce Revenue Cloud Advanced (RCA), dynamic attributes let you add characteristics to products that can directly influence pricing. This makes product configuration flexible and pricing more accurate.
Dynamic attributes in Salesforce RCA give businesses flexibility to adjust pricing based on product features.

Let’s walk through how to set up a dynamic attribute with a paint color example.

Step 1: Create a Picklist

Go to Product Catalog → Attributes → Picklists.

1. Create a new picklist: Name = Product Paint, Data Type = Text, Status = Active

2. Add values: Black (Code: Product Black, Sequence: 1), Red (Code: Product Red, Sequence: 2)

Step 2: Create a New Attribute

1. Go to Attributes → New Attribute

2. Enter details: Name = Product Paint, Data Type = Picklist, Picklist = Product Paint, Required = Yes, Default Value = Black, Status = Active

Step 3: Create a Product Classification

1. Go to Product Classifications → New

2. Enter details: Name, Code, Status = Active

3. Under Attributes tab → Assign → Select Product Paint

Step 4: Link Classification to Product

1. Open your product record

2. Under Classifications, assign the one you created

Step 5: Make Attribute Price Impacting

1. Open the attribute under classification

2. Set Is Price Impacting = True

Step 6: Create Attribute-Based Adjustment

1. Go to Price Management → Price Adjustment Schedules

2. Create a new adjustment: Product = your product, Adjustment Type = One-time, Adjustment Value = -$250 (for Red), Condition = Paint color = Red

Step 7: Test It

1. Go to a Quote

2. Add your product

3. Choose Configure with Instant Pricing

4. Change color to Red

5. Verify price is reduced by $250

Subcategories in Action: A Practical Use Case with Software Licenses

Once you're done setting up catalogs and categories (refer to My previous Blog), you can proceed to create and organize subcategories for better product structure.

Let’s say your company sells enterprise software solutions like CRMs, ERPs, and productivity tools. Under each product line, you offer multiple types of software licenses — Standard, Professional, Enterprise — each with specific configurations, pricing, and features.

 Catalog → Categories → Subcategories 

Example Structure

java

- Software Solutions (Catalog)
  └── CRM Software (Category)
      └── Standard License (Subcategory)
      └── Professional License (Subcategory)
      └── Enterprise License (Subcategory)
  └── ERP Software (Category)
      └── Basic License (Subcategory)
      └── Premium License (Subcategory)

---

 Configuration Steps (With Software License Example)

1. Create or Open a Catalog

Go to App Launcher → Catalogs

• Create a Catalog (e.g., "Software Solutions") if not already created.

2.Create a Top-Level Category

On the catalog record, go to the Categories related list and click New.

Create a new category called “CRM Software”. Leave the parent field blank, as this will be the top-level grouping. You can optionally add a description and set the sort order to control how it appears in the catalog UI.

3.Add Subcategories (Example: Software Licenses)

Next, click the Actions icon (⋮) next to “CRM Software” and choose Add Subcategory.

Now add your first license type — for example, “Standard License”. Enter a short name, optional description, a unique code (e.g., CRM_STD), and set the sort order as 1. Most importantly, check the “Show in Menu” checkbox so that this subcategory appears as a navigational breadcrumb during runtime.

Repeat the same steps to add “Professional License” and “Enterprise License” as subcategories under “CRM Software”, adjusting sort order accordingly.

You’ve now created a meaningful license-tier structure under your CRM product line!

4. Assign Products to Subcategories

Now that subcategories are created, go to App Launcher → Product Specifications.
Open each software license product record.
Scroll to the Catalog Categories related list.
Click New and select the relevant Subcategory.
Save the record to link the product to the correct catalog hierarchy.

From Features to Catalogs: The New Way to Organize Products in Salesforce Revenue Cloud Advanced

When moving from traditional Salesforce CPQ to Revenue Cloud Advanced (RCA), one of the biggest changes you'll see is how products are organized. In CPQ, we use Features and Options to build product bundles. But in RCA, this is replaced by a more modern method using Catalogs and Categories.

In this blog, you’ll learn:

➡️ How to create Catalogs, Categories, and Subcategories

➡️ How to assign Products to these Categories
➡️ How this setup compares to classic Features → Options in Salesforce CPQ

Traditional Salesforce CPQ: Bundles with Features & Options

In Salesforce CPQ, products are grouped using bundles.
Inside a bundle:

• Features → sections inside a product bundle  

  Options → actual products inside those sections

This setup is helpful when a sales rep needs to choose different parts of a product.

Product: Laptop Bundle

   ├── Feature: Accessories

   │    ├── Option: Wireless Mouse

   │    └── Option: Headset

   └── Feature: Protection Plans

        └── Option: Extended Warranty
Product from my org 

Revenue Cloud Advanced: Uses Catalogs & Categories

In Revenue Cloud Advanced, this setup is more like an online shopping experience.

• Products→placed into Catalogs  

  Catalogs→contain Categories  

  Categories→can have Subcategories

This way, users can easily search and filter to find the products they need.

Catalog: Electronics Catalog

   ├── Category: Laptops

   │    ├── Product: Think Book 14

   │    └── Product: HP EliteBook

   ├── Category: Accessories

   │    ├── Product: Wireless Mouse

   │    └── Product: Headset

   └── Category: Warranty Services

        └── Product: Extended Warranty
This is how Product looks when adding to Quote in RCA 

Organize Your Products with Catalogs and Categories

If you're looking to understand how Catalogs and Categories work in Salesforce Revenue Cloud Advanced, I recommend checking out this official Salesforce Help article: 
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=ind.product_catalog_catalogs.htm&language=en_US&type=5

 How to Create a Product in Salesforce Revenue Cloud Advanced (Step-by-Step Guide)

1. Create a Product

(Simple, Bundle, Subscription, etc.

Go to: Product Catalog Management from App launcher→ Products → New

Fill the Fields

→ Enter Product Name
→ Set Active = True
→ Select Product Type: based on use case (Simple, Bundle, Subscription, etc.)
→ (Optional) Enter Display URL, enable Configurable During Sale, etc.

 2. Assign Product Selling Model

→ Go to Related → Product Selling Model
→ Click New
→ Choose Selling Model: One-Time, Subscription, or Evergreen
→ If Subscription or Evergreen:
  - Set Term Unit (e.g., Monthly/Yearly)
  - Select Proration Policy (if required)

→ Click Save

3. Assign to Price Book

→ Go to Related → Price Book Entries
→ Click New
→ Select Price Book (Standard or custom)
→ Enter List Price
→ Choose Currency
→ Select Selling Model (same as Step 2)

→ Click Save

4. Add Product to a Catalog Category

• → Go to PCM → Catalogs → Select any Catalog
  → Open a Category → Go to Related → Assigned Products
  → Click Add → Select the created product
  → Click Save
  Note: Category makes the product discoverable in "Browse Catalog" during quoting

  
  
  
  
  
  

  5. Sync Pricing Data

  → Go to Setup → Salesforce Pricing Setup
  → Click Sync
  → This syncs the product, selling models, and price book entries to decision tables used during quoting

• 

• •  6. Refresh Decision Tables

    → Go to Setup → Decision Tables
    → Refresh the following tables:
      - Price Book Entries
      - Selling Models
      - Qualification / Disqualification (only if using guided selling or dynamic behavior)
    Note: This updates the Salesforce Pricing Engine with your latest product setup

    ---

    7. Refresh Build Index

    → Go to App Launcher → Product Catalog Management (PCM)
    → Click the Gear icon or PCM Settings (based on your UI)
    → Select Build Index
    → Wait for indexing to complete

    
    
    
    
    
    

     8. Create and Test a Quote

    → Go to Quotes → New
    → Enter required details: Quote Name, Account, Start Date, etc.
    → Click Save
    → Click Browse Catalog
    → Choose the appropriate Price Book
    → Find your product → Add it → Save

    • 
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      That’s it! You’ve now successfully created a product in Salesforce Revenue Cloud Advanced and made it available in the Quote.
      
      

 

📘 Intro

Start your Salesforce Revenue Cloud practice with a free org from Trailhead.
Use the link below to launch an org that has Revenue Cloud features pre-enabled.

🔗 https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/promo/orgs/transaction-management-with-revenue-cloud

⚙️ Enable Revenue Cloud Settings

From Setup, in the Quick Find box, enter Revenue Settings, and open the Revenue Settings page.

Ensure the following checkboxes are selected:

➤ Enable Revenue Cloud Features
➤ Enable Salesforce Pricing for this org
➤ Configure Products at Runtime (Product Configurator)
➤ Add Estimated Taxes to Quotes and Orders (if required)
➤ Enable Ramp Deals
➤ Enable Groups in Quotes and Orders
➤ As-Is Renewals

Revenue Cloud Permission Set Licenses 

You need to assign the following Permission Set Licenses to the System Admin user (yourself):

➤ OmniStudio
➤ Fulfillment User PSL
➤ Salesforce Pricing Design Time
➤ Data Pipelines Base User
➤ DocGen Designer
➤ Clause Management User
➤ Data Processing Engine PSL
➤ Contract LifeCycle Management User
➤ Business Rules Engine Runtime
➤ Obligation Management User
➤ Microsoft Word 365
➤ Usage Management Design Time
➤ Revenue Cloud User
➤ Rate Management Run Time
➤ Document Builder User
➤ Product Discovery User
➤ Wallet Management User
➤ Business Rules Engine Designer
➤ Product Catalog Management Administrator
➤ Product Catalog Management Viewer
➤ Product Configuration User
➤ Billing
➤ Usage Management Run Time
➤ Decimal Quantity DesignTime User
➤ Rate Management Design Time
➤ Decimal Quantity Runtime User
➤ Salesforce Pricing Run Time

🔍 Note:

Most Trailhead-based Revenue Cloud orgs already have many of these assigned to the System Administrator user.

Revenue Cloud Permission Sets

Assign the following Revenue Cloud Permission Sets to the System Admin (You):

➤ AnalyticsStoreUser
➤ BREDesigner
➤ BRERuntime
➤ CLMAdminUser
➤ CLMRuntimeUser
➤ ClauseDesigner
➤ ClauseUser
➤ CorePricingAdmin
➤ CorePricingDesignTimeUser
➤ CorePricingManager
➤ CorePricingRunTimeUser
➤ DFODesignerUser
➤ DFOManagerOperatorUser
➤ DROOrderSubmitInitiateUser
➤ DataProcessingEngineUser
➤ DfoAdminUser
➤ DocGenDesigner
➤ DocGenUser
➤ DocumentBuilderUser
➤ ObligationAssignee
➤ ObligationManager
➤ ObligationUser
➤ OmniStudioAdmin
➤ OrderSubmitUser
➤ ProductDiscoveryAdmin
➤ ProductDiscoveryUser
➤ RatingAdmin
➤ RatingDesignTimeUser
➤ RatingManager
➤ RatingRunTimeUser
➤ UsageManagementDesigner
➤ UsageManagementRunTimeUser
➤ WalletManagementUser
➤ DecimalQuantityDesigntime
➤ DecimalQuantityRuntime
➤ ProductCatalogManagementAdministrator
➤ ProductCatalogManagementViewer
➤ RevLifecycleManagementUsageDesignUser
➤ RevenueLifecycleManagementBillingAdmin
➤ RevenueLifecycleManagementBillingCreateInvoiceFromBillingScheduleApi
➤ RevenueLifecycleManagementBillingOperations
➤ RevenueLifecycleManagementBillingTaxAdmin
➤ RevenueLifecycleManagementBillingVoidPostedInvoiceApi
➤ RevenueLifecycleManagementCreateBillingScheduleFromBillingTransactionApi
➤ RevLifecycleManagementCalculatePricesApi
➤ RevLifecycleManagementCalculateTaxesApi
➤ RevLifecycleManagementCoreCPQAssetization
➤ RevLifecycleManagementCreateContractApi
➤ RevLifecycleManagementInitiateAmendmentApi
➤ RevLifecycleManagementInitiateCancellationApi
➤ RevLifecycleManagementInitiateRenewalApi
➤ RevLifecycleManagementPlaceOrderApi
➤ RevLifecycleManagementProductAndPriceConfigurationApi
➤ RevLifecycleManagementProductImportApi
➤ RevLifecycleManagementTaxConfiguration
➤ RevLifecycleManagementCreateOrderFromQuote
➤ RevLifecycleManagementQuotePricesTaxes

🎉🎯 Yay! Your Revenue Cloud org is ready now

Revolutionizing Revenue with RCA: A New Era in Salesforce

 RCA redefines how quoting, products, contracts, and orders work — all using standard Salesforce objects for a smoother, scalable experience.

No more bulky customizations — RCA brings a sleek Transaction Line Editor, logic-driven guided selling, and streamlined contract workflows.
Admins love the flexibility: configure dynamic products, manage assets/subscriptions in one place, and use OmniStudio for powerful UI flows.
Unlike CPQ’s rigid structures, RCA is built for speed, simplicity, and modern revenue operations.
It’s not just an upgrade — it’s the smarter, future-ready evolution of CPQ.