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)

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 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.