Introduction 

StrataVAR Partner Quoting Workspace (PqW) allows admin users to define default discounts and margins that are applied automatically when quotes or BoMs are created.

These defaults help:

• Standardise pricing behaviour for your sales teams
• Provide baseline discount/margin assumptions for new quotes
• Reduce manual data entry and pricing errors

Configuration is done from the Configure tab and is available only to users with the appropriate StrataVAR admin permission sets.

Why This Is Needed & Where It Fits in the User Journey

Default discounts and margins:

• Ensure that every new quote starts from a consistent pricing policy
• Make sure that margin targets are visible and aligned with your organisation’s guidelines
• Reduce the need for users to key in starting discounts or margins manually

From a sales user’s perspective:

• When they create a new quote or import a BoM, initial discount and margin values are pre‑filled based on these defaults.
• Users can then adjust line‑level values as required (subject to your approval rules).

From an admin’s perspective:

• You control the starting point for pricing across the organisation.
• You can adjust defaults when policies change, without modifying every product or quote template.

Who Can Configure Default Discounts and Margins

Only users with the appropriate StrataVAR admin permission sets can see and edit these settings in the Configure tab. Examples (your org may use slightly different names):

• StrataVAR Admin
• PqW Configuration Admin

If you do not see the Configure tab or the Discount/Margin configuration tiles, contact your internal Salesforce/PqW administrator.

How to Access Default Discount and Margin Settings

• Log in to your Salesforce / PqW environment.
• Go to the Configure tab- typically found in More dropdown after login.

• This tab is visible only to users with the required admin permission sets.
• On the Configure screen, look for the Discount / Margin configuration tile or section (labels may vary slightly by version).

Step‑by‑Step: Configure Default Discounts and Margins

Step 1 – Open Default Discount / Margin Configuration

From the Configure tab, search or locate sections:

• Default Discounts & Margins
  or
• Discount / Margin Settings

The configuration page shows the fields that can be configured and default values.

Step 2 – Set Global Default Discount and Margin

If your org has a global section:

Default Discount (%)

• A baseline discount applied when no more specific rule applies.
• Example: 0 (no automatic discount), or 10 (10% discount).

Default Margin (%)

• Target or starting margin percentage for new quotes.
• Example: 20 (20% margin).

Enter values that reflect your standard pricing policy for most deals.

Step 3 – Configure Specific Defaults

Depending on your configuration, you may be able to define different discounts and margins by:

• Item Type: For example,  Hardware: Default Margin 15%; Software / Subscription: Default Margin 25%; Services: Default Margin 30%
• Supplier / Manufacturer: For Example, Cisco: Default Discount 20%; Distributor X: Default Discount 5%
• Region / Market: For Example,  US: Margin 20%; EMEA: Margin 18%

For each row or rule:

• Select the applicable dimension (Item Type, Supplier, Region, etc.).
• Enter: Default Discount % (if applicable) and Default Margin % (if applicable)
• Save the row / rule.

PqW will use the most specific matching rule where possible (for example, a supplier‑specific rule over a global rule).

Step 4 – Save Your Changes

After defining or updating your default discount and margin values, click Save (or Save Settings) at the bottom or top of the configuration page. Confirm that:

• No validation errors appear.
• The grid or configuration summary reflects your new values.

Changes apply to newly created quotes / BoMs going forward. Existing quotes may or may not be retroactively affected, depending on your implementation.

What Happens After Defaults Are Configured

When a user creates a new quote, or imports a BoM into a quote, or adds new line items,  PqW will look up the most appropriate default rule:

For example, by Item Type / Supplier / Region if those rules exist, else global.

Apply:

• The default Discount % to the line or header (as implemented).
• The default Margin % as a target/starting value.

Users then see pre‑filled discounts or margins and can modify them, subject to:

• Approval rules
• Margin thresholds
• Any additional validation your org has configured.

Best Practices

• Start conservative: Use conservative default discounts and margins. Sales can request exceptions via approval when necessary.
• Align with finance: Agree on margin bands and discount policies with finance/commercial teams before setting defaults.
• Keep rules simple: Use a small number of well‑understood rules rather than many overlapping ones.
• Document your policy: In your internal wiki or help centre, include a quick reference:
  • “Default Hardware margin = X%”
  • “Default Services margin = Y%”
  • “Cisco standard discount = Z%”

Troubleshooting

• Users don’t see the Configure tab: 
  • Ensure they have the required StrataVAR admin permission set. 
  • Only admins should manage these settings.
• Defaults not applied as expected: 
  • Check if there are more specific rules that override the global defaults (for example, Supplier‑specific rules). 
  • Confirm you clicked Save after making changes.
  • Check whether the quote was created before the change (existing quotes may retain old values).
• Margins look incorrect after a BoM import: 
  Review the following
  • Default Discount and Margin rules
  • Any rules per Item Type or Supplier
  • Additional margin/markup logic specific to your implementation

Conclusion

Configuring default discounts and margins in PqW gives administrators a central way to enforce baseline pricing behaviour for all new quotes and BoMs.

• Access the settings via the Configure tab (admin only).
• Define global defaults and, where available, more specific rules per Item Type, Supplier, or Region.
• Save your configuration and verify the behaviour on new test quotes.