> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getveles.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Quote Phases
> Structure deals into sequential time periods with distinct pricing, quantities, and terms using Quote Phases.
A Phase is a discrete commitment interval within a deal. Each Phase has an explicit start and end date and represents a contiguous period during which a defined set of commercial terms applies. Phases are how Veles models deals where pricing, quantities, or product mix change over time.
For a simple annual deal, there's a single Phase covering the full term. For a multi-year ramp, there's one Phase per commitment window, each with its own pricing and quantity structure.
***
## Why Phases exist
In many B2B deals, the commercial commitment isn't uniform across the contract term. Common scenarios include:
* **Ramp deals** -- pricing or quantity increases over time (e.g., 50 seats in Year 1, 100 seats in Year 2)
* **Step-up pricing** -- the per-unit rate changes at defined intervals
* **Phased rollouts** -- different products activate at different points in the term
* **Promotional periods** -- discounted pricing for an initial period that reverts to standard rates
Without Phases, you'd need to model these as separate quotes or resort to manual calculations. Phases let you structure the full commitment schedule within a single Pricing Option, with each interval explicitly bounded and priced.
***
## How Phases work
### Structure
Phases are strictly **sequential** and **non-overlapping**. Together they cover the full duration of the commercial commitment from start to end. There are no gaps between Phases and no periods where two Phases overlap.
Each Phase defines:
| Attribute | Description |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Start date** | When this commitment interval begins. |
| **End date** | When this commitment interval ends. The next Phase (if any) starts the following day. |
| **Duration** | The length of the interval (derived from start and end dates). |
### Quote Lines belong to Phases
Quote Lines are always associated with a specific Phase. They do not independently define their own service dates -- instead, they inherit the date boundaries of the Phase they belong to. This ensures that all product-level commitments are explicitly bounded and structurally ordered before the quote is promoted.
A single Phase can contain multiple Quote Lines (different products), and the same product can appear across multiple Phases (with different pricing or quantities in each).
***
## Common patterns
### Single Phase (simple deal)
A straightforward 12-month or 24-month deal with uniform pricing across the entire term.
```text theme={null}
Phase 1: Jan 2026 - Dec 2026
└─ Platform License: 50 seats × $40/user/mo
└─ Premium Support: 10% of recurring
```
Most deals start here. You only need multiple Phases when the commercial terms change over time.
### Multi-year ramp
Pricing or quantity increases at defined annual intervals. Each year is a separate Phase with its own line item configuration.
```text theme={null}
Phase 1: Jan 2026 - Dec 2026 (Year 1)
└─ Platform License: 50 seats × $40/user/mo
Phase 2: Jan 2027 - Dec 2027 (Year 2)
└─ Platform License: 75 seats × $45/user/mo
Phase 3: Jan 2028 - Dec 2028 (Year 3)
└─ Platform License: 100 seats × $50/user/mo
```
The buyer sees the full commitment schedule on the proposal. TCV, Year 1 ARR, and other metrics are calculated across all Phases.
### Step-up pricing
The quantity stays the same, but the per-unit rate changes at defined intervals. Common for deals that offer a promotional rate for the first period.
```text theme={null}
Phase 1: Jan 2026 - Jun 2026 (Promotional)
└─ Platform License: 100 seats × $30/user/mo
Phase 2: Jul 2026 - Dec 2026 (Standard)
└─ Platform License: 100 seats × $50/user/mo
```
### Phased product rollout
Different products activate at different points during the contract.
```text theme={null}
Phase 1: Jan 2026 - Dec 2026 (Core only)
└─ Platform License: 50 seats × $40/user/mo
Phase 2: Jul 2026 - Dec 2026 (Add analytics mid-year)
└─ Analytics Add-on: 50 seats × $15/user/mo
```
Note that Phases for different products can overlap in calendar time as long as the Phase sequence within each Pricing Option is internally consistent.
***
## Building Phases in the Calculator
When you open a [Pricing Option](/get-started/calculator/options) in the Veles Calculator, the Phase structure is managed at the top of the builder alongside the deal's start date, end date, and term length.
For a single-Phase deal, the default configuration is all you need -- one Phase covering the full term. To add additional Phases:
1. Configure the overall deal term (e.g., 3 years).
2. Add a Phase for each commitment interval. Set the start and end dates for each.
3. Within each Phase, add the products and configure quantities, pricing, and discounts specific to that interval.
Veles validates that Phases are sequential and non-overlapping. If you try to create a Phase that gaps or overlaps with another, the system will flag the conflict.
The real-time metrics at the top of the Calculator (TCV, Year 1 Recurring, Year 1 Services) update as you add and modify Phases, so you can see the financial impact of the full commitment schedule as you build it.
***
## Phases through the deal lifecycle
The Phase structure isn't just a quoting convenience -- it carries through the entire deal lifecycle with structural parity at every layer.
### At promotion (Quote → Order)
When a Quote is promoted, each Quote Phase becomes an **Order Phase** with the same service boundaries, and each Quote Line becomes an **Order Line** associated with the corresponding Order Phase.
At this point, the commitment schedule is no longer a modeling construct. The start and end dates become binding execution intervals embedded in the Order. Pricing ceases to be dynamic and becomes authoritative.
### At activation (Order → Contract)
When the Order is activated, each Order Phase produces a **Contract Phase**, and each Order Line produces a **Contract Line**. The Contract now contains the full commitment schedule as durable commercial state.
```text theme={null}
QuotePhase → OrderPhase → ContractPhase
QuoteLine → OrderLine → ContractLine
```
This parity means that nothing is lost in translation between layers. A three-year ramp structured as three Phases on the Quote is represented as three Phases on the Order and three Phases on the Contract. Finance can see exactly what was committed for each interval.
### In amendments
When an amendment Quote references an existing Contract, the amendment can introduce new Phases or modify future Phases without affecting executed ones. Existing Phase segments remain intact -- only future commitment windows are affected.
For example, if a customer on a 3-year ramp wants to add seats starting in Year 2, the amendment creates new or modified Quote Lines in the Year 2 and Year 3 Phases. The Year 1 Phase (already executed) is untouched.
See [Contract Management](/get-started/contract-management/overview) for details on how amendments interact with the Contract.
***
## What's next
Build options with products, discounting, and approval workflows.
Understand the full quote structure: blocks, publishing, and promotion.
How Phases carry through to Contracts and are affected by amendments.
How mid-Phase changes are calculated and applied.