What an Order contains
The object model
Orders mirror the same three-level structure as Quotes and Contracts:How an Order is created
Orders are created through promotion — the discrete system event that transitions a Quote from a modeling artifact to an executable transaction. When a Quote is promoted:- The Quote is locked to prevent further modification.
- A new Order is created, linked to the originating Account and (if applicable) an existing Contract.
- Each Quote Phase becomes an Order Phase with the same service boundaries.
- Each Quote Line becomes an Order Line with materialized final values.
- Downstream processes (billing, CRM sync, contract mutation) are enabled.
Order creation vs. activation
These are two distinct events with different downstream effects. Order creation happens when a Quote is promoted. The Order exists but may be in a pending state while additional steps are completed:- Signature confirmation
- Finance approval
- Payment confirmation
- Compliance review
The separation between creation and activation ensures that commercial commitments are not recorded in the Contract until all required confirmations are complete. An Order can sit in pending state for as long as the approval process requires.
Commercial classifications
Every Order has a commercial classification that determines how it affects the associated Contract.New Business
No prior Contract exists. When activated, the Order creates a new Contract. Each Order Line produces Contract Lines that define the initial entitlement: active quantity, contracted price, service boundaries, billing cadence, and renewal behavior.Amendment
The Order references an existing Contract and modifies it incrementally. Amendments can increase or decrease quantities, add new products, adjust service periods, or extend the term. The Contract is not rewritten — it is updated prospectively. Previously contracted pricing is preserved as the baseline. See Contracted price preservation for details on how amendments handle pricing.Renewal
The Order extends or replaces expiring Contract Lines. Renewals may update pricing (with uplift), quantities, or terms while preserving the historical record of prior commitment periods in previous Contract Phases.Cancellation
The Order terminates active Contract Lines. Cancellation Orders record the effective date of termination and any associated financial adjustments.After activation: what each layer is authoritative for
Once an Order is activated and the Contract is updated, each object in the lifecycle serves a specific purpose:
Edits to a Quote after promotion do not cascade to Orders or Contracts. Any changes to an executed commitment require a new Order through the amendment process.
What’s next
Order Phases
Commitment intervals that define when specific commercial terms apply.
Order Lines
The product-level obligations within each Phase: prices, quantities, and billing.
Contract Management
How activated Orders create and mutate Contracts.
Quote Overview
The promotion workflow that creates Orders from Quotes.