Two settings in a commission plan decide when commission is calculated and for which records: the trigger and the record selection. Together they make sure commission is worked out at the right moment and only for relevant transactions. They are set in the event configuration step of a plan.
Triggers: When Commission Is Calculated
A trigger decides when the system evaluates records. It is based on events in a module you choose: Quotes, Sales Orders, Purchase Orders, or Invoices.
| Option | What happens | Best when |
|---|
| On create | Commission is calculated when a record is created. | Records are final at the moment they are created, for example generating commission when an invoice is created. |
| On edit | Commission is calculated when an existing record is updated. | Key fields such as amount or status change after creation. |
| On create or edit | Commission is calculated on both. | You want to be sure no eligible transaction is missed. Use with care: frequent updates can trigger several evaluations. |
Record Selection: Which Records Qualify
- All records. Every record in the module is considered. Suits simple plans.
- Conditional selection. Only records meeting criteria you define are considered, giving precise control over eligibility. Conditions use fields from the selected module, for example status equals Closed Won, invoice status equals Paid, or an amount above a set value.
How They Work Together
- A record is created or updated, according to the trigger.
- The system checks whether it meets the conditions.
- If it does, commission is calculated. If not, none is generated.
Behaviour Worth Remembering
- Triggers control timing, not eligibility. Conditions control eligibility, not timing.
- Commission is calculated only when both are satisfied.
- If a record is updated later and then matches the conditions, commission can be calculated at that point.
- If conditions are no longer met afterwards, discrepancy handling rules may apply.
Choosing the Right Setup
- Use On create for finalised records, and On edit when records evolve before becoming eligible.
- Use conditions to avoid calculating commission on incomplete or invalid records.
Choosing the Module
Pick the module based on when a partner's contribution should count as eligible:
- Quotes. To track partner contribution early, before the transaction is finalised.
- Sales Orders or Purchase Orders. When commission should be tied to confirmed, partner-driven transactions.
- Invoices. When commission should be calculated only after revenue is finalised and recognised.
A wording point in Zoho's examples: one example describes commission being calculated when a deal is marked Closed Won, but the trigger modules available are Quotes, Sales Orders, Purchase Orders, and Invoices, not Deals. Read it as an illustration of an on-edit trigger on a status field in whichever of those modules you choose, and check the conditions you can set in your own account.
Need help? 1 Cloud Consultants can help you choose the right trigger module and conditions so commission is only paid on the records you intend.
Book a discovery call with 1 Cloud Consultants.