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Administration - Smart Quote / Product

# Configured Line Items vs. SKU Items

Understanding the Two Line‑Item Types Used in Sales Quotes & Sales Orders

Sales Quotes (SQ) and Sales Orders (SO) can contain two fundamentally different types of line items:

  • Configured Line Items — generated by the Configurator, complete with BOM, routing, and configuration metadata.
  • SKU Items — simple catalog items with quantity, price, and minimal metadata.

Although both appear side‑by‑side in a Sales Quote or Sales Order, they serve different purposes, follow different lifecycles, and carry different levels of manufacturing detail.

1. What Is a Configured Line Item?

A Configured Line Item represents a customized product configuration created through the Configurator. It is not a static SKU — it is a fully defined manufacturing package.

Key Characteristics

  • Generated by the Configurator
  • Contains a full BOM
  • Contains a full routing
  • Includes pricing breakdown, attributes, rules
  • Immutable once added to SQ/SO (changes require reconfiguration)

Example Use Cases

  • Custom assemblies
  • Engineered‑to‑order products
  • Configurable kits
  • Products requiring routing or labor steps

Screenshot Placeholder

Configured Line Item Screenshot Placeholder

2. What Is a SKU Item?

A SKU Item is a simple catalog item added directly to a Sales Quote or Sales Order. This can be done directly from a Sales Quote or Sales Order, or can be done through the Configurator.

Key Characteristics

  • Represents a predefined catalog SKU
  • No BOM or routing -- Contains only:
  • SKU
  • Description
  • Quantity
  • Unit price
  • Extended price
  • Ideal for simple add‑ons, consumables, or non‑configurable products

Example Use Cases

  • Spare parts
  • Packaging materials
  • Standard accessories
  • Fees or service charges

Screenshot Placeholder

SKU Item Screenshot Placeholder

3. How They Differ (Side‑by‑Side Comparison)

Feature / Property Configured Line Item SKU Item
Source Configurator Configurator/Catalog
BOM ✔ Included ✘ Not included
Routing ✔ Included ✘ Not included
Manufacturing Detail High None
Use Case Custom/complex products Simple catalog items

4. How Both End Up in a Sales Quote

A Sales Quote can contain a mix of both types:

  • Configured Line Items (brain icon) appear as fully defined product configurations
  • SKU Items (QR code icon) appear as simple quantity‑based entries

Screenshot Placeholder

Sales Quote Mixed Line Items Screenshot Placeholder

5. How Both End Up in a Sales Order

When a Sales Quote is converted to a Sales Order:

  • Configured Line Items (brain icon) are copied as new SO line items with new SO LineItemIDs
  • SKU Items (QR code icon) are copied as simple SO SKU entries
  • Both maintain their original pricing and metadata snapshots
  • Configured items retain their BOM and routing for creation of Production/Work Orders

Screenshot Placeholder

Sales Order Mixed Line Items Screenshot Placeholder

6. Why the Distinction Matters

For Manufacturing

  • Configured items drive production (BOM + routing)
  • SKU items do not require manufacturing detail

For Pricing

  • Configured items may include complex pricing rules
  • SKU items use catalog pricing or pricing set via Rules if the Configurator is used

For Auditability

  • SKU items are static and predictable

For Lifecycle

  • Configured items represent a unique configuration instance
  • SKU items represent a reusable catalog entry

7. Summary

Both line‑item types are essential:

  • Configured Line Items → engineered, rule‑driven, manufacturing‑ready
  • SKU Items → simple, catalog‑based, quantity‑driven

Together, they allow Sales Quotes and Sales Orders to represent everything from complex assemblies to simple consumables in a single, unified document.