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Best practices for renewing subscriptions

Discover tips and best practices for managing your subscriptions in WorldShare Acquisitions.

 Learn more in a Community Center presentation: WorldShare Acquisitions Best Practices: Renewing subscriptions (Requires Community Center login)

Overview

In WorldShare Acquisitions you can renew subscriptions that you would like to continue receiving. The recommended method of renewing is by using the Renewal List functionality. Renewal lists allow you to renew order items from multiple vendors and on multiple pages at one time. Renewal lists also allow you to use the payment price as the basis of the new price for a renewed subscription item. Although there is currently no way to automate renewals in WorldShare Acquisitions, the renewal list functionality helps to streamline manual renewing.

You can renew up to 3,000 order items at a time using a renewal list.  A subscription is an order for an item that is published in an ongoing manner (no end date) but typically purchased by period. It usually requires renewal by the purchaser at the end of the period.

Important information about the Renewal List functionality

  • Renewal by renewal list creates a new order and order items for the new year's subscriptions, and links the old order items to the new order items
  • Set the Renewal Setting of any subscriptions that you plan to cancel to:
    • Do Not Renew (Cancelled) - if you have made the decision to cancel
    • Do Not Renew (Waiting for Review) - if you are considering whether to renew or not

When to renew subscriptions

When you choose to renew subscriptions, and how frequently, may depend on the needs and processes of your library.

  • If your library makes renewal decisions once per year (e.g. during a budget planning period), you can renew everything at once by using the All Filtered Order Items option when sending to a renewal list. For more information, see Add order items to a renewal list.
  • If your library makes renewal decisions more frequently throughout the year (e.g. twice per year, or monthly when subscriptions are about to expire), you can renew as you go.

 Note: You can also renew subscriptions using a simple bulk method that only allows for items to be renewed in bulk if they are from the same vendor and budget period. For more information about that method, see Renew subscriptions

Add order items to a renewal list

  1. On the left navigation, click Orders > Order Items.
    Or
    On the left navigation, click Orders > Subscription Items.
  2. Click Filters (at the top right of the screen) and select Renewal Status from the drop-down list.
    Or
    Search through the list of filters by entering a keyword in the search box. Click Renewal Status once it appears.
     Note: This is an auto-suggested text field. Auto-suggestions for field-appropriate elements start with the first keystroke in the text field.
  3. Click outside of the Filters button to close the drop-down list.
  4. Click the Renewal Status filter and then click Not Renewed > Apply to search for only order items that have not been renewed. order items that have already been renewed cannot be renewed using a renewal list.
  5. (Optional) Apply additional filters to your results, such as VendorBudget Period, or Renewal Setting > Renew.

     Note: Filtering by Budget Period is especially useful in making sure you are only renewing current subscriptions.

  6. Click Send to Renewal List and select one of the following from the drop-down menu:
    • All Filtered Order Items - Send all pages of order items in the results list to a renewal list.
    • Selected Order Items - Send only the order items you selected from the results list to a renewal list.
  7. From the Send to Renewal List dialog, select the radio button for the renewal list to which you want to add the order items.
    Or
    From the Send to Renewal List dialog, click New Renewal List to open the Send Order Items to New Renewal List dialog and enter a Renewal List Name for the list you are creating.
  8. Click Send. The Order Item(s) Sent to Renewal List dialog opens and confirms that the system has finished sending the order items to the renewal list. It divides your selected order items into the following categories:
    • Item(s) to add - The number of items you selected to add to the renewal list.
    • Item(s) successfully added - The number of items you selected that were successfully added to the renewal list.
    • Item(s) already in list - The number of items already in the renewal list.
    • Item(s) discarded - The number of items that were not added to the renewal list. Item(s) will be discarded if:
      • They have already been added to the selected list.
      • They cause the number of items already in the renewal list to exceed 3,000. If this happens, you can create a new renewal list with the discarded items.
  9. Click Go to Renewal List to view the renewal list or click Close to stay on the Subscription Items search screen.

Available Send to Renewal List filters

Send to Renewal List filters - Table
Filter Description
Renewal List Name The name of the renewal list.
Renewal List Number System-generated number assigned to a renewal list.
Description The description you provided for the renewal list.

Available Send to Renewal List columns

Send to Renewal List columns - Table
Column Description
Renewal List Number System-generated number assigned to a renewal list.
Renewal List Name The name of the renewal list.
Description The description you provided for the renewal list.
Current Order Item(s) in List The number of order items currently in the renewal list. A renewal list can contain up to 3,000 order items.
Date Created Date the renewal list was created.

Renew order items from a renewal list

 Note: Items in a renewal list can only be renewed once. If a renewal list is processed with a renewal list status of Completed with Issues, you can resolve any unrenewed items and submit a new renewal list.

1. Open a renewal list

  1. On the left navigation, click Orders > Renewal Lists. All renewal lists appear.
  2. Search for or navigate to the renewal list for which you want to renew order items.
  3. Click the Renewal List Name to open the Renewal List screen.
    • From the Renewal List screen, you can:
      • Edit the list name in the Renewal List Name text field.
      • Enter a description for the list in the Description text field.
      Click Save if you edit the list name or enter a description to save your changes.

2. Complete the Renewal List Settings accordion

The Renewal List Settings accordion allows you to select how you want to renew items in the renewal list. Renewal list settings are saved when you click Save or when you renew the renewal list (Actions > Renew Order Item(s)).

  1. From the Renewal List screen, click Renewal List Settings to open the accordion.
  2. From the Order Creation drop-down list, select how you want to create order groupings.
    • Create new orders based on previous orders (default) - The system uses the same structure, naming, and order types as was previously used for the orders and order item groupings. Use this option when you have already grouped your subscription items efficiently and logically between the various orders.
    • Add all items to one order - The system places all new order items on a single order that you created. If you select this grouping, you'll need to:
      1. Click Select Order. The Add New Order dialog opens.
      2. Select the radio button for the order that you want to use and then click Select. The order you selected will appear below the Order Creation drop-down list.
        Or
        Click New Order. If you select this option, you will need to follow the steps to create a new order.
      3. Click Save. When you renew the renewal list, it will place all new order items on this order.
         Caution: All new items will be placed on a single order for a single vendor. If items on the renewal list are from multiple vendors, you will receive a warning. Consider selecting Create one order per vendor if you receive this warning.
    • Create one order per vendor - The system places all new order items on new order per vendor. This option is useful when subscription items are organized randomly among multiple orders per vendor or one item per order. Orders created using this method use the following naming convention: Subscription order - [Vendor Name] - [Date]
  3. Select the Apply current exchange rate (for foreign orders) check box to automatically apply the current exchange rate after renewal. This is useful if the currency of the order differs from your institution's currency. By default, this check box is deselected.
  4. In the Price Increase section:
    1. For Increase Based on this Source Price, select one of the following options from the drop-down list:
      • Payment Price (default) - The amount of increase will be based on the payment price that appears in the original invoice. If there are no paid invoices for an item, the system will use the order price of the item being renewed as the price of the new item.
      • Order Price - The amount of increase will be based on the order price that appears in the original order.
    2. Enter a number (0-100) in the Amount of Increase text field if you anticipate the renewal price will exceed the original payment price.
      • You can assign a percentage value up to two decimal places (e.g., 8.75%).
      • Use the up and down arrows to increase or decrease the percentage by .01 at a time.
      • By default, the Amount of Increase is set to zero percent (0%).
    3. For Service charges, select the Apply percentage increase to service charges check box if you would like to apply the percentage increase used during the renewal of items to the service charge as well. This allows you to predict a more accurate price for your renewal items.
  5. (Optional) In the Order Placement section, select the Place the order(s) after renewal checkbox to have the system automatically place the order(s) after the item(s) are renewed.
     Note: Orders must be placed for the renewal to be complete. If you do not select this check box, you must place your order(s) manually.
  6. In the Receipt Status section, select the receipt status for the new order items after renewal. This option is only available if you have enabled the Place order(s) after renewal check box from step 5.
    • Inherit from Previous Item - This sets the receipt status of the item to the same status as the item being renewed. This status may be useful when you have set the previous year's subscription items to Not Tracked or Received based on preferred settings that you would like to use for subsequent years.
    • Not Received
    • Not Tracked
    • Partially Received
    • Received
  7. In the Encumbrances section, select the Clear any remaining encumbrances checkbox to clear any remaining encumbrance for the subscription items being renewed provided that the items are both Pay by the amount and have at least one invoice.

     Note: You may want to use this setting when you know you have received all invoices for the year for any partially paid order items invoiced by amount.

  8. In the Monographic Series section, select the Complete monographic series checkbox to complete any monographic series among the subscription items being renewed provided that all added volumes for the monographic series have been received.

     Note: Only use this setting if you are sure all monographic series items you are renewing have been completely received for the year and no more volumes are expected.

3. Complete the Fund Mappings accordion

The Fund Mappings accordion allows you to map fund(s) used by the order item(s) being renewed to funds in the next budget period. You must have a target fund selected for each source fund in order to renew the renewal list.

  1. From the Renewal List screen, click Fund Mappings to open the accordion.
  2. Select a Target Fund from the drop-down list. You can also enter the name of a target fund in the text field. The default target fund will be the fund with the same fund code as the source fund but in the next budget period.
     Note: This is an auto-suggested text field. Auto-suggestions for field-appropriate elements start with the first keystroke in the text field.
  3. (Optional) By default, the Target Budget Period for each order item being renewed is mapped to the earliest budget period after the source budget period is enabled for use. To update the target budget period:
    1. Click Update Target Budget Periods. The Update Target Budget Periods dialog opens.
    2. From the Update Target Budget Periods dialog, select a target budget period to which you want to map the source budget period from the Target Budget Period drop-down list.
    3. Click  Update once you have finished updating the target budget period(s). The Fund Mapping table will refresh with your new budget period mapping. Confirm that a target fund is selected in the Target Fund column. If the column is empty, (re)select a target fund.
       Note: If you add items to an open renewal list, the Fund Mapping table will automatically refresh when you return to the renewal list.

4. Complete the Order Items Being Renewed accordion

The Order Items Being Renewed accordion allows you to view, search, and filter the items that have been added to the renewal list and whether they will be renewed or renewed.

  1. From the Renewal List screen, click Order Items Being Renewed to open the accordion.
  2. View all order items currently in the renewal list in the Order Items Being Renewed table.
    • Order items are sorted alphabetically by title. To change the sort order, click one of the following column headings: Title, Vendor, Start Date, End Date, and Processing Status.
    • By default, all Order Items Being Renewed column headings are visible. You can show/hide them.
      Order Items Being Renewed columns - Table
      Column Description
      Title The title of the order item added to the renewal list. Click the title to view the order item.
      Vendor The vendor from whom you ordered the order item.
      Processing Status
      Status Description
      Added The order item has been added to the renewal list but has not yet been renewed.
      Not Renewed The order item was unable to be renewed by the system due to an issue. See the Status Reason column for more information.

      You can also click the Title link for the item to view the order item screen.
      Renewed The order item was renewed by the system without issues.
      Renewed with Problems The order item was renewed by the system with an issue (e.g., the currency of the target order is different than the currency of the payment). You can review items with this processing status and update them as needed.

       Note: You can filter the order items in a renewal list by any of these statuses.

      Status Reason The reason an order item was unable to be renewed or was renewed with problems by the system.

      This column will be blank for a list that has not been renewed.

       
      Reason Description
      Target currency does not match the source currency. The currency of the target fund for the order item does not match the currency of the source fund.

      Items with this status will be renewed even though they generate an error. You can review the order item and change the price to the new currency to resolve the issue.
      Already Renewed The order item has been renewed and has a renewal status of Renewed.

      An order item must have a renewal status of Not Renewed in order to be renewed. Use the Renewal Status filter to limit your search.
      Not a Subscription The Acquisition Type for the order item is One-Time.

      An order item must have an Acquisition Type of Subscription in order to be renewed. Use the Acquisition Type filter to limit your search.
      On Open Order(s) The order status for the order item is Open.

      An order item must have an order status of Ordered in order to be renewed.
      No Fund(s) for Order Item The order item does not have a fund assigned.

      An order item must have at least one fund assigned in order to be renewed.
      Marked as Do Not Renew (Canceled) The order item cannot be renewed as it has been marked for cancellation (Do Not Renew (Canceled)).

      An order item must have a renewal status of Renew in order to be renewed.
      Marked as Do Not Renew (Waiting for Review) The order item cannot be renewed as it is currently under review and may be canceled (Do Not Renew (Waiting for Review)).
      All Copies Cancelled All copies of the order item have been canceled in the system.

      You can undo the cancellation if the item(s) were not meant to be canceled.
      System Error An unexpected system error occurred while renewing the order item.
      Renewal Order The renewal order name.

      This column will be blank for a list that has not been renewed. Once an item has been renewed, click the renewal order name to view the new order that was created.
      Renewal Order Item The system-assigned renewal order item number.

      This column will be blank for a list that has not been renewed. Once an item has been renewed, click the renewal order item name to view the new order item that was created.
      Start Date The date the subscription starts.
      End Date The date the subscription ends.
  3. Enter part of or an entire title name in the Search by Title text field and then click Search to search for a specific item.
  4. Click a filter name (Vendor, Start Date, End DateProcessing Status, and/or Status Reason), select the value(s) you want to apply from the filter, and then click Apply to filter the list of order items being renewed. To a filter, click Reset.
    • If you choose to filter by Start Date or End Date, select one of the following options:
      • More than __ days ago - Enter a number in the text field.
      • More than __ days from now - Enter a number in the text field.
      • Within the next __ days - Enter a number in the text field.
      • Custom date range - Enter a number range in the From and To fields or use the calendar button (Calendar button).
  5. Remove order items from the renewal list.

     Note: If you add items to an open renewal list, the Order Items Being Renewed table will automatically refresh when you return to the renewal list.

5. Renew the order item or items in the renewal list

Once you have chosen your renewal list settings, mapped your funds, and verified that you are renewing the correct items, click Actions > Renew Order Item(s). The processing status will change to In Progress as the system begins to renew the item(s) in the renewal list.

When the system is done renewing the item(s) in the renewal list, a confirmation message appears displaying the:

  • Date and time the renewal was completed.
  • Total number of renewal orders used.
  • Total number of order items processed.
  • Number of order items renewed.
  • Number of order items renewed with problems along with the reason.
  • Number of order items not renewed along with the reason.

If the renewal list contains any items where the source currency is different than your target currency, the system will automatically apply the exchange rate to these items as part of the renewal process.

 Caution: If a disabled fund is used as a target fund in the Fund Mappings table, an error message will display and:

  • The renewal list will not be renewed.
  • The target fund will be removed from the Fund Mappings table.

You will need to select a new target fund in the Fund Mappings table in order to renew the list successfully.

Resolve unrenewed items in a renewal list 

You can resolve items with a processing status of Not Renewed in renewal lists with a renewal list status of Completed with Issues. After you resolve unrenewed item issues, you will need to create a new renewal list and add the adjusted items to it in order to renew them.

  1. On the left navigation, click Orders > Renewal Lists. All renewal lists appear.
  2. Locate a renewal list with a renewal list status of Completed with Issues.
  3. Click the Renewal List Name to view the renewal list.
  4. Click Order Items Being Renewed to open the accordion.
  5. Click the Processing Status filter and select Not Renewed from the drop-down list.
  6. Click Apply to filter the order items. The Status Reason column provides the reason an order item was unable to be renewed by the system. For more information about status reasons, see Order Items Being Renewed columns above.
  7. If the status reason is resolvable (e.g., add a fund, change the renewal setting, place an order, etc.), click the Title of the item to view the order item screen.
  8. Once you have resolved the issue, add the item to a new renewal list.
  9. Repeat steps 1-8 for any items with a processing status of Not Renewed.

Search and filter renewal lists 

  1. From the list, select an index to search and type the search term in the box. Available indexes include:
    • Renewal List Name
    • Renewal List Number
    • Description
  2. Click Search or press <Enter>.
Show/hide columns

You can choose the columns that appear.

  1. Click the gray gear button (Gray gear button) above the right-most column.
  2. In the Show Columns window, select or deselect the columns you want to show or hide.
  3. Close the Show Columns window by clicking anywhere outside it.
Available renewal list columns
Renewal list columns - Table
Column Description
Renewal List Number System-generated number assigned to a renewal list.
Renewal List Name The name of the renewal list.
Description The description you provided for the renewal list.
Current Order Item(s) in List The number of order items currently in the renewal list. A renewal list can contain up to 3,000 order items.
Renewal List Status
Status Description
New
  • A renewal list that has not yet been renewed.
  • A renewal list with this status can be renewed.
Completed
  • A renewal list that has been renewed without any issues.
  • A renewal list with this status cannot be renewed.
Completed with Issues
  • A renewal list that has been renewed, but one or more items in the list were not renewed or were renewed with issues.
  • A renewal list with this status cannot be renewed.
In Progress
  • A renewal list that is in the process of being renewed.
  • A renewal list with this status cannot be renewed.
Modifying Items
  • A renewal list that is in the process of having new items added to it.
  • A renewal list with this status cannot be renewed.
Stopped
  • A renewal list that has been stopped during the renewal process. You must address the reason identified in the message and attempt to renew again.
  • A renewal list with this status can be renewed.
Message Description
One of the target budget periods has been closed or disabled for use. Review the system-updated fund mapping and try again. The renewal list could not be renewed because one or more of the target funds assigned in the Fund Mappings accordion has been closed or disabled.

The fund mapping is automatically adjusted by the system.

You will need to review the updates and then renew the list again.
Your fund mapping was updated as part of the pre-renewal verification. Review the fund mapping and try again. The renewal list could not be renewed because the target fund(s) assigned in the Fund Mappings accordion has been updated after it was added to the renewal list.

The fund mapping is automatically updated by the system.

You will need to review the updates and then renew the list again.
Review the Fund Mapping panel to make sure all target budget periods in the table are mapped to a target fund, then try again. The renewal list could not be renewed because of an issue with fund mapping (e.g., deleted, updated, not mapped, etc.)

You will need to review the Fund Mappings accordion to confirm that all mappings have a target fund selected and all items in the Order Items Being Renewed accordion have a fund mapped.

Once you have confirmed the above, attempt to renew the renewal list again.
The target order was deleted. Select and new order and try again. The renewal list could not be renewed because the single order option was used and the target order is missing.

You will need to select a new order and then attempt to renew the renewal list again.
Exchange rate unavailable to retrieve from the server. Please try again or renew the list without the Apply current exchange rate option selected. The renewal list could not be renewed because the system was unable to retrieve the exchange rate.

You will need to either:
  • Attempt to renew the renewal list again
    Or
  • Deselect the Apply current exchange rate (for foreign orders) in the Renewal List Settings accordion and then attempt to renew the renewal list again.
Date Created Date the renewal list was created.
Date Renewed Date the items in the renewal list were renewed.

Remove order items from a renewal list 

 Note: Order items cannot be removed from renewal lists with a status of Completed.

  1. On the left navigation, click Orders > Renewal Lists. All renewal lists appear.
  2. Click the Renewal List Name of the renewal list you want to edit.
  3. On the Renewal List screen, click Order Items Being Renewed to open the accordion.
  4. Select the check box for each item you want to remove from the renewal list.
    Or
    Select the check box next to the Title column to select all items in the renewal list.

    The number of items selected for removal displays in the Remove Order Items button.
  5. Click Remove Order Item(s). The Remove Selected Order Item(s) dialog opens.
  6. From the Remove Selected Order Item(s) dialog, click Remove to remove the selected item(s) from the renewal list.