Tariff Management

Rate Configuration & Import Management

Tariff management allows you to import, configure, and manage rate structures from your VoIP providers. This system supports CSV import functionality and provides flexible rate management for different destinations and services.


Tariff Management Interface

Overview

Tariffs define the pricing structure for your VoIP services. They can be imported from provider rate cards and customized to meet your specific billing requirements. The system supports multiple tariffs per provider, enabling flexible rate management.

Key Features: * CSV rate card import * Multiple tariff support * Custom rate configuration * Filtering and exclusion rules * Automated rate updates

Tariff Import Process

Step 1: Prepare Rate Card

Download your provider’s rate card in CSV format. Ensure it contains the required columns for proper import. Only the first row may contain the header column names as mapping only checks the first row as header. If you have 2 rows before the actual rate mapping will not be suitable.

Step 2: Create Tariff

Navigate to ictVoIP Billing → Tariffs and click Add New Tariff.

Naming Convention:

Use a descriptive naming convention for your tariffs:

Format: ProviderName_Type_Year_Month
Example: Telnyx_Outbound_2024_01
Example: Twilio_International_2024_Q1

Naming Examples:

  • Telnyx_Outbound_2024_01 - Monthly outbound rates

  • Twilio_International_2024_Q1 - Quarterly international rates

  • Bandwidth_Local_2024_Annual - Annual local rates

  • Provider_Custom_2024_Special - Custom rate structure

Step 3: Upload CSV File

  1. Highlight the tariff name

  2. Click Open to access the file upload dialog

  3. Select your provider’s CSV rate card tariff

  4. Click Upload to begin the processing

CSV Mapping Requirements

Required Columns:

Your CSV file must contain the following minimum columns:

Description                | Prefix | RateValue | Increment
---------------------------|--------|-----------|----------
Canada - 204 Manitoba      | 1204   | 0.01      | 6
Canada - 226 Ontario       | 1226   | 0.01      | 6
Canada - 416 Metro Toronto | 1416   | 0.01      | 6

CSV Import Mapping

Column Descriptions:

  • ShortDescription - If available Human-readable short description

  • Description - REQ-Human-readable description of the rate

  • Prefix - REQ-Dialing prefix & or country code

  • RateValue - REQ-Base Rate per minute or unit

  • Increment - REQ-Billing increment in seconds

  • Lastratechangedate - If available last known rate change date

  • Oldrate - If available the old rate

  • RatePremium - If available the Premium rate

  • Select Column Mapping (not used) - DEFAULT-When set to this it will not be mapped & imported

Optional Columns:

Additional columns may be supported depending on your provider but mapping is not recommended and should be left as DEFAULT Select Column Mapping (not used) * Setup Fee - Connection charges * Minimum Duration - Minimum call duration * Grace Period - Grace period for short calls * Effective Date - Rate effective date

Import Process

Step 1: File Validation

The system validates your CSV file for: * Required column presence * Data format consistency * Rate value validation * Duplicate entry detection

Step 2: Mapping Configuration

Map your CSV columns to the system requirements: * Select the appropriate column for each field * Verify data types and formats * Set default values if needed Once your mapping has been saved you can then highlight the tariff and upload the latest rates from your provider and the mapped fields will already be saved.

Step 3: Import Execution

Execute the import process: * Review import summary * Confirm rate calculations * Process the import

Step 4: Import Completion


Import Complete

Post-Import Actions:

  1. Review imported rates - Verify accuracy

  2. Configure filtering - Set up exclusions if required

  3. Assign to providers - Link to provider accounts and packages

  4. Test billing - Verify rate application autobill against CDRs

Rate Filtering

Filter Configuration:

After import, configure filtering rules to exclude specific numbers or destinations:

Filter Type: Toll Free Numbers
Action: Exclude from billing
Pattern: 1-800-*, 1-888-*, 1-877-*

Common Filter Types:

  • Toll Free Numbers - 1-800, 1-888, 1-877, etc.

  • Emergency Numbers - 911, 112, 999, etc.

  • Directory Services - 411, 118, etc.

  • Premium Numbers - 1-900, etc.

  • Custom Patterns - Specific number ranges

Filter Configuration:

Navigate to Billing Management for detailed filtering options and configuration.

Tariff Management

Updating Tariffs:

To update an existing tariff:

  1. Select the existing tariff name

  2. Upload the new CSV file

  3. The system will replace existing rates

  4. Verify the updated rates

Tariff Versioning:

  • Maintain historical rate data

  • Track rate changes over time

  • Support rollback to previous versions

  • Audit trail for rate modifications

Rate Validation:

  • Verify rate accuracy

  • Check for duplicate entries

  • Validate rate ranges

  • Confirm currency formatting

Best Practices

CSV Preparation:

  • Use consistent formatting

  • Include all required columns

  • Validate data accuracy

  • Test with sample data

  • Only the first row allowed as header for columns

Naming Conventions:

  • Use descriptive names

  • Include date information

  • Maintain consistency

  • Avoid special characters

Import Process:

  • Test with small datasets

  • Verify mapping accuracy

  • Review import results

  • Document changes

Rate Management:

  • Regular rate reviews

  • Monitor provider changes

  • Update tariffs promptly

  • Maintain backup copies

Troubleshooting

Common Import Issues:

  • Missing Columns - Ensure all required columns are present

  • Format Errors - Check CSV formatting and encoding

  • Rate Validation - Verify rate values are numeric

  • Duplicate Entries - Check for duplicate prefixes

  • check import_debug Logs

Import Errors:

  • File Size - Large files may timeout over 100MB

  • Encoding Issues - Use UTF-8 encoding

  • Special Characters - Avoid special characters in data

  • Date Formats - Use consistent date formatting

Support Information:

For tariff-related issues, provide: * CSV file sample * Error messages * Import configuration * Expected vs actual results * All debug logs within the LOGS dir of the ictVoIP Billing addon. Next Steps ———-

After tariff configuration:

  1. Provider Assignment - Link tariffs to providers

  2. Package Configuration - Create service packages

  3. Billing Setup - Configure automated billing

  4. Testing - Verify rate application with autobill