How do I use custom fields?

Using Custom Fields

When using custom fields, keep in mind the following:

1. Define your custom fields
   • Create custom fields for each object that you want to track custom data. Specify whether the custom field is a picklist or free text field, and define the picklist options if applicable. See Creating Custom Fields for more information.
2. Populate your custom fields
   • Start using your custom fields by populating them on the applicable objects. For example, if you create an account custom field to track the customer type with three pick list options (Enterprise, Professional, or Business), you can mass update all your customer accounts with the appropriate custom field. Additionally, you can ensure the custom field is populated upon creation of all new customer accounts by making the custom field required (optional).
3. Editing Custom Fields
   • Custom field definitions can be updated over time by simply going to the Manage Custom Fields setting > click on the Customizable Object that contains the custom field you want to edit (for example: Refund fields) > click on the Field Label name, then click Edit to edit the custom field.
   • Custom fields entries can be modified while in any status, for example, when an invoice is in draft or posted status or a subscription is in active or canceled status. Custom fields are viewed as "reporting" fields, thus, changing the custom field values will not change any amounts and values for the object that is being updated.
4. Custom field inheritance
   • If you create a custom field on a product catalog rate plan charge, when you add that charge to a subscription, the custom field is not inherited by the subscription's rate plan charge.
5. Search and query custom fields
   • Subscription custom fields are part of the searchable data on the subscription in the user interface.
   • All custom fields can be queried in the API.
   • Custom fields are available in Zuora data sources and Z-Reporting to help you report on key metrics for your subscription business.
6. Display custom fields on your invoice template
   • Custom fields can be displayed on your invoice template. For instructions on adding custom fields to your invoice template, go to Settings > Z-Billing Settings > Manage Invoice Rules and Templates > Download the invoice template instructions and see page 11 of the instructions on "Displaying Custom Fields."
   • Many of the custom fields can be displayed on the invoice template, however, not all of the Zuora supported custom fields may be displayed. See page 11 of the invoice template instructions to see which custom fields are supported.
7. Report on Custom Fields
   • Using data sources or Z-Reporting, you can report on custom fields in the UI or API.
   • You can also export Account custom fields by exporting the customer accounts data in the UI. To do this, go to Z-Billing > Customer Accounts > Export Customer Accounts (under Action to the right).
8. Synchronize Custom Fields to Salesforce
   • Custom fields can be synchronized to and from Salesforce.

Sample Use Cases

Here are a few examples of how custom fields can be used:

• Deploy custom fields to track and report on marketing and promotional campaigns.
  Custom fields can be set on various levels such as the product, product rate plan, product rate plan charge, subscription rate plan charge. When a customer signs up for a promotional product, you can run reports based on the product and determine the monthly recurring revenue for your promotional products versus a standard (non promotional) product and see which product is selling better.
• Use custom fields to tie back key data to other systems which are integrated with Zuora (including CRM, provisioning, ERP, and financial systems). Zuora's Z-Suite integration uses custom fields to track data both in Zuora and in NetSuite.
• Track reasons for refunds and adjustments, for example, track refunds that result from "chargebacks" and adjustments due to "write-offs."