Welcome to the Membership Module Getting Started guide. This section will help you understand the prerequisites, prepare your system, and successfully implement your first membership program in BigLedger.

Who Should Read This

This guide is designed for:

  • System Administrators setting up the Membership Module for the first time
  • Business Analysts planning membership program implementation
  • Project Managers coordinating loyalty program launches
  • IT Teams responsible for BigLedger configuration

What You’ll Learn

By following this getting started guide, you’ll understand:

  1. Prerequisites - What must be configured before enabling the Membership Module
  2. Dependencies - Required Core Module applets and their configuration status
  3. Setup Workflow - Step-by-step process from planning to launch
  4. Quick Start - Fast-track guide to get a basic program running in minutes
  5. Best Practices - Proven approaches for successful implementations

Before You Begin

Technical Prerequisites

Ensure your BigLedger environment meets these requirements:

Core Module Configuration

  • Organization structure defined
  • Chart of Accounts configured
  • At least one operating location active
  • User roles and permissions established

Master Data Readiness

  • Customer master data structure finalized
  • Product/service catalog populated
  • Tax configuration completed
  • Payment methods configured

Infrastructure Readiness

  • Database backup procedures in place
  • Test environment available (recommended)
  • Admin user access confirmed
  • Documentation access for all stakeholders

Business Prerequisites

Before implementing the Membership Module, complete these business planning steps:

Program Design

  • Clear loyalty program objectives defined
  • Target customer segments identified
  • Tier structure designed (if applicable)
  • Earning and redemption rules outlined
  • Budget allocated for program costs

Legal and Compliance

  • Terms and conditions drafted
  • Privacy policy updated for member data
  • Financial liability assessment completed
  • Regulatory requirements reviewed

Operational Readiness

  • Staff training plan prepared
  • Customer communication strategy defined
  • Member support procedures established
  • Reporting requirements identified

Implementation Roadmap

Phase 1: Foundation (Week 1)

Core Module Verification

  1. Verify Organization Applet configuration
  2. Confirm Customer Maintenance Applet setup
  3. Validate Doc Item Maintenance readiness
  4. Check Pricebook Applet configuration

Membership Planning

  1. Document tier structure and criteria
  2. Define points currencies needed
  3. Map earning rules by tier and category
  4. Design redemption mechanisms

Phase 2: Configuration (Week 2)

Membership Module Setup

  1. Install required applets
  2. Create points currencies
  3. Configure member classes/tiers
  4. Set up earning rules
  5. Define redemption options

Integration Configuration

  1. Link to POS (if applicable)
  2. Configure E-Commerce integration (if applicable)
  3. Set up Financial Accounting linkages
  4. Configure reporting parameters

Phase 3: Testing (Week 3)

Functional Testing

  1. Test member enrollment flow
  2. Validate points earning calculations
  3. Verify redemption mechanisms
  4. Confirm tier progression logic
  5. Test expiry processing

Integration Testing

  1. Test POS member identification
  2. Validate E-Commerce points display
  3. Confirm accounting entries accuracy
  4. Test multi-channel consistency

Phase 4: Pilot Launch (Week 4)

Soft Launch

  1. Enroll pilot member group (50-100 members)
  2. Monitor daily operations
  3. Collect staff feedback
  4. Identify and resolve issues
  5. Refine configurations based on learnings

Phase 5: Full Rollout (Week 5+)

Production Launch

  1. Complete staff training
  2. Launch marketing campaign
  3. Open enrollment to all customers
  4. Monitor system performance
  5. Track program KPIs

Setup Workflow Overview

The typical setup sequence follows this pattern:

Step 1: Core Applet Configuration

Configure these Core Module applets first (if not already done):

1. Organization Applet
   └─ Define locations where memberships operate

2. Customer Maintenance Applet
   └─ Prepare customer data structure for member linking

3. Doc Item Maintenance Applet
   └─ Create membership product items

4. Pricebook Applet
   └─ Set up member pricing structures

Step 2: Membership Module Applets

Install and configure Membership-specific applets:

1. Membership Points Currency
   └─ Create point currencies (e.g., LOYPTS, GOLDPTS)

2. Membership Admin Console
   └─ Central management interface setup

3. Membership Program Applet
   └─ Configure programs, tiers, earning rules

Step 3: Integration Setup

Connect Membership Module to other modules:

1. POS Integration
   └─ Enable member identification and points earning at checkout

2. E-Commerce Integration
   └─ Configure member portal via CP-Commerce

3. Financial Accounting Integration
   └─ Set up liability accounts and journal templates

Step 4: Testing and Validation

Comprehensive testing before launch:

1. Create test member accounts
2. Execute complete customer journeys
3. Verify all calculations
4. Confirm reporting accuracy
5. Test edge cases and exceptions

Choosing Your Path

Based on your needs, choose the appropriate starting point:

Fast Track: Quick Start Guide

Best for:

  • Simple loyalty programs
  • Single-tier implementations
  • Learning and exploration
  • Proof of concept

Time Required: 5-10 minutes

What You’ll Build: Basic loyalty program with single tier, simple earning rules, and points redemption.

Start Quick Start Guide →

Comprehensive Setup: Installation Requirements

Best for:

  • Enterprise implementations
  • Multi-tier programs
  • Production deployments
  • Full feature utilization

Time Required: 2-4 hours

What You’ll Learn: Complete prerequisite checklist, detailed dependency verification, and configuration validation.

Review Installation Requirements →

Practical Walkthrough: First Membership Program

Best for:

  • Hands-on learners
  • Retail loyalty programs
  • Step-by-step guidance
  • Real-world implementation

Time Required: 30-60 minutes

What You’ll Build: Complete retail loyalty program with Bronze/Silver/Gold tiers, points earning, and redemption.

Build Your First Program →

Common Starting Scenarios

Scenario 1: Retail Store Loyalty

Business Need: Reward repeat customers with points and tiered benefits

Recommended Path:

  1. Start with Installation Requirements
  2. Follow First Membership Program
  3. Configure POS integration for seamless checkout

Key Configurations:

  • 3-tier structure (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
  • Single points currency
  • Dollar-to-points earning rule
  • Points-to-discount redemption

Scenario 2: Service Business Subscription

Business Need: Monthly/annual memberships with fixed benefits

Recommended Path:

  1. Review Installation Requirements
  2. Focus on membership deposit configuration
  3. Set up auto-renewal processes

Key Configurations:

  • Subscription-based membership products
  • Deposit-based payment model
  • Recurring billing setup
  • Member portal for account management

Scenario 3: Multi-Brand Loyalty Network

Business Need: Shared loyalty program across multiple business units

Recommended Path:

  1. Complete Installation Requirements thoroughly
  2. Design multi-currency point system
  3. Configure cross-location redemption

Key Configurations:

  • Multiple point currencies by brand
  • Organization-wide member accounts
  • Cross-brand redemption rules
  • Centralized reporting

Success Criteria

Before considering your setup complete, verify these criteria:

Technical Validation

  • All required applets installed and accessible
  • At least one points currency created
  • Member class/tier configured
  • Test member account created successfully
  • Points earning calculation verified
  • Redemption mechanism tested
  • Reports generating accurately

Business Validation

  • Program rules documented
  • Staff trained on enrollment process
  • Member communications prepared
  • Support procedures established
  • Financial tracking configured
  • KPI dashboard functional

Integration Validation

  • POS member lookup working (if applicable)
  • E-Commerce member login functional (if applicable)
  • Accounting entries posting correctly
  • Multi-channel data consistency confirmed

Getting Help

If you encounter issues during setup:

Documentation Resources

Support Channels

  • BigLedger Support Portal - Submit support tickets
  • Implementation Team - For enterprise customers
  • Community Forum - Share experiences and solutions
  • Training Resources - Video tutorials and webinars

Troubleshooting

Common setup issues and resolutions:

“Required applet not visible”

  • Verify applet installation
  • Check user permissions
  • Confirm module license activation

“Cannot create member class”

  • Ensure points currency created first
  • Verify Organization Applet configured
  • Check database permissions

“Points not calculating”

  • Review earning rule configuration
  • Verify transaction type eligibility
  • Check tier assignment for member

Next Steps

Ready to get started? Choose your path:

Quick Start Guide
5-minute setup for a basic loyalty program - perfect for learning and testing
Installation Requirements
Comprehensive checklist of all prerequisites and dependencies
First Membership Program
Step-by-step walkthrough to build a complete retail loyalty program
Recommended Approach: Start with the Quick Start Guide to familiarize yourself with the module, then review Installation Requirements before building your production program using the First Membership Program walkthrough.